Womack asks UAFS grads to be leaders

story submitted by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and Chancellor Paul Beran received high praise Dec. 15 from commencement speaker Steve Womack, U.S. Representative-elect for the 3rd Congressional District.

Womack began his speech in Stubblefield Center by lauding Beran’s efforts in economic development for the region and said that UAFS “will always be a critical piece of the economic development structure” for the county, region and state.
 
“I have reviewed your strategic plan … and applaud you,” said Womack to UAFS Smith representatives, adding that UAFS has the pool of leadership talent to “drive decisions.”

Womack went on to make his point by focusing on one individual, saying there was “no better example of servant leadership than your Board of Visitors Chair Sam T. Sicard.” He followed that by naming several other local political and educational leaders before calling commencement speeches a “snapshot in time.”

Womack said the real reason he was before the group “has little to do with me.”

“It’s an uncertain world,” he said. “There are wars and rumors of wars. … Economic peril, high unemployment, foreclosures, deficits and debt, nuclear proliferation. The list goes on and on.”

He then spoke of basic principles of the past which he said have been overlooked and ignored, including the concept of living within one’s means, personal accountability and responsibility, and selfless service to church, school and community.

“To me, our greatest demand today is simply leadership,” said Womack, naming one “take-away” he would want graduates to leave the ceremony with — the collective desire of society for leaders who understand those often-forgotten principles.

He called for graduates to step up to the front and to lead.

“Never miss an opportunity to lead,” he said. “It has a way of separating you from your peers. Remember the little things that make for being a good employee. … Have a whatever-it-takes mentality.”

Womack said his dad always reminded him that the difference between a job and a career is the difference between 40 and 60 hours a week.

“No one ever drowned in sweat,” Womack said, who also urged graduates to remember those who helped them get to this point — parents, siblings, co-workers, grandparents, friends, neighbors. He also called for graduates to remember those “entering the sunset of their lives,” citing the older generation for their wisdom, sense of duty and love of God and family.

“In each of them, their life’s journey offers perspective for today. We should learn from it.”

Referring to his upcoming stint in Washington, D.C., he said he was honored for his selection to the House Appropriations Committee.

“It is my hope and prayer, and it is my plan, to never disappoint you,” he said. “I congratulate the class of 2010. God bless you, and God bless America.”