Commencement programs are an important archival resource for Governors State University. Not only do they include the list of graduates and the program of events for the ceremonies including the names of speakers, most of them also include biographical information on the honorary degree recipients, a description of the academic costume worn by participants, and a description of the Governors Mace. Some programs also include titles of theses, biographies of community service award recipients, and names of retiring employees and their years of service.
A new addition to our collection are copies of the Honorary Degree Citations provided by Penny Purdue of the President's Office. Please note this collection is missing citations for Eric Hoffer (1977), Henry Mark Petrakis (1980), Robert Petty, Sr. (2005), Dr. Quentin Young (2006), and Dr. Edward Hirsch (2006). The Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree was first conferred at GSU's 5th commencement ceremony in 1975.
Learn more about commencements at Governors State University.
Commencement 2000
Honorary Degree Citation: Father George Clements, Governors State University
Commencement 1999
Commencement Program: 1999, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Christopher Zorich, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Eleanor Holmes Norton, Governors State University
Commencement 1998
Commencement Program: 1998, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Bill Kurtis, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Jesse L. Jackson Jr., Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Monsignor Ignatius D. McDermott, Governors State University
Commencement 1997
Commencement Program: 1997, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Georgie Anne Geyer, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Irving B. Harris, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Richard Hunt, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: The Honorable Aldo DeAngelis, Governors State University
Commencement 1996
Commencement Program: 1996, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Adele Smith Simmons, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Curtis J. Crawford, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Lewis Manilow, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Richard W. Riley, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Wynton Marsalis, Governors State University
Commencement 1995
Commencement Program: 1995, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: William J. Raspberry, Governors State University
Commencement 1994
Commencement Program: 1994, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: Carol Moseley-Braun, Governors State University
Honorary Degree Citation: David Broder, Governors State University