Newfoundland and Labrador’s home-grown television personality Rick Mercer leads a remarkable list of luminaries who will be honoured by Memorial University during this year’s spring and fall convocation.

The group includes renowned businesspeople, community activists and scholars.

In order of presentation, this spring’s honorary graduands are comedian and writer Rick Mercer, distinguished author and editor Dr. David Pitt, professor of sport science Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper, humanitarian and soldier Lt.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire, businessman Ches Penney, cultural theorist Dr. Henry Giroux, naturalist and conservationist Dr. Bernard Jackson and former St. John’s mayor and businessman John Murphy.

In the fall convocation 2005, slated for Oct. 21 in St. John’s, honorary degrees will be awarded to Scott Hand, chairman and CEO of Inco Ltd., and Elizabeth Penashue, a community activist in Labrador.

Honorary degree recipients are chosen by the Senate, the university’s academic governing body, after a very careful examination of the grounds for their nomination.

The honorary doctorate is designed to recognize extraordinary contribution to society or exceptional intellectual or artistic achievement. The awarding of honorary doctorates, an important feature of Memorial’s convocation, serves to celebrate both the individual and the university as well as to inspire our graduates, their families and guests.

Spring convocation kicks off at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook on May 13. In St. John’s, convocation runs at the Arts and Culture Centre from Wednesday, May 25, to Friday, May 27.

For details on Memorial’s honorary degree recipients, click here.