By Ann Drinkard
Entertainment star Ryan Seacrest will officially be a degree recipient of the University of Georgia when he accepts his honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the spring Commencement in May. In addition, Seacrest will headline the UGA spring Commencement as the keynote speaker.
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved Seacrest’s honorary degree on Wednesday morning at their annual meeting.
Seacrest attended UGA for a brief period before leaving the school behind and heading to Hollywood in 1993. Upon his arrival in Hollywood, he hosted a number of shows prior to his emcee job with the hit show ‘American Idol.’
“I was flattered and honored and humbled to hear that the board had excepted this opportunity for me,” Seacrest said on Wednesday in a phone interview with Grady Newsource. “I look forward to getting back to the campus and being there on that special day.”
The University of Georgia declares that the honorary degree is the highest recognition that the University can give other than the earned doctorate degree.
“We look forward to welcoming Ryan Seacrest back to the UGA campus,” President Jere W. Morehead said in a statement released on Wednesday.
“Through Seacrest Studios, he has channeled his success into a source of comfort and creativity that has positively impacted the lives of pediatric patients and their families while providing significant learning opportunities for students. I am sure he will have a compelling message to deliver as the Commencement speaker.”
Take a look at the timeline of Seacrest’s success:
2002: Host, American Idol on FOX
2005: Executive Producer/Co-host, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on ABC
2006: Host, E! News
2006: Launched Ryan Seacrest Productions, which produces well-known show Keeping Up with the Kardashians
2009: Became highest paid reality TV host; making 45 million that year
2010: Founded the Ryan Seacrest Foundation
2014: Launched men’s clothing line at Macy’s, ‘Ryan Seacrest Distinction‘
You can listen below to Seacrest’s full interview.
.@RyanSeacrest to speak at #uga16 spring commencement and receive honorary degree. http://t.co/bpSaz6WvTH pic.twitter.com/cRuplHErIp
— UGA (@universityofga) October 14, 2015
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