Note: This message was originally sent on May 5, 2022
The last final will soon be given, families are arriving from around the planet, 1,235 undergraduates, 786 graduate and doctoral students will soon receive their degrees. So much to celebrate.
Please allow me to share just a bit more about what will happen this weekend…..
The practice of granting honorary degrees dates to 15th century Europe, when universities began recognizing people for their career or civic achievements with degrees “honoris causa,” which is Latin for “for the sake of honor.” Gonzaga University is grateful to continue this practice, celebrating those we admire for their impacts in their fields and communities. This year’s list of recipients is an exceptional group, who have inspired countless others with their resilience, determination, bravery, generosity, innovative entrepreneurship, and commitment to being people for others. At the 2022 commencement ceremonies, seven outstanding members of the Zag family will be honored.
- Christine Gregoire (’77 J.D.) will receive the Law Medal at the School of Law ceremony for her impact as Governor of the state of Washington and after her term through her work with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Challenge Seattle, and other positions in service of others.
- Gloria Nevarez will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the School of Law ceremony. Gloria serves as the fourth full-time commissioner in the 66-year history of the West Coast Conference and is one of nine female conference commissioners serving at Division I schools.
- Terry Payne will receive a Doctor of Laws degree at the graduate ceremony for his work to foster a “people-first” culture in his business, and his many philanthropic impacts for the benefit Indigenous communities and future leaders through education.
- Walt and Karen Worthy will each receive a Doctor of Humane Letters at the graduate ceremony for their entrepreneurial spirit, which they put to work to strengthen and improve the Inland Northwest through restoration and expansion in the field of hospitality (we all have enjoyed their trademark service when staying at any one of the Davenport Hotels!).
- Angela Jones (’16 J.D.) will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters at the undergraduate ceremony for her impacts and dedication to improving public education through her leadership of several vital organizations in the state of Washington.
- Carla Peperzak will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the undergraduate ceremony in recognition of her life-saving bravery in the Netherlands during the Holocaust and her commitments to preventing hate and to celebrating the Jewish community.
Christine, Gloria, Terry, Karen, Walt, Angela and Carla will join the ranks of legendary Zags like Bing Crosby, Sister Helen Prejean, Rev. James Martin and many others. We are so grateful to celebrate their accomplishments and impacts on our community, which serve as examples for Gonzaga’s class of 2022 of what people for others working toward the common good can achieve. Each of the above commencement ceremonies will be fully live-streamed in real time, more information can be located here: Commencement 2022!
We are also incredibly excited to be able to celebrate the Class of 2020 in person on May 7 & 8. As you all know, one of the many unfortunate effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic is that we were not able to celebrate the Class of 2020 with an in-person Commencement. In September of 2020, we held a virtual ceremony with the hope of bringing the class back to campus for an in-person event. We are grateful to this class for their patience and partnership as we navigated the challenges of the pandemic. As such, hundreds of alumni (from the class of 2020), joined by hundreds of their family members and friends are headed to Spokane for numerous celebrations that we have planned – please see the Class of 2020 Celebration Weekend page for details.