Office of Communication and Public Affairs

NBC anchor Brian Williams to address graduating class of 2003
Maureen McKew

The members of Villanova University’s class of 2003 and their guests will hear from a commencement speaker who, at a relatively young age, has seen more and reported more news than the most of the legends of journalism did in their lifetimes. Brian Williams, NBC News anchor and managing editor of “The News with Brian Williams” on CNBC, will speak to the graduates. The ceremonies will begin at 10:00 a.m. in Villanova Stadium, weather permitting.

Since joining NBC News in 1993, Brian Williams has become one of his network’s best known anchors and traveling correspondents. His live, nightly hour-long newscast, “The News with Brian Williams,” counts many of the nation's lawmakers and opinion-makers among its nightly audience. In May 2002, it was announced that Williams is to become the anchor of NBC Nightly News effective Dec. 1, 2004, taking over for Tom Brokaw.

Williams was the NBC News chief White House correspondent from 1994-1996, and was the anchor and managing editor of the Saturday edition of NBC Nightly News for six years. He has reported from 25 overseas nations on stories of national and international importance, including the Gulf Wars and intensive live coverage of the Sept. 11 attacks and their aftermath. He covered the historic election of Nelson Mandela in South Africa, the Arafat-Rabin Mideast peace agreement from Jericho and Jerusalem, and in 1994 the 50th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Williams has anchored live newscasts from the Middle East, Russia and Europe on numerous occasions. He has been awarded three Emmys: for his 1987 coverage of the stock market crash, for his 1993 coverage of the Iowa floods, and in 2001, for his live coverage of the crash of a Singapore Airlines 747 in Taiwan. Villanova University will award Williams an honorary doctorate of laws.

Three other distinguished guests will also receive honorary degrees. The Most Rev. Daniel T. Turley, O.S.A., is the bishop of Chulucanas, Peru, where many Villanova students have volunteered their services. He will be honored for spending his priestly ministry working for justice for poor people, and will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters

Herbert G. Rammrath ’57 A&S, is the retired president of General Electric Plastics - Pacific, the world’s leading supplier of engineering plastics, and is currently chairman of the United Plastics Group, a leading global plastics molding company. Rammrath will receive the honorary degree of doctor of laws in recognition of his distinguished business career, his loyalty as an alumnus, and his generosity to the University, most recently expressed through a commitment to the creation of an endowed faculty chair and endowed scholarship fund in the international business program of the College of Commerce and Finance.

Loretta Clairborne, who began life developmentally challenged, has become a powerful voice urging others with disabilities to succeed. She has been a participant in Special Olympics for more than 30 years. Among her numerous awards and honors, she won the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 4th Annual ESPY Awards (sponsored by ESPN) in 1966. She was inducted into the Special Olympics Hall of Fame, and also has served on the board of Special Olympics International. Clairborne was named Special Olympics Female Athlete of the Year in 1988. In efforts to advance the ideals of Special Olympics, she shares her achievements by speaking to corporate sponsors, members of Congress, schools and community groups. She will be awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters.

	Blueprints - May 2003 Edition
Homepage Back Archives	Blueprints - May 2003 Edition

		NBC anchor Brian Williams to address graduating class of 2003 Maureen McKew The members of Villanova University’s class of 2003 and their guests will hear from a commencement speaker who, at a relatively young age, has seen more and reported more news than the most of the legends of journalism did in their lifetimes. Brian Williams, NBC News anchor and managing editor of “The News with Brian Williams” on CNBC, will speak to the graduates. The ceremonies will begin at 10:00 a.m. in Villanova Stadium, weather permitting. Since joining NBC News in 1993, Brian Williams has become one of his network’s best known anchors and traveling correspondents. His live, nightly hour-long newscast, “The News with Brian Williams,” counts many of the nation's lawmakers and opinion-makers among its nightly audience. In May 2002, it was announced that Williams is to become the anchor of NBC Nightly News effective Dec. 1, 2004, taking over for Tom Brokaw. Williams was the NBC News chief White House correspondent from 1994-1996, and was the anchor and managing editor of the Saturday edition of NBC Nightly News for six years. He has reported from 25 overseas nations on stories of national and international importance, including the Gulf Wars and intensive live coverage of the Sept. 11 attacks and their aftermath. He covered the historic election of Nelson Mandela in South Africa, the Arafat-Rabin Mideast peace agreement from Jericho and Jerusalem, and in 1994 the 50th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Williams has anchored live newscasts from the Middle East, Russia and Europe on numerous occasions. He has been awarded three Emmys: for his 1987 coverage of the stock market crash, for his 1993 coverage of the Iowa floods, and in 2001, for his live coverage of the crash of a Singapore Airlines 747 in Taiwan. Villanova University will award Williams an honorary doctorate of laws. Three other distinguished guests will also receive honorary degrees. The Most Rev. Daniel T. Turley, O.S.A., is the bishop of Chulucanas, Peru, where many Villanova students have volunteered their services. He will be honored for spending his priestly ministry working for justice for poor people, and will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters Herbert G. Rammrath ’57 A&S, is the retired president of General Electric Plastics - Pacific, the world’s leading supplier of engineering plastics, and is currently chairman of the United Plastics Group, a leading global plastics molding company. Rammrath will receive the honorary degree of doctor of laws in recognition of his distinguished business career, his loyalty as an alumnus, and his generosity to the University, most recently expressed through a commitment to the creation of an endowed faculty chair and endowed scholarship fund in the international business program of the College of Commerce and Finance. Loretta Clairborne, who began life developmentally challenged, has become a powerful voice urging others with disabilities to succeed. She has been a participant in Special Olympics for more than 30 years. Among her numerous awards and honors, she won the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 4th Annual ESPY Awards (sponsored by ESPN) in 1966. She was inducted into the Special Olympics Hall of Fame, and also has served on the board of Special Olympics International. Clairborne was named Special Olympics Female Athlete of the Year in 1988. In efforts to advance the ideals of Special Olympics, she shares her achievements by speaking to corporate sponsors, members of Congress, schools and community groups. She will be awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters.