Ceremonies to feature the presentation of two honorary degrees
Texas Christian University and Brite Divinity School will present degrees to more than 700 degree candidates Dec. 18 at the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena on the TCU campus on Saturday, Dec. 18. Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. will confer the degrees and deliver the commencement address at two separate ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
At the morning ceremony, TCU will present an honorary Doctor of Letters to Opal Lee and an honorary Doctor of Musical Arts to John R. Giordano.
Lee is a long-time Fort Worthian who is a renowned educator and civil rights activist. Among other endeavors, she dedicated her time to helping the economically disadvantaged find housing and helped establish the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society. She has become most known for her campaign for Juneteenth – the day enforcement of enslaved Black people’s freedom in America reached the shores of Galveston, Texas – to be a national day of observance. That day came to fruition this year as Lee was turning 95.
Giordano was music director and conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra for 28 seasons and is now music director emeritus. He founded the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, which appeared in Carnegie Hall and toured Mexico, Spain and China. Serving as director emeritus of the Youth Orchestra of Greater Fort Worth and as faculty at TCU and other institutions, Giordano has not only brought music all over the world, but also he has been an active part of instilling it in the next generation. He earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music at TCU, and in 1996 he was recognized by the Board of Trustees with the naming of the piano wing of the Mary D. and F. Howard Walsh Center for Performing Arts.
In addition to the honorary degrees, the morning commencement ceremony will recognize the degree candidates from the AddRan College of Liberal Arts, College of Fine Arts, School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Neeley School of Business. The afternoon ceremony will recognize graduates of Brite Divinity School, Bob Schieffer College of Communication, College of Education, College of Science & Engineering and Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences. There will be a reception for graduates in between ceremonies at the Brown-Lupton University Union.
Masks will be required when inside buildings, and TCU enforces a clear bag policy for all campus events.