Celebrating Our Honorees
The Montgomery College Honorary Degree Program (Associate of Arts in Public Service) was approved and established by the Board of Trustees on October 16, 1995. Through this program, the Board has the opportunity to recognize individuals who have risen to a position of eminence, have acquired a national or international reputation in a selected field, hold a distinguished record of public and community service, or have made a notable donation of time, talent, or gift to Montgomery College.
Featured Honorary Degree Recipients
Mrs. White, a lifelong advocate for reading and education, is an active volunteer leader throughout Montgomery County, concentrating on early childhood education and language development. She worked in the nationally recognized Montgomery County Public Schools for more than ...
Complete List of Honorary Degree Recipients
Honorary Degree Recipients from 2020–Present
2023
76th Commencement
May 19, 2023
Ms. Kimmy Duong
Ms. Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg
Mr. Richard Mattingly
Mr. Craig Rice
2022
75th Commencement
May 20, 2022
Degrees awarded at the inauguration of Dr. Jermaine F. Williams on May 19, 2022.
Dr. Charlene Mickens Dukes
J. Stephen McAuliffe III, Esq.
Ms. Mirna “Lupi” Quinteros-Grady
Mr. Clifford White and Mrs. Deborah White
2021
74th Commencement
May 21, 2021
No honorary degrees awarded (Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a virtual commencement ceremony was held and no honorary degrees were awarded in 2021.)
2020
73rd Commencement
May 22, 2020
No honorary degrees awarded (Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a virtual commencement ceremony was held and no honorary degrees were awarded in 2020.)
Honorary Degree Recipients from 2010–2019
2019
72nd Commencement
May 17, 2019
Ms. Sheila C. Johnson
Commencement speaker
Mrs. Catherine S. Leggett
The Honorable Isiah “Ike” Leggett
Mr. Elias Woldu
2018
71st Commencement
May 18, 2018
Imam Yahya M. Hendi
Commencement speaker
Dr. Kazem K. Kazempour
Mr. Diego Uriburu
2017
70th Anniversary Commencement
May 19, 2017
Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard
Commencement speaker; no honorary degree awarded
2016
69th Commencement
May 20, 2016
Mr. Kojo Nnamdi
Commencement speaker
2015
68th Commencement
May 22, 2015
Ms. Cokie Roberts
Commencement speaker
Mr. Steven V. Roberts
Commencement speaker
Ms. C. Marie Taylor
2014
67th Commencement
May 23, 2014
The Honorable Valerie Ervin
Commencement speaker
Ms. Judith A. Clark
Dr. Adi Shmueli and Mrs. Iris Shmueli
Mr. Gustavo Torres
2013
66th Commencement
May 24, 2013
Mr. Norman R. Augustine
Commencement speaker
2012
65th Commencement
May 18, 2012
Dr. Hercules Pinkney
Commencement speaker
Ms. Suzan E. Jenkins
2011
64th Commencement
May 23, 2011
Dr. Wallace D. Loh
Commencement speaker
Mr. George Dang
2010
63rd Commencement
May 21, 2010
Dr. Charlene R. Nunley
Commencement speaker
The Honorable Henry B. “Hank” Heller ’62
Dr. George B. Thomas Sr.
Ms. Carol A. Trawick
Honorary Degree Recipients from 2000–2009
2009
62nd Commencement
May 22, 2009
Ms. Suzanne Malveaux
Commencement speaker
Dr. Donald K. Day and Dr. Karen Gruner
Mr. Douglas M. Firstenberg
2008
61st Commencement
May 16, 2008
The Honorable Constance A. Morella
Commencement speaker
Mr. J.W. Marriott Jr.
Mr. Richard E. “Dick” Marriott
2007
60th Anniversary Commencement
May 18, 2007
Dr. Winnie King ’77
Commencement speaker
Ms. Bernice G. Grossman
The Honorable Ida G. Ruben
2006
60th Anniversary Gala Awards Dinner
October 19, 2006
Mr. Joshua M. Freeman
59th Commencement
May 17, 2006
The Honorable Margaret Spellings
Commencement speaker
Mr. Donald E. Dworkin ’62
Ms. Sarah G. Silberman
2005
Rockville Campus 40th Anniversary Convocation
August 24, 2005
Mr. Arthur P. Becker (1918–2004)
Awarded honorary degree posthumously
58th Commencement
May 20, 2005
Ms. Judy C. Woodruff
Commencement speaker
Mr. Albert R. Hunt
Commencement speaker
Mrs. Mary Gregory Jarvis
Mr. Anthony M. Natelli (1936–2004)
Awarded honorary degree posthumously
2004
57th Commencement
May 21, 2004
Mr. H. Patrick Swygert
Commencement speaker
Mr. Clifford M. Kendall and Mrs. Camille E. Kendall
Mr. Charles A. Lyons
Mr. Richard S. Will
2003
56th Commencement
May 23, 2003
Mrs. Hazel R. O’Leary
Commencement speaker
Dr. John W. Diggs (1936–1995)
Awarded degree posthumously
Mr. Thomas E. Ladd
Mr. Paul L. Peck
2002
55th Commencement
May 17, 2002
Ms. Wendy Thompson ’92
Commencement speaker
Rev. Dr. T. Jeremiah Baltimore Sr.
Ms. Esther B. Newman ’75
2001
54th Commencement
May 18, 2001
Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III
Commencement speaker
Mr. John J. “Jack” Fitzgerald
Mr. Roscoe R. Nix
2000
53rd Commencement
May 19, 2000
Dr. A. Lee Fritschler
Commencement speaker
Mr. Gordon S. Macklin and Mrs. Marilyn M. Macklin
Rev. James C. Moone, Ph.D. (1929–1999)
Awarded honorary degree posthumously
Honorary Degree Recipients from 1996–1999
1999
52nd Commencement
May 20, 1999
Dr. Rex M. Ellis
Commencement speaker
Mr. Robert F. Costello III ’64
Mr. Joseph L. Herson and Mr. Bernard I. Mills
Dr. Robert E. Parilla
Dr. Paul L. Vance
1998
52nd Commencement
May 20, 1999
Mr. Bob Levey
Commencement speaker
Mr. Wallace H. Becker ’57 and Mrs. Ruth Y. Becker ’82
Mr. Solomon Graham
Dr. Winnie King ’77
Mr. Morgan Wootten ’52
1997
50th Anniversary Commencement
May 22, 1997
First Collegewide Commencement, Rockville Campus Athletic Field
Mrs. Marian Wright Edelman
Commencement speaker
Mrs. Martha B. Gudelsky
The Honorable Sidney Kramer and Mrs. Betty Mae Kramer
1996
50th Anniversary Convocation
November 20, 1996
To commemorate the 50th anniversary, the Board of Trustees awards the first Associate
of Arts in Public Service honorary degree to alumnus Mr. Milton “Sonny” Clogg, member
of the first class of Montgomery Junior College.
Mr. Milton F. “Sonny” Clogg, Esq. ’48