Sean “P Diddy Combs received an honorary doctorate from the college he dropped out nearly 25 years ago.
Sean “P Diddy” Combs reacts after delivering the commencement address at Howard University.
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Sean “P Diddy” Combs became Dr. Combs when he was awarded an honorary doctorate in humanities during his inaugural address at Howard University in 2014. Diddy enrolled at university in 1990 but dropped out shortly thereafter to pursue a music career. Still, he said Howard University changed his life and he was humbled to receive a degree.
Meryl Streep has three honorary doctorates from the Ivy League.
Meryl Streep receives an honorary doctorate from Harvard.
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Meryl Streep holds four honorary doctorates, three of which come from the country’s most prestigious universities: Harvard, Yale and Princeton.
The Oscar-winning actress, who earned her own degree from Vassar College, also received a Doctorate in Fine Arts from Indiana University in Bloomington in 2014 for her cinematic talents and commitment to women.
Oprah Winfrey has four honorary degrees.
Oprah Winfrey receives an honorary doctorate from Harvard.
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Oprah has been included in more “Most Powerful People” lists than we can count, so it’s only natural that she’s also received four honorary doctorates for her work in philanthropy and business. The media mogul holds doctorates from Princeton, Howard University, Duke University and Harvard.
In 2010, Alec Baldwin received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater.
Alec Baldwin speaks at the opening of the Manhattan School of Music.
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Baldwin earned his bachelor’s degree (he began his studies in 1979 but never completed it) at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 1994 and returned in 2010 to receive an honorary doctorate. The actor founded a scholarship fund called the Alec Baldwin Drama Scholarship Fund in 2010 to help students afford NYU Tisch education.
Robert De Niro was honored during his inaugural address at Bates College in Maine and he also holds an honorary doctorate from New York University.
Robert De Niro at the New York University graduation ceremony.
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The iconic film star received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Bates College during his 2012 inaugural speech.
Despite De Niro’s controversial statements about higher education — he said he made a good decision and saved money by not going to college — he left students with this wisdom: “When you’re an actor, always stay true to your character… When you’re not an actor, you have character and you always stay true to yourself.”
In 1996 he also received an honorary doctorate in fine arts from NYU.
Orlando Blooms College in his hometown honored him with a PhD.
Orlando Bloom before receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Kent.
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In 2010, Orlando Bloom traveled to his hometown of Canterbury, UK, to pursue a PhD at the University of Kent.
“It’s a really big deal. It’s an exciting day for me,” he told the `. “I’m really honored to be back in my hometown. I have so many great memories of the Cathedral and Canterbury. I lived near the university so it’s like my playground. It’s a big, big honor and I feel lucky that my mother is doing it – nobody more than my mother.”
Stephen Colbert delivered the inaugural address and received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, Northwestern University, in 2011.
Stephen Colbert at Northwestern University’s commencement ceremony.
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Northwestern University honored Colbert with a doctorate in fine arts.
“After I graduated from here, I moved to Chicago and improvised,” Colbert said in his speech. “Well, there are very few rules of improvisation, but one of the things I was taught early on is that you’re not the most important person in the scene. Everyone else is. And life is an improvisation. You have no idea what’s going to happen next, and you mostly just make things up as you go along.”
Denzel Washington holds two honorary degrees.
Denzel Washington receives an honorary doctorate from Dillard University.
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Oscar and Tony winner Denzel Washington delivered the inaugural speech at the University of Pennsylvania in 2011, where he received an honorary doctorate.
“Do you have the courage to fail?” Washington asked students. “If you don’t fail, you don’t even try.”
In 2015 he also received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Dillard University in New Orleans.
Kerry Washington delivered the inaugural address and received an honorary doctorate from George Washington University in 2013.
Kerry Washington speaks and receives an honorary doctorate from George Washington University.
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Successful actress Kerry Washington returned to her alma mater, George Washington University, in 2013 to receive an honorary doctorate. Washington, who was GW’s presidential scholar in the arts, also delivered the opening address.
“You and you alone are the only person who can live the life that will write the story you should tell,” Washington told the graduates.
Ed Sheeran received an honorary doctorate from the University Campus Suffolk in England in 2015.
Ed Sheeran.
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The PhD was awarded in recognition of Sheeran’s “outstanding contribution to music,” People magazine reported.
Sheeran, who dropped out of school at 16 to pursue his music career, posted a proud photo on Instagram in his cap and gown.
“I graduated today, I’m officially Dr. Sheeran,” he wrote.
In 2017, Lionel Richie received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.
Lionel Richie speaks at Berklee College of Music.
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The Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe winner also joined a performance of “We Are The World” at Berklee’s annual opening concert.
“You’re first to tell the world what it needs to know,” Richie said in his acceptance speech for his honorary doctorate.
Jennifer Garner received an honorary doctorate from her alma mater, Denison University in Ohio.
Jennifer Garner.
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Garner, who graduated from Denison in 1994, received an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters at the university’s opening in 2019. She also delivered the 2019 graduation speech, encouraging graduates to keep in touch with one another.
“Work friends, with whom you talk about work. Lovers, who do you talk to about love and dinner reservations. But with college friends, you can talk about anything, and you can’t hook up with them and still be happy,” she said.
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