| Year |
Name/Title |
Degree |
| 2012 |
Fred P. Keller, Jr.
Commencement Speaker |
N/A
|
| 2012 |
Marilyn Drake '75
Aquinas Trustee Emerita |
Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts |
| 2012 |
Sister Marjorie Vangsness, O.P., '38
**Special 125th Anniversary Honorary Degree |
Honorary Doctor of Divinity |
| 2012 |
R. Paul Nelson
President Emeritus
**Special 125th Anniversary Honorary Degree |
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 2012 |
Harry J. Knopke, Ph.D.
President Emeritus
**Special 125th Anniversary Honorary Degree |
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 2012 |
C. Edward Balog, Ph.D.
President Emeritus
**Special 125th Anniversary Honorary Degree |
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 2011 |
Rev. John I. Jenkins, CSC
President, University of Notre Dame
Commencement Speaker |
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 2011 |
Denise Christy '82
Businesswoman |
Honorary Doctor of Business |
| 2011 |
Peter Sturrus '77
Philanthropist |
Honorary Doctor of Science |
| 2011 |
Darrell (Ted) Thompson '52
Philanthropist |
Honorary Doctor of Science |
| 2011 |
Sister Jean Milhaupt, O.P., Ph.D. '45
**Special 125th Anniversary Honorary Degree |
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
|
| 2011 |
Lyle Morrison
Aquinas Trustee Emeritus
**Special 125th Anniversary Honorary Degree |
Honorary Doctor of Business |
| 2010 |
David Van Andel
Chairman and CEO of the Van Andel Institute
Commencement Speaker |
Honorary Doctor of Science |
| 2010 |
Rosemary Zant '58
Philanthropist |
Honorary Doctor of Public Service |
| 2010 |
Greg Alksnis '71
Aquinas Trustee Emeritus |
Honorary Doctor of Business |
| 2009 |
Richard Norton Smith
Author, Political Speechwriter, and Historian
Commencement Speaker |
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 2009 |
Alan Ryan
Aquinas Trustee Emeritus |
Honorary Doctor of Public Service |
| 2008 |
Mr. Martin J. Allen, Jr.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation and Trustee Emeritus of Aquinas College Commencement Speaker
|
Honorary Doctor of Public Service |
| 2008 |
Honorable Glenn Steil
Businessman and Former State Senator
|
Honorary Doctor of Laws |
| 2008 |
Sr. Mary Aquinas Weber, O.P. '58
Chancellor Emerita of Aquinas College |
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 2007 |
Gary Eberle, M.A.
Professor of English, Chair of English Department
Commencement Speaker |
No Honorary Degree |
| 2007 |
Bert R. Bleke
Former Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public Schools |
Honorary Doctor of Education |
| 2007 |
Kathleen Keller Muir
Retired Forest Hills Public Schools Teacher |
Honorary Doctor of Public Service |
| 2007 |
Mary Alice Williams
Former President and CEO of Arbor Circle and Interim Director of Aquinas College Advancement Operations |
Honorary Doctor of Public Service |
| 2006 |
Brian Williams, '69
Sports Commentator, Canadian Broadcasting Company
Commencement Speaker |
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 2006 |
Hon. Clement Chiwaya, M.P. '02
Representative in Parliament, Malawi |
Honorary Doctor of Social Sciences |
| 2006 |
Jorge Luis Acevedo Vargas
Director, Aquinas College Costa Rica Program |
Honorary Doctor of Fine Art |
| 2006 |
Sister Amata Fabbro, O.P. '61
Aquinas College Professor Emerita of Theology |
Honorary Doctor of Divinity |
| 2005 |
Bruce Cole, Ph.D.
Eighth Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities
Commencement Speaker |
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 2005 |
Mary Ann Keeler
Local patron of the arts, Aquinas friend |
Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts |
| 2005 |
Fred and Lena Meijer
Celebrating 10th anniversary of Frederick Meijer Gardens, retailers, cultural advocates and philanthropists |
Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts |
| 2005 |
Edward (Ned) M. Smith, '61
Aquinas Trustee Emeritus |
Honorary Doctor of Laws |
| 2004 |
Rev. Edward A. "Monk" Malloy
President of the University of Notre Dame
Commencement Speaker |
Honorary Doctor of Divinity |
| 2004 |
Diet Eman
Holocaust Survivor, Author and Lecturer |
Honorary Doctor of Social Science |
| 2004 |
Most Reverent Robert
J. Rose
Bishop Emeritus Diocese
of Grand Rapids |
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 2003 |
Roger Wilkins
Former Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Activist,
Clarence J. Robinson Professor of History and American Culture at George Mason University
Commencement Speaker
(Was not able to speak due to a death in the family) |
LL.D. (D. Laws) |
| 2003 |
John Canepa
Retired CEO/President, Old Kent Bank Financial Corp. |
D.B.A. (D. Business Administration) |
| 2003 |
Kay Donnelly, Community and Civic Activist |
LH.D. (D. Humane Letters) |
| 2002 |
David
Mathews, Ph.D.
