Posted on October 25, 2010 in News
By USM Free Press

Nominations for honorary degrees and Distinguished Achievement Awards are due to be submitted to the President’s office by Monday, Nov. 8. Also due are recommendations for Commencement speakers.

According to a community e-mail from USM President Selma Botman, honorary degrees are awarded to “individuals with an international, national or regional reputation for their intellectual, scholarly, or creative achievement with special emphasis on original contributions in their fields of competence, or to those who have attained significant recognition for unusual, high visibility public service.” Excluded are current faculty, staff, and trustees, and sitting elected state or local officials.

Honorary degrees and Distinguished Achievement Awards are given at Commencement in May.

Those wishing to nominate an individual for an honorary degree, Distinguished Achievement Award, or as Commencement speaker should e-mail their nomination to Joshua Gates, at jgates@usm.maine.edu, including a cover letter with a brief rationale for the nomination, a description of the individual’s connection to Maine, and a narrative biography and resume of the nominee.