Famous Recipients of Honorary Degrees in Connecticut

2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Patti Smith, is the latest in a long string of famous recipients of honorary degrees from Connecticut colleges and universities according to courant.com. Smith will receive an honorary doctorate from Wesleyan University in Middletown at the University's 184th Commencement on May 22, 2016. Smith is well known for her social activism. Smith has received many honorary degrees, including one in 2008 from her alma mater, Rowan University.

Wesleyan has awarded honorary degrees to famous alumni in the past. They've honored film & television producer and director Joss Whedon, a 1987 Wesleyan grad, in 2013, and 1975 Wesleyan grad New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick in 2005.

Smith is not the first Rock and Roll HOF'er to receive an honorary degree in Connecticut, Sir Paul McCartney received a Doctorate of Music from Yale University in New Haven in 2008. Yale has also awarded degrees to Aretha Franklin in 2010, and legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese in 2011

The University of Connecticut has awarded honorary degrees to Michael Bolton in 1995, Bill Cosby and Quincy Jones in 1996, plus Mia Farrow and Earth, Wind and Fire's Phillip Bailey in 2011.

Not to be outdone, Quinnipiac University has awarded Kal "Kumar" Penn an honorary degree in 2015. I wonder if he made it to the speech on time? I'll bet NPH was doing his best to delay his arrival. Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic awarded Maya Angelou an honorary degree in 2003. Trinity College in Hartford awarded one to the ever smiling Katie Couric in 2014. And Danbury's own Western Connecticut State University? Montel Williams in 1999.

I'm sure that there are many that I missed, who comes to mind?

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