Dr. Mike Revelle, an emergency room physician from Jackson and UTM alumnus, delivered the fall commencement address Dec. 17.

Revelle challenged graduates to “find stones for building a firm foundation for life,” and he highlighted three “stones” he thought UTM graduates would need in life: the value of wisdom, the virtue of friendship and the privilege of circumstance.

Revelle then elaborated on each of the three “stones” he deemed important and how to use them as a foundation for success.

“The reason you are here today,” Revelle told graduates, “is that you, your parents, your spouse or someone gave up time, money and hard work to arrive at this milestone.”

Revelle graduated from UTM in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree and agriculture. He received his doctor of medicine from UT Memphis in 1999. He was recently awarded the UTM Outstanding Young Alumni Award.

About 445 graduates were conferred with degrees.