Baroness Doreen Lawrence, poet Benjamin Zephaniah, children’s author Pippa Goodhart and a nurse who has helped hundreds of vulnerable Leicester people will join DMU students at graduation ceremonies next week.
Benjamin with students when he visited DMU for the Cultural eXchanges Festival in 2014
They are being given honorary degrees from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) in recognition of their efforts to change society for the better.
Next week, they will receive their accolades in front of thousands of students as DMU’s winter graduations are staged at the Curve theatre.
Baroness Doreen Lawrence has become a courageous public campaigner following the murder of her son Stephen in a racist attack in South London in 1993.
Her achievements to help and inspire others have been recognised around the world.
Baroness Lawrence, who fought tirelessly for justice following the murder of Stephen, was awarded first place in Radio 4's Women's Hour Power List last year as she was hailed as “truly an example to us all” by Home Secretary Theresa May.
Renowned poet Benjamin Zephaniah is well known for speaking out on political issues as well as creating and performing poetry which is accessible to all.
He left school unable to read or write but has gone on to perform his work around the world, write plays, books, record music and act. He inspired a packed house when he performed at DMU’s Cultural eXchanges festival last year.
Most parents probably have at least one book by Leicestershire children’s author Pippa Goodhart on their children’s shelves. She has sold more than a million copies of picture book You Choose, and has worked with DMU creative writing students for the past six years to inspire and pass on her tips.
Jane Gray has a lifetime of service in nursing, has provided care and support to hundreds of people in the NHS and today, as director of Inclusion Healthcare, runs a homeless healthcare service in Leicester.
She was pivotal in setting up the Dawn Centre in the city and now her team runs services for Charles Berry House for those at their most vulnerable.
There are five graduation ceremonies which run from Tuesday to Thursday at Curve theatre. Students from DMU’s four faculties – Business and Law, Technology, Art, Design and Humanities, and Health and Life Sciences will all collect their degrees.
Posted on Thursday 15 January 2015