Boise State University will award an honorary doctorate to acclaimed author Timothy Egan for his contributions to the humanities during the university’s 98th Commencement ceremony on May 7.
Egan is the author of eight books, including the National Book Award-winning “The Worst Hard Time,” a history of the Dust Bowl era in the 1930s, and “The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America,” a fascinating history of the devastating forest fires that swept across northern Idaho in 1910.
His books have been referred to as feats of historical journalism and he has received numerous awards for his writing, including a 2001 Pulitzer Prize as part of a team of reporters who wrote the series “How Race Is Lived in America.” He is a Seattle-based columnist for the New York Times, where he writes a weekly opinion piece from a Western perspective.
“Tim has made immeasurable contributions to the nation’s understanding of the West,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “His books have tackled the elemental issues that face our part of the country, including water, land and fire. And his storytelling and research abilities have brought to life key American figures like Teddy Roosevelt, Edward Curtis and, most recently, the lesser known Thomas Francis Meagher who was featured in ‘The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero.’”
Boise State’s Commencement ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, in Taco Bell Arena. About 1,600 students are expected to participate from the around 4,000 students who will have graduated from Boise State in this academic year — the most of any university in Idaho. Boise State awards about 46 percent of all bachelor’s degrees conferred by Idaho public universities each year, and has become home of the state’s largest graduate school.
In total this spring, 2,334 students are eligible to receive 2,561 degrees and certificates. Of those, 594 are eligible for honors: 352 cum laude, 191 magna cum laude and 51 summa cum laude. Thirteen doctoral students will be hooded.
As is the tradition at Boise State, Commencement also will feature a student speaker. Alaggio Laurino from Keuterville, Idaho, will represent the class of 2016. He is graduating with degrees in visual art and the history of art and visual culture. Laurino has been recognized on the Dean’s List with highest honors for seven semesters. These achievements are complemented by extraordinary leadership abilities and extensive involvement in student organizations, as well as artistic talents on and off the theater stage.
The ceremony will include the processional and recessional of candidates as well as individual recognition of each person and hooding of the doctoral candidates. Open seating will be on a first-come, first-seated basis. Arena doors open at 8:30 am. Due to the large crowd expected, the ceremony will be streamed live in the Student Union Building and online. Learn more atacademics.boisestate.edu/commencement.
BY: SHERRY SQUIRES PUBLISHED 11:12 AM / APRIL 18, 2016