Now that’s what I call an Honorary Graduate §3

Yet more very worthy Honorary Degree recipients, some serious and some celeb

Previous posts on Honorary Degree recipients have noted that almost all of them fall clearly into one of two categories: they are either serious or celeb. An earlier blog post and the latest blog on this topic show how these awards have come to be dominated by the celeb category.

There are some solidly serious ones this summer in among the celebrity glitter. have a look at the following:

First up is the University of Leeds which rightly rewarded the poet Simon Armitage.

Poetic justice?

Ridley Scott picked up an Honorary from the Royal College of Art without feeling alienated.

The University of Dundee deserves huge credit for the splendid triumvirate of children’s entertainer Justin Fletcher (aka Mr Tumble), outstanding film-maker Bill Forsyth and legendary political reporter Brian Taylor.

Liam Fray of the band the Courteneers picked up an Honorary from Salford University having quit as a student there over a decade ago. And someone else who decided to take a different path, Emeritus Pope Benedict, collected a Doctorate from the Pontifical John Paul II University of Krakow. Very appropriate.

Stirling University recognised a worthy batch including the broadcaster Sally Magnusson, the artist John Byrne and, particularly wonderfully, its former University Secretary, Kevin Clarke.

Amir Khan fought his way to an Honorary Degree from the University of Bolton.

Gabby Logan, Durham alumna, scored an honorary from her alma mater for her sporting broadcasting achievements.

The gang’s all here

A full set of worthies at Princeton University, including Harry Belafonte and Mario Vargos Llosa.

And of course I always like to think that the University of Nottingham tries to get the balance right as our latest crop of Honorary Graduates shows.

Meanwhile, an update on an honorary previously noted for the very shy and retiring Kanye West who pre-announced his award of an honorary degree from the Art Institute of Chicago a while ago:

“I was a gifted artist since age 5 and won national competitions and went to art school,” he said in the interview. “I’m actually getting an honorary doctorate on May 5th from the Art Institute of Chicago.”

The world is his campus