Honorary degree recipients announced
Mandi Degroff '12 / News Editor
Issue date: 3/3/10 Section: News
At this year's commencement on May 22 Wheaton will award four honorary degrees, including one for former U.S. Senator Edward Brooke (R-MA), the first African American senator to represent Massachusetts.
Along with Brooke, Ann Curry, the commencement speaker, will receive an honorary degree, as will two alumnae, Jillian
Shepard '70 and Diana Davis Spencer '60.
According to President Ronald Crutcher, Brooke was chosen for a variety of reasons. "He was an old style Republican, more liberal than a lot of Republicans and he was very effective in his work," said Crutcher.
Brooke served Massachusetts From Jan. 3, 1967 - Jan. 3, 1979. He has been honored with two of the highest honors for civilians:
the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.
Brooke received the Presidential
Medal of Freedom on June 23, 2004, an award that recognizes people who "make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."
On Oct. 28, 2009, just two days after his 90th birthday, President Barack Obama presented Brooke with the Congressional
Gold Medal, an award given to an individual who "performs an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States, the United States Congress and is, along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.
Every year two to four honorary degrees are given out at commencement.
Honorary degrees are granted to both significant Wheaton alumnae/i as well as to individuals nominated by Wheaton community members.
"We get nominations from faculty and staff of people who should be considered. Usually it is an alumnae/i celebrating a big reunion," said Crutcher.
Individuals nominated by the Wheaton community are reviewed by the Board of Trustees Executive Committee. The committee's
selections go before the full Board. Unanimous approval is required for a honorary degree to be conferred.
Shepherd, a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, is now an Associate Attending Physician in New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Davis is president of the Kathryn W. Davis Foundation. The foundation focuses on educational projects including the 100 Projects for Peace, which Wheaton
students have participated in, and won, in previous years.
Curry is an award-winning television journalist who has been the host of Dateline NBC since 2005 and an anchor on NBC's morning program, Today, since 1997.
Crutcher spoke of honorary degrees as a distinction "not only for the recipient, but also for the college."
Along with Brooke, Ann Curry, the commencement speaker, will receive an honorary degree, as will two alumnae, Jillian
Shepard '70 and Diana Davis Spencer '60.
According to President Ronald Crutcher, Brooke was chosen for a variety of reasons. "He was an old style Republican, more liberal than a lot of Republicans and he was very effective in his work," said Crutcher.
Brooke served Massachusetts From Jan. 3, 1967 - Jan. 3, 1979. He has been honored with two of the highest honors for civilians:
the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.
Brooke received the Presidential
Medal of Freedom on June 23, 2004, an award that recognizes people who "make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."
On Oct. 28, 2009, just two days after his 90th birthday, President Barack Obama presented Brooke with the Congressional
Gold Medal, an award given to an individual who "performs an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States, the United States Congress and is, along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.
Every year two to four honorary degrees are given out at commencement.
Honorary degrees are granted to both significant Wheaton alumnae/i as well as to individuals nominated by Wheaton community members.
"We get nominations from faculty and staff of people who should be considered. Usually it is an alumnae/i celebrating a big reunion," said Crutcher.
Individuals nominated by the Wheaton community are reviewed by the Board of Trustees Executive Committee. The committee's
selections go before the full Board. Unanimous approval is required for a honorary degree to be conferred.
Shepherd, a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, is now an Associate Attending Physician in New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Davis is president of the Kathryn W. Davis Foundation. The foundation focuses on educational projects including the 100 Projects for Peace, which Wheaton
students have participated in, and won, in previous years.
Curry is an award-winning television journalist who has been the host of Dateline NBC since 2005 and an anchor on NBC's morning program, Today, since 1997.
Crutcher spoke of honorary degrees as a distinction "not only for the recipient, but also for the college."
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