Michael Phelps, Jalen Rose Awarded Honorary Degrees From University of Michigan
Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Michigan on Saturday, May 2.
Phelps and former Fab Five basketball player Jalen Rose were part of a group that got Michigan to its one millionth degree given out since the university started in 1845.
Phelps attended the University of Michigan from 2004-08 but did not compete for the swim team since he was already a professional. His coach, Bob Bowman, was the Michigan head coach at that time.
Phelps claimed 28 Olympic medals and a record 23 gold during his career, and is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
More than 10,000 students and 60,000 guests filled Michigan Stadium Saturday morning for the commencement ceremony.
Michigan conferred honorary degrees to Rose, Phelps, Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, engineer Ingeborg Hochmair, Regent Emeritus Ron Weiser and Kent Syverud, who was going to become the new president of the university before being diagnosed with brain cancer in April.
Rose received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree and was the ceremony’s keynote speaker.
“You’re going to do so many amazing things,” Rose told the graduates. “As a matter of fact, one of you might hire me one day. That’s the Michigan way. And I just want you guys to know being able to travel through the entire world, there are two words that always connect us: ‘Go Blue.’ So congratulations graduates, the world is your oyster.”
