Champlain College will confer three honorary degrees during its 134thCommencement on Saturday, May 5, celebrating the accomplishments of a Dublin scholar, a Burlington physician, and a Burlington performing arts center founder and director. Some 450 seniors are expected to receive their bachelor and associate degree diplomas during the ceremony at Memorial Auditorium.
Champlain’s Commencement speaker will be Patrick Masterson of Dublin, Ireland, the former president of University College of Dublin and the European University Institute. He will receive an honorary degree of humane letters.
Dr. John “Jack” Heisse, Jr., of Shelburne, is a Champlain College Trustee Emeritus and retired Burlington physician who specialized in otolaryngology and taught at the University of Vermont School of Medicine. He served on the Champlain Board of Trustees from 1970-1980. He will receive an honorary degree of public service.
Andrea Rogers of Burlington, who retired in 2010 after 30 years as executive director of the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, will speak on behalf of the honorary degree recipients. She will receive an honorary degree of fine arts.
"Our honorary degree recipients have played major leadership roles and have exhibited a life-long commitment to public service in their chosen fields. They have brought significant changes to their individual specialties through dedication and a commitment to excellence," said Champlain College President David F. Finney. "They are role models for our students in their roles fostering the true spirit of higher education, community and public service, and the arts," Finney added.
A commencement and hooding ceremony for 70 Master degree candidates will be held Friday, May 4 at 10 a.m. in Argosy Gymnasium in the IDX Student Life Center on campus. Speaker of the Vermont House Rep.Shapleigh "Shap" Smith, Jr. will be the commencement speaker. Smith is a five-term member of the Legislature representing the Lamoille-Washington 1 District.
