Do What You Love, Honorary-Degree Recipients Advise Class Of '96

Class Of '96 DR. WHO: Harold Varmus poked fun at himself at Harvard. Colleges and universities recognized the scientific achievements of Nobel laureates, distinguished alumni, government officials, and one famous frog in awarding honorary degrees during commencement exercises this spring. Schools large and small, looking to recognize either a specific accomplishment or an entire career of superlative performance, named a wide range of science educators and researchers to receive honorary doc

Written byThomas Durso

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Class Of '96

DR. WHO: Harold Varmus poked fun at himself at Harvard.

Colleges and universities recognized the scientific achievements of Nobel laureates, distinguished alumni, government officials, and one famous frog in awarding honorary degrees during commencement exercises this spring.

Schools large and small, looking to recognize either a specific accomplishment or an entire career of superlative performance, named a wide range of science educators and researchers to receive honorary doctorates (see list on page 8). And those researchers who spoke to graduates had a fairly consistent message: Working in a field you truly enjoy brings the highest rewards.

Many of the scientists honored were repeat recipients. For biochemist and Nobel laureate Gertrude B. Elion, who has been given 25 honorary degrees, it was the first few occasions that generated the greatest thrill.

'DAMN THE TORPEDOES': Gertrude Elion limits addresses to three minutes and general themes. "The first three that ...

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