Call for honorary degree nominations for Commencement 2015

Gallaudet University is currently collecting honorary degree nominations to be awarded at its 146th Commencement in May 2015. With these awards, the University seeks to recognize deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing individuals for exemplary service to the deaf and hard of hearing community.

Every year, honorary degrees are presented at Commencement to individuals selected by a faculty Committee on Honorary Degrees and approved by the university’s Board of Trustees. At Gallaudet’s 144th Commencement on May 17, 2013, Mr. Raymond H. LaHood, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. Dr. Harry G. Lang, professor emeritus at Rochester Institute of Technology, received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. See list of all honorary degree recipients since the University’s founding in 1864 is available.

Each nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Individuals whose significant personal, social, cultural, scientific, or professional achievements have positively increased public awareness of deaf and hard of hearing people, nationally or internationally, and whose values inherently are reflected in the Gallaudet University mission.
• Individuals with exemplary records of academic and/or public accomplishments in line with Gallaudet University’s standards for academic rigor, quality, and significance.
• Individuals whose leadership or originality in significant human endeavor has been with distinction, with preference to those whose accomplishments came first in a particular field of endeavor.
• Individuals who have served as role models for deaf and hard of hearing people through their extensive leadership and public service.

Nomination procedures and forms are available. The deadline for submission of nominations and supporting documentation is Friday, November 1, 2013. For more information, please contact the Office of the Provost at (202) 250-2411 or email provost@gallaudet.edu.

Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English. Gallaudet maintains a proud tradition of research and scholarly activity and prepares its graduates for career opportunities in a highly competitive, technological, and rapidly changing world.

Contact:
Kaitlin Luna, Coordinator of Media and Public Relations
(202) 448-7106 voice
(202) 250-2973 videophone
(585) 507-1705 mobile/text
kaitlin.luna@gallaudet.edu