Brokaw, Ripken to be honored by JHU

NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw and former Baltimore Orioles infielder Cal Ripken, Jr. will receive Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degrees from Johns Hopkins University during the afternoon diploma ceremony at Commencement on May 23.

According to Paula Burger, chair of the Honorary Degrees Committee and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and International Programs, Brokaw and Ripken were selected because of outstanding achievements in their fields.

"Tom Brokaw has had a very distinguished career as a journalist," said Burger. "He has been inducted into the Television and Broadcasting Hall of Fame and has received seven Emmys for special reports."

Brokaw, who will deliver the Commencement address, has been the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw since 1983. It is not customary for Commencement speakers to receive honorary degrees from the University, making Brokaw's selection as a recipient more unique.

"Students grew up watching Tom Brokaw on the news," said Stephen Goutman, senior class president. "Him being here as the graduation speaker is really exciting, and the honorary degree is a nice way for Hopkins to honor him and his achievements."

Ripken, who was selected to receive an honorary degree last year but could not attend the commencement ceremony, will receive his honorary degree with Brokaw during the afternoon diploma ceremony.

The honor will be Ripken's first honorary degree ever. Honorary degrees are normally conferred during the morning citation ceremony.

According to Goutman, University President William R. Brody's office thought students would appreciate sharing their graduation ceremony with Ripken.

"Students are big baseball fans. I think they would appreciate seeing Cal and would enjoy graduation more," said Goutman.

Burger confirmed that Brody's office made a special effort to request that Ripken appear at the afternoon ceremony with graduating students.

"I think President Brody's office thought students would really enjoy it," said Burger.

According to Burger, Ripken was selected based on his athletic achievements and community involvement, including his link to Johns Hopkins.

"He has been quite supportive of various activities at Johns Hopkins, including a program in neurology," said Burger. "He and his wife Kelly established the Kelly and Cal Ripken, Jr. Foundation in 1992 to expand their charitable giving. They have given to the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, the Johns Hopkins Kennedy Krieger Institute and many other programs."

Ripken also helped create a fund of more than $2 million for research to find a cure for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. In 1995, Ripken broke Gehrig's record of consecutive games played.

Ripken was born in Maryland and joined the Orioles in 1978. He was named the Orioles Most Valuable Player four times; in addition, he was named to the Associated Press All Star Team six times and the American League All Star Team 13 times.

"We are recognizing him not only for his extraordinary achievements as an athlete, but for extraordinary achievements in community involvement and as an exemplar of good sportsmanship," said Burger.

John Maroon, a spokesman for Ripken, said that Ripken is excited and honored to receive the degree.

"Cal is overwhelmed by the prospect of being honored by Johns Hopkins," said Maroon. "It's not only one of the most well-respected universities in the world, but it's also right in his backyard."

Brokaw and Ripken are two of the six individuals approved by the Board of Trustees to receive honorary degrees in 2002. The four other recipients include two scientists, an economist and a medical illustrator.

Parnell Choppin, former President of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a member of the National Academy of Arts & Sciences, has helped to forge important partnerships with the Johns Hopkins University Medical Institutions.

Robert Mundell is an economist who won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1999 and was formerly a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bologna Center. After leaving the Bologna Center, Mundell worked for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before taking his current position as a professor at Columbia University.

Ranice Crosby, a pioneer in the field of medical illustration and a founder of the Association of Medical Illustrators, has been affiliated with the University since 1943. Described by Burger as the "grande dame of medical illustration", she has also earned a master of liberal arts from JHU.

Jiang Shusheng, President of Nanjing University, a physicist and a member of China's National People's Congress, will receive his degree in Nanjing later this year during a celebration of the University's 100th anniversary.