The distinction, the highest honor the University bestows on individuals whose contributions to the public good warrant exceptional recognition, was presented this year to:
- Charles M. Cawley, founder of the credit card company MBNA;
- Ernest Wayne Craven, H.F. du Pont Professor Emeritus of Art History at UD;
- Stephanie L. Kwolek, inventor whose research served as the basis for the development of the synthetic material Kevlar;
- Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr., Hall of Fame shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles;
- Louise Dowling Roselle, former first lady of the University of Delaware;
- David Paul Roselle, president of the University of Delaware from 1990-2007; and
- Olympia J. Snowe, U.S. senator (R-Maine).
“The honorary degree is the highest honor bestowed by the University of Delaware and is reserved as a great addition to our institution,” Cosgrove said. “Today it is my pleasure to bestow this honor on seven outstanding recipients who will joins us now as members of the Class of 2008.”
Cosgrove asked each recipient to join him at the podium as he read their citations and awarded their degrees. Click on the name of each recipient above to see his or her citation.
Article by Becca Hutchinson
Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson