LeVar Burton To Deliver Howard University's 157th Commencement Speech
LeVar Burton is making his way to Washington, D.C. for a special affair. The actor and director has been named the keynote speaker for Howard University's 157th commencement ceremony. Set to take place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 10 a.m. on The Yard, the 68-year-old will serve as the Commencement orator and also receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
According to a press statement from the HBCU, graduates from the university's 14 schools and colleges this year will be among the largest graduating classes in the institution's history to receive bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in various disciplines.
Additionally, Emery Neal Brown, Ph.D., will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree, the Honorable Barbara Lee will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, Lilian Seenoi-Barr will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, and Natasha Tretheway will receive a Doctor of Letters Degree.
Burton is recognized by Howard University as is one of the world's most prolific and impactful artists, noting his decades-long career that includes roles as an actor, director, producer, author, and podcaster. His accolades include 15 Emmys Awards, a Peabody Award, a Grammy Award, and seven NAACP Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Inaugural Children's & Family Emmys.
Recently, the Reading Rainbow host returned to his book-reading roots with a reading at the Altadena, CA library. The space had been closed since the devastating wildfires that plagued the area earlier this year. According to NBC Los Angeles, the book selected for the program was The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm.
'So many kids have been impacted by the fires, by this tragedy,' Burton said. 'An event like this was just an opportunity for them to be kids.'
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