By Jody Record, Media Relations
There’s still time to nominate candidates to receive honorary degrees or Granite State Awards at the 2007 commencement. Suggestions for commencement speakers are also being sought.
Past honorary degree recipients include Governors John Lynch and Craig Benson and actors Meryl Streep and Mike O’Malley. State Senator Katie Wheeler, Portsmouth Historian Dorothy Vaughan , blues musician TJ Wheeler, Stephen Singer, and Ann Peters, a leader among human service agencies in New Hampshire, have all, in the past, received the Granite State Award.
People who have made important offerings toward the betterment of society, nationally or internationally, are perfect choices for honorary degrees, as are those people who have made a significant difference to a particular group.
Nominees may include but are not limited to alumni, benefactors, and citizens of New Hampshire.
Granite State Awards are given to New Hampshire leaders in areas of business, agriculture, trade associations, industry, labor groups, foundations and educators in high or preparatory schools and foundations whose efforts and/or exemplary service in their particular spheres have made significant contributions to the state.
Commencement speakers are chosen based on their ability to motivate, inspire and provide insight to graduates on the next phase of their lives by sharing experiences that reveal wisdom, elicit curiosity, instill knowledge, and educate.
Individuals may not nominate themselves.
The Honorary Degrees and Granite State Awards Committee make nominee recommendations to the president and the Board of Trustees based on outstanding accomplishments in academia, professional or civic arenas.
Only one Honorary Degree and one Granite State Award are given to a recipient in his or her lifetime. Check the list of previous nominees located on the nomination form before making a recommendation.
The deadline is Oct. 15. Applications are online at www.nominations.unh.edu/.
Honorary degrees and Granite State Awards will be presented at Commencement on May 19, 2007.
UNH Manchester is also seeking nominations for Granite State Award honorees, presented at the UNH Manchester Commencement Ceremony on May 15th: Fill out the form today – the deadline is October 15th, 2006.