William R. Kennedy, chief executive officer of Jack Kennedy Metal Products and Buildings, shared four observations to help graduates find success during two commencement ceremonies at Missouri S&T on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Over 600 degrees were awarded during S&T’s three commencement ceremonies, held Friday, Dec. 13, and Saturday, Dec. 14.

“I have noticed amongst people who are professionally successful that they share a common thread,” Kennedy said. “If I asked them to what they attribute their success, they say ‘I just did what I could do’ or ‘I just did what needed to be done.’ But what they left unsaid there speaks volumes. What they didn’t say was that they only did what their job description says, or that they only worked until 4:30 p.m. and then went home.

“You need to be able to readily cross disciplines,” he said. “You need to be ready to think outside the box and do whatever it takes to solve the problem. That’s an important distinction between those who are successful and those who are not.”

Kennedy also cautioned the graduates not to let their education interfere with their job or their thinking.

“Education gives you a methodical method of solving problems,” he said and then told the story of a boy who, in elementary school in the 1950s was declared mentally challenged in the third grade. In the fourth grade, his teacher concluded that he was mentally challenged because he had been declared so in the third grade.

“In fifth grade, his teacher looked at him and thought, gee, maybe this isn’t right. But by then the kid had missed two years of his primary education, and, incidentally, the most important parts of his primary education, so he couldn’t multiply or spell or do arithmetic very well.”

The boy was essentially two years behind throughout the rest of his educational career.

“He had to teach himself,” he said. “And he went on and did ok. Now he holds 91 patents. That person was me.

“I thought outside of the box, not because I set out to, but because I didn’t know any other way. I think that’s a common trait among inventors,” Kennedy said. There is some value to being able to use the one tool in your toolbox that is the most valuable – learning and education – but there’s room in that toolbox for other things. Don’t be afraid to cross disciplines. Don’t be afraid to think differently.”

Kennedy offered financial advice, explaining how a small investment can generate a large return due to compound interest

“I never had a steady income, because I worked for myself mostly, but I tried to take a percentage of my income and put that in safe investments I thought would yield funds,” he said. “And honestly, now I have to figure out how to get rid of all this money.”

Kennedy concluded by explaining that the prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed until age 25.

“Until you’re 25, and until your prefrontal cortex is developed and working well, what you don’t have is cognition of consequences. So when you’re very young, you’re likely to make bad decisions,” Kennedy said. “If you’re thinking about something that will affect the rest of your life or that has long-term consequences, think hard.”

Kennedy is the CEO of Jack Kennedy Metal Products and Buildings Inc., the world’s largest mining ventilation firm. He has over 40 years of experience in the ventilation of mines and manufacturing of related equipment. He has been a guest lecturer repeatedly at mineral engineering colleges, both for undergraduate students and for continuing education courses offered for practicing and graduate mining engineers, and other mining company officials on both university campuses and at major mining company facilities.

Kennedy is the named inventor and holder of 91 U.S. and foreign patents, with others pending, and is the author of a textbook, titled Practical Mine Ventilation.

For more information about commencement or to see a video of the ceremony, visit commencement.mst.edu.

About Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.