President/CEO, Kettering Foundation
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 2002 |
Mary
Caroline "Twink" Frey
Founder, Nokomis Foundation & Community Activist |
D.S.Sc.
(D. Social Science) |
| 2002 |
Ella
Sims
Community and Human Rights Activist |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 2001 |
J.
Bryan Hehir, Th.D.
Professor of the Practice in Religion and Society and Chairman
of the Executive Committee Harvard Divinity School
Commencement
Speaker |
D.D.
(D. Divinity) |
| 2001 |
Kenneth
Marin
Professor of Economics, Aquinas College |
D.S.Sc.
(D. Social Science) |
| 2001 |
Lisel
Mueller
Poet and Author |
Litt.D.
(D. Letters) |
| 2001 |
Sue
William Silverman
Assoc. Editor, Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction, Author
and Professional Speaker on Abuse |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 2000 |
E.
Culpepper Clark, Ph.D., Dean
College of Communication and Information Sciences
The University of Alabama Commencement
Speaker |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 2000 |
Clare
Jarecki
Business Visionary, Community Leader & Philanthropist |
Sc.D.
(D. Sciences) |
| 2000 |
Rupert
Kettle
Musician, Composer and Professor of Music Aquinas College |
D.F.A.
(D. Fine Arts) |
| 2000 |
Sr.
Sue Mosteller, C.S.J.
Author & Dir., L'Arche Community of Daybreak |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1999 |
Patricia
Newby, Ed.D.
Supt., Grand Rapids Public Schools
Commencement
Speaker |
Litt.D.
(D. Letters) |
| 1999 |
Ralph
B. Baldwin, Ph.D.
Retired Exec. /Owner - Machinery Corp. |
Sc.D.
(D. Sciences) |
| 1999 |
Harry
J. Cargas, Ph.D. `57
Scholar, Alumnus |
Litt.D.
(D. Letters) |
| 1999 |
Kate
Pew Wolters `78
Chair, Kate & Richard Wolters Foundation, Alumna |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1998 |
Jerome
C. Byrne, J.D. `48
Attorney, Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher, Los Angeles
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1998 |
Diana
R. Sieger, M.S.W.
President, Grand Rapids Foundation |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1998 |
Norbert
J. Hruby, M.A., Ph.D.
President Emeritus, Aquinas College |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1997 |
Bishop
Kenneth E. Untener
Saginaw Archdiocese
Commencement
Speaker |
Litt.D.
(D. Letters) |
| 1997 |
Jonathan
Bradford
Exec. Dir., Inner City Christian Federation |
H.H.D.
(D. Humanities) |
| 1997 |
John
P. Lacks
President/CEO Lacks Enterprises |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1997 |
Sr.
Maurita Sengelaub, R.S.M.
Nurse, Educator, Health Care
Administrator |
LH.D. (D.
Humane Letters) |
| 1996 |
The
Honorable Dennis W. Archer
Mayor of Detroit
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1996 |
Sr.
Marie Michael Jacobs, O.P.
Principal, St. Andrew's School |
Ed.D.
(D. Education) |
| 1996 |
Eugene
Proctor
Exec. Dir., Baxter Community Center |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1996 |
Robert
Woodrick
Chairman, D & W Food Centers |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1995 |
Sr.
Jean Milhaupt, O.P., Ph.D.
Professor of English, Aquinas College Archivist
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1995 |
Emajean
"Pat" Cook
Civic Humanitarian
Trustee, Aquinas College Board |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1995 |
Ralph
W. Hauenstein
Owner, Werner Lahara, Inc.
Trustee, Aquinas College Board |
Litt.D.
(D. Letters) |
| 1994 |
Max
DePree
Director, Donnelly Mirrors, Inc.
Trustee, Aquinas College Board
Commencement
Speaker |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1994 |
Hyman
"Hy" Berkowitz
President/Owner, Rogers Department Stores |
H.H.D.
