Yes, it's true. Dolly Parton has a lot to be happy about right now. In May, she will be given an honorary doctorate from the University of Tennessee College of Arts and Sciences. (lucky for you if you're in her class)
My initial reaction was that of... well, I don't know. I was sort of appalled, but then i read a little more about it, and I have to say, she's alright.
UT Chancellor Jimmy Cheek is quoted in the News Sentinel, praising her for "her role as a cultural ambassador, philanthropist, and lifelong advocate for education." She is the founder of the Imagination Library, a program in Sevier County that gives children a book every month from birth to 5 years of age.
Dang, Dolly! That's a lot of books!
What also surprised me is that this is not her first honorary doctorate. Carson Newmann gave her one in 1990 for commitment to education in Appalachia. Also, this is only the second honorary doctorate UT has given to anyone, the first being Howard Baker.
What can you take away from a story like this? Well, looks can be deceiving; intelligence apparently comes in all shapes and willfully enhanced sizes.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
By Golly
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3 comments:
John Lennon and Paul McCartney received honorary doctorates from Oxford. ha.
or so i've been told.
I suppose it's a great opportunity for UT to recognize the efforts of someone who is apparently doing a lot to better the community. Can't fault that. But it's only the second time? Weird.
I love her! She's so much smarter and savvier than she ever gets credit for.
Apparently the UT faculty is opposed to honorary degrees, which is why there's not been more.
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