Saturday, April 18, 2009

Dolly Parton To Receive Honorary Doctorate On May 8

The University of Tennessee's College of Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony university - during which UT will grant an honorary doctorate degree to Dolly Parton - will be a ticketed event for graduates and their guests only.

In a commencement ceremony to be held Friday, May 8, in Thompson-Boling Arena. The arena "will be at full capacity" due to high interest in Parton's appearance, UT Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek said today in a memo to UT faculty, staff and students.

Parton will be awarded a doctorate of humane and musical letters. The UT Board of Trustees approved the degree for the entertainer, philanthropist and Sevier County native during its winter meeting in February.

"This is a historic event as it is only the second honorary degree to be granted by UT Knoxville," Cheek wrote. "As you might expect, we've received a tremendous response for the ceremony. Our first priority is to our graduates to ensure their friends and family can attend the ceremony."

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