Latest news from Loughborough University
| 18 July 2007 | PR 07/98 |
Dame Kelly Holmes, Tony Benn and Sue Townsend among those to be honoured by Loughborough University
Loughborough University will confer honorary degrees upon fourteen distinguished
people at this summer’s degree ceremonies, in recognition of their
outstanding contributions to industry, academia, business, sport, the
arts and society.
Among those receiving awards are:
– Double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes
– Former MP Tony Benn
– Author Sue Townsend
– Illustrator Quentin Blake
– UK Skills Envoy Sir Digby Jones
– Chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights Trevor Phillips, and
– Deputy chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) Sir Keith Mills.
The ceremonies will also see Loughborough graduate and Chair of LOCOG Sebastian Coe return to the University to give the oration for Sir Keith Mills.
The awards will be presented as follows:
Thursday 19 July at 10.30am
Professor Surendra Prasad
Director of the Indian Institute of Technology
Honorary Doctor of Technology (Hon DTech)
In recognition of his contributions to communications research.Peter Davenport
Former President of the Alumni Association
Honorary Doctor of the University (Hon DUniv)
In recognition of his dedicated service to the Alumni Association, the University and the Loughborough Experience
Thursday 19 July at 3pm
Professor Paul Ching-Wu Chu
President of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Honorary Doctor of Science (Hon DSc)
In recognition of his pioneering research in the field of high
temperature superconductivity and for university leadership.Mike Turner
Chief Executive, BAE Systems
Honorary Doctor of Science (Hon DSc)
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to business and the aeronautical industry.
Friday 20 July at 10.30am
Professor Dr Zhan Tao
President of Shandong University
Honorary Doctor of Science (Hon DSc)
In recognition of his contributions to mathematics and university leadership.The Right Honourable Mr Anthony Benn
Socialist MP 1950-2001
Honorary Doctor of Technology (Hon DTech)
In recognition of his contribution to raising the profile of science and technology in the UK.
Friday 20 July at 3pm
Trevor Phillips
Chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights
Honorary Doctor of the University (Hon DUniv)
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to society through the promotion of racial equality.Sue Townsend
Author
Honorary Doctor of Letters (Hon DLitt)
In recognition of her outstanding contribution to literature and laughter.
Monday 23 July at 10.30am
Sir Keith Mills
Chairman of Loyalty Management Group Ltd; Deputy Chairman of The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited; Team Principal of the Origin America’s Cup Team and Director of Tottenham Hotspur Plc; Former International President and CEO of the London 2012 Olympic Games bid
Honorary Doctor of Technology (Hon DTech)
In recognition of his innovations in business and customer loyalty, and for his role in the leadership of the successful London 2012 Olympic Games Bid.Chris Rawlinson
Loughborough graduate and international sportsperson
Honorary Doctor of the University (Hon DUniv)
In recognition of his outstanding contribution as a leading international athlete and role model for other athletes.Dame Kelly Holmes
School Sports Champion and Olympic Gold Medal Winning Athlete
Honorary Doctor of the University (Hon DUniv)
For her outstanding contributions to athletics and to promoting sport in schools.
Monday 23 July at 3pm
Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham
Former Director-General, Confederation of British Industries and now UK Skills Envoy
Honorary Doctor of the University (Hon DUniv)
In recognition of his outstanding contributions both to corporate law and business.Professor Ken Friedman
Professor of Leadership and Strategic Desig, Norwegian School of Management;
and Associate Professor, Denmark’s Design School
Honorary Doctor of Science (Hon DSc)
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to Design Research Scholarship.
Tuesday 24 July at 10.30am
Quentin Blake
Artist and illustrator
Honorary Doctor of Letters (Hon DLitt)
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to illustration.
Approximately 3,000 students will receive their awards at the same ceremonies, which will be broadcast live on the University’s web site at www.lboro.ac.uk/graduation
– Ends –
For all media enquiries contact:
- Hannah Baldwin, Head of PR, Loughborough University,
T:01509 222239, E: H.E.Baldwin@lboro.ac.uk
Notes to editors
- Members of the media are welcome to attend the graduation
ceremonies, which will take place in the Sir David Wallace building
on the University campus. There will also be opportunities for interviews,
photography and filming of the honorary graduates in the Sir John Beckwith
Centre for Sport (Lecture Theatre) thirty minutes prior to the start
of each ceremony. You are asked to access the campus via the main University
entrance on Epinal Way. Please inform the Public Relations Office on
01509 222224, in advance, if you wish to attend.
- Loughborough is one of the country’s leading
universities, with an international reputation for excellence in teaching
and research, strong links with industry and unrivalled sporting achievement.
It is a member of the esteemed 1994 Group – a set of internationally recognised, research-intensive universities – and has a reputation for the relevance of its work. Its degree programmes are highly regarded by professional institutions and businesses, and its graduates are consistently targeted by the UK’s top recruiters.
Loughborough is also the UK’s premier university for sport. It has perhaps the best integrated sports development environment in the world and is home to some of the country’s leading coaches, sports scientists and support staff. It also has the country’s largest concentration of world-class training f acilities across a wide range of sports.
In the 2006 National Student Survey, the University gained a top five place, with nine out of Loughborough’s 23 departments topping their subject tables. Loughborough was also placed 6th in the 2007 Times Good University Guide and was named winner of the 2006 THES award for the UK’s Best Student Experience. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, the University has been awarded five Queen's Anniversary Prizes – an achievement bettered by no other university.