Sir Edmund Hillary receives honorary doctorate
Friday, October 20, 2006
- 20 January 2012: Wikinews Shorts: January 20, 2012
- 1 October 2011: 'Fascinating' and 'provocative' research examines genetic elements of bipolar, schizophrenia
- 18 August 2011: Former Governor-General of New Zealand Paul Reeves dies aged 78
- 9 August 2011: Allied WWII spy Nancy Wake dies aged 98
- 3 May 2011: One confirmed dead after tornado hits Auckland, New Zealand
Yesterday the first person to climb Mount Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Waikato for his work in the fields of environment, education and humanitarian causes.
Sir Edmund said: "Receiving this so close to home is something special," as all his other doctorates he had received had all come from other countries. Sir Edmund was born in Auckland and had travelled around Waikato, and in regards to that he said: "It's a great honour to be here, and I feel that it's almost home to me."
Roy Crawford, vice-chancellor of the University of Waikato, said: "The award of honorary doctorate acknowledges Sir Edmund's outstanding achievements and qualities."
The university already has a scholarship programme named after Sir Edmund.
Sir Edmund was the first person, along with his Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953.
Sources
- Tamara Penniket. "Sir Ed adds to mountain of accolades" — Waikato Times, October 20, 2006
- "Hillary gets honorary doctorate" — One News, October 19, 2006