(D. Humanities) |
| 1993 |
Paula
A. Banks
President/Exec. Dir., Sears-Roebuck Foundation
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1993 |
Ralph
J. Bennett, Ph.D.
Professor of Accounting and Economics
Aquinas College |
H.H.D.
(D. Humanities) |
| 1993 |
Patrick
M. Quinn `58
Chairman, Aquinas College Board of Trustees |
H.H.D.
(D. Humanities) |
| 1992 |
Patrick
M. Quinn `58
President/C.E.O., Spartan Stores
Chairperson, Aquinas College Board of Trustees
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1991 |
Paul
A. Pearson, Ph.D.
Dir., Corporate Training and Development-Steelcase
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1990 |
Richard
M. Gillett
Ret. Chair. - Old Kent Financial Corporation
Commencement
Speaker |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1989 |
Robert
C. Pew
Chairman, Steelcase
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1988 |
Martin
E. Marty, Ph.D.
Professor, University of Chicago
Commencement
Speaker |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1987 |
Rabbi
Albert M. Lewis, Ph.D.
Temple Emanuel
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1987 |
The
Most Reverend Thomas J. Gumbleton
Auxiliary Bishop, Detroit Diocese |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1986 |
Rev.
Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C.
President, University of Notre Dame
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1986 |
The
Most Rev. Joseph M. Breitenbeck
Bishop, Diocese of Grand Rapids |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1986 |
Raymond
E. Knape
President, Knape and Vogt Manufacturing Co. |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1985 |
Lillian
Troll, Ph.D.
Author, Professor of Psychology
Rutgers University
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1985 |
Helen
J. Claytor
Former National President, YWCA
Michigan Hall of Fame |
H.H.D.
(D. Humanities) |
| 1985 |
Robert
C. Pew
Chairman/CEO, Steelcase, Inc. |
H.H.D.
(D. Humanities) |
| 1985 |
Richard
Reibel
President/CEO, Foremost Insurance |
H.H.D.
(D. Humanities) |
| 1984 |
Rev.
Cletus Wessels, O.P.
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1984 |
Wilferd
A. Petersen
Author |
LH.
D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1984 |
Marie
Mylan
V-P, Cooperative Church Supply Company Minneapolis, Minnesota |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1983 |
Stanley
J. Idzerda, Ph.D.
President, College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, Minnesota |
LH.
D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1982 |
John
Fenlon Donnelly
Chairman, Donnelly Mirror, Inc., Holland, Michigan
Chairman,
Board of Trustees, Aquinas College
Commencement
Speaker |
H.H.D.
(D. Humanities) |
| 1981 |
Msgr.
George C. Higgins
Catholic University of America
Director, Social Action Committee, NCWC
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1980 |
Samuel
B. Gould, Ph.D.
Former Chancellor, State University of New York
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1979 |
Pauline
Frederick
National Public Radio
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary
Degree |
| 1978 |
Roger
Remington, M.A., Ph.D.
Professor of History, Aquinas College
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1977 |
Kenneth
J. Marin, M.A.
Associate Professor of Economics, Aquinas College
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1976 |
Lee
A. Jacokes, M.A., Ph.D
Director of Records and Research, Aquinas College
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1976 |
Rose
Ellen Watson
Aquinas Benefactor, Saginaw |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1976 |
The
Honorable John A. Collins
Mayor, East Grand Rapids |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1976 |
The
Honorable Thomas F. McAllister
Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court
Judge, 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals |
LH.D.
(D. Humane Letters) |
| 1975 |
Sr.
Theresa Houlihan, O.P., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Aquinas College
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1974 |
U.S.
Rep. Shirley A. Chisholm
12th District - New York
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1974 |
William
Spoelhof, Ph.D.
President, Calvin College |
Litt.D.
(D. Letters) |
| 1973 |
Patricia
Harris
Washington Attorney
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1972 |
The
Honorable Rev. Robert F. Drinan, S.J.
U.S. Representative, Massachusetts
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1971 |
Arthur
M. Schlesinger, Jr.
Historian, Professor
City University of New York
Commencement
Speaker |
Lit.
D.
(D. Literature) |
| 1970 |
The
Honorable Stuart L. Udall
U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1969 |
Monsignor
Arthur F. Bukowski, M.A.
President, Aquinas College (1937-1969)
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1969 |
Norman
Cousins
Editor, Sunday Review |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1968 |
Margaret
Mealy
Exec. Dir., National Council of Catholic Women
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1968 |
Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (Posthumous)
Civil Rights Leader |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1967 |
Most
Rev. John Joseph Wright, D.D.
