ELKINS – Continuing education beyond high school will open the door to success, West Virginia State Treasurer John Perdue told the citizens of American Legion Auxiliary Rhododendron Girls State convening this week at Davis & Elkins College. Perdue was the guest speaker for Tuesday’s luncheon.

Perdue said that while growing up in Boone County, he never dreamed he would become the state treasurer or that he would go to college. However, attending college was the most important decision he made in his life, he said.

“Education is what is going to open up the doors of opportunity for you in your lifetime,” Perdue told the citizens. “If you want to be successful in life, you have to have some type of higher education.”

Perdue encouraged them to make the decisions of where they want to go to college, what they want to major in and what type of career they envision. He explained that attending Girls State is a step in learning what the world is about.

“It’s important to know what government is about and what leadership is about because you are the future leaders of this great state,” Perdue said.

Education is also a catalyst in helping the state grow and prosper, Perdue said.

“Education is what will attract businesses to come to our state, to grow our state, to give you and your brothers and sisters jobs and give jobs to the next generation,” Perdue explained. “When you walk across that stage and receive that diploma, no one can ever take that away from you. Get your education, set your goals, move forward.”