Bishop, Diocese of Pittsburgh, PA
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1967 |
Sr.
Jane Marie Murray, O.P.
Teacher, Author, Lecturer |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1966 |
The
Honorable Otis M. Smith
Justice, Michigan Supreme Court
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1965 |
U.S.
Senator Philip A. Hart
Michigan
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1965 |
Mother
Mary Victor Flannery, O.P.
Reverend Mother General, Dominican Sisters
Congregation of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1965 |
U.S.
Rep. Gerald R. Ford
Michigan (Fifth District) |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1964 |
William
R. McAndrew, A.B.
Exec. V-P, NBC News
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1963 |
Thomas
T. Murphy, M.C.S.
Acting Dean, College of Business Administration
University of Notre Dame
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1963 |
Raymond
Francis Knape
Account Executive / Partner, Seidman & Seidman |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1963 |
Rev.
Charles Pius Wilson, O.P.
Chaplain, Dominican Sisters
Congregation of Our Lady of Sacred Heart |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1963 |
Charles
Arthur Woodhouse
V-P, Union Bank and Trust Co. |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1962 |
Most
Rev. Thomas Lawrence Noa, D.D.
Bishop, Diocese of Marquette, Michigan |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1962 |
James
Lawrence McInerney, K.S.G. |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1962 |
Sr.
Mary Honora Jack, I.H.M.
President, Marygrove College, Detroit |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1961 |
John
Cornelius Hayes, J.D.
Dean, School of Law, Loyola University, Chicago
Commencement
Speaker |
Litt.D.
(D. Letters) |
| 1961 |
Sr.
Mary Xavier Kinney, R.S.M.
Director, Mercy Central School of Nursing
Grand Rapids, Michigan |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1960 |
Albert
Roy Beatty
Asst. V-P, Association of American Railroads
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1960 |
Right
Rev. Msgr. Raymond H. Baker, Ph.D., S.T.D.
Vica General, Diocese of Grand Rapids |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1960 |
Simon
Danker Den Uyl
Chairman, Bohn Aluminum and Brass Corp., Detroit |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1959 |
The
Honorable G. Mennen Williams
Governor of Michigan
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1959 |
Right
Rev. Monsignor William J. Murphy
Supt. of Schools, Diocese of Grand Rapids |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1959 |
Peter
Melvin Wege
Industrial Executive, Philanthropist |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1958 |
John
A. Oesterle, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1957 |
Right
Rev. Patrick J. Ryan, S.T.B., A.B., LL.D.
Major General, Chief of Chaplains, U.S.A.
Commencement
Speaker |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1957 |
Most
Rev. Allen James Babcock, D.D., LL.D.
Bishop, Diocese of Grand Rapids |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1957 |
Very
Rev. William D. Marin, O.P., S.T.D.
Prior Provincial, Province of St. Joseph |
LL.D.
(D. Laws) |
| 1956 |
George
N. Shuster, Ph.D.
President, Hunter College
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1955 |
Riley
Hughes
Professor of English
School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1954 |
George
B. Harrison
Professor of English, University of Michigan
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1953 |
Francis
J. O'Malley
Professor of English, University of Notre Dame
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1952 |
Edward
A. McDonnell
Managing Editor, The Michigan Catholic
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1951 |
Noel
P. Fox, Attorney
Chair, Michigan Labor Mediation Board
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1950 |
The
Reverend Leo A. Pursley, Pastor
St. John Baptist Church, Ft. Wayne, Indiana
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1949 |
The
Reverend B. U. Fay, O.P., Ph.L.
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1948 |
The
Very Reverend Vincent J. Flynn, Ph.D.
President, St. Thomas College, St. Paul, Minn.
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1947 |
The
Most Reverend Thomas L. Noa, D.D.
Coadjutor Bishop, Sioux City, Iowa
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1946 |
The
Right Reverend Monsignor Felix J. Vogt, V.F.
Pastor, St. Mary's Cathedral, Saginaw
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1945 |
The
Reverend Ligouri Nugent, C.Ss. R.
Glenview, Illinois
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1944 |
Thomas
G. Roach, Attorney
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1943 |
The
Very Reverend John F. Monroe, O.P., President
Aquinas College High School, Columbus, Ohio
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
| 1942 |
Jerome
G. Kerwin, Ph.D., LL.D.
University of Chicago
Commencement
Speaker |
No
Honorary Degree |
