Dr Alex to Amelia Dimz: All the vibey celebs with honorary degrees at this year’s ceremonies

Major FOMO that these weren’t at my grad tbh

4 months ago

Emily Smith | News

You know when you’re sitting in your uni graduation ceremony and some fossil of a man who was a student at your uni 60 years ago and is now mildly known in a niche area of archaeology is invited back to do a speech and you’re sitting there trying not to fall alseep? Well, imagine if you didn’t have a boring old man and actually had Dr Alex George or Amelia Dimoldenberg doing your speech instead.

Every year a whole new load of celebrities are chosen by universities to be honorary graduates and give speeches at the graduation ceremonies. Celebrities are usually selected to be awarded an honorary degree for outstanding contribution to society, or in their respective fields, over the course of their career. Honorary degrees are the most esteemed award a university can give out and the celebrities given the award graduate alongside the rest of the students.

But this year the celebrities chosen have just been amazing vibes.

So these are all the vibey celebs who have been given honourary degrees in this year’s graduation ceremonies:

Dr Alex George

Via YouTube

Dr Alex George, former A&E doctor, Love Island star and now mental health campaigner was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Exeter, where he originally graduated in 2015.

In his speech on Thursday, he spoke about how his brother’s suicide had spurred on his campaign, as he wanted others to “see there is always a better day”.

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Dr George said he had been “moved to tears” when he received the letter offering him an honorary degree and spoke about the “incredible time” he had studying in Exeter. “I loved my time at Exeter. there were many highs, but there were lows as well, as well as many challenges through studying,” he said.

“But this place gave me a foundation to go on and live life in the way I wanted to.”

He said it was important to mark academic success but “the most important thing is the health and happiness of ourselves and the people around us”.

Amelia Dimoldenberg

@ameliadimz

Part of my speech from recieving an Honorary Fellowship from Central Saint Martins, where I graduated with a degree in Fashion Journalism 7 years ago! I went into my own graduation feeling somewhat of a failure as I hadn’t received the approval of my tutors. Looking back, the judgement is irrelevant. What is important, was my belief in the idea and the perseverance to continue on with it. I urge anyone with an idea to have the confidence and perseverance to believe you can make it. ♥️ #CSM #graduation

♬ original sound – ameliadimz

Amelia Dimoldenberg, founder and host of Chicken Shop Date, was given an honorary degree from Central Saint Martins, where she graduated with a degree in Fashion Journalism in 2017. She started her speech with: “At my graduation, I received one of the lowest grades in my class. I know, shock!”

She then went on to explain how she never got the approval of her tutors who didn’t understand her final project. This made her go into her graduation “feeling somewhat of a failure”. But, she added, looking back “the judgement is irrelevant. What is important, was my belief in the idea and the perseverance to continue on with it. I urge anyone with an idea to have the confidence and perseverance to believe you can make it,” she said.

She finished by explaining how she created Chicken Shop Date alongside her degree, using the knowledge from it to make her own form of artistic expression. Iconic!

Joe Wicks

Via YouTube

Joe Wicks, fitness coach and presenter, was given an honorary degree by Loughborough University on Tuesday. It was in recognition of Mr Wicks’s work “championing health and wellbeing for all”, which included his “PE with Joe” series during the pandemic.

Joe described receiving the degree as “an absolute honour and a privilege”. He said: “The university has a great reputation in sport, health, and wellbeing so to receive an honorary degree makes me feel incredibly proud.”

The university said that despite his success with his Body Coach brand, which includes social media accounts with millions of followers, Joe Wicks has “always been committed to improving everyone’s health and wellbeing, giving much of his advice for free so it can be shared as widely as possible”.

Josh Widdicombe

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Comedian and TV presenter Josh Widdicombe is another celeb to have been awarded an honorary degree from Exeter this year. The Last Leg star grew up in Dartmoor near Exeter and studied at South Dartmoor Community College and Exeter College. For uni, he actually did a sociology and linguistics degree at Manchester, though.

Speaking to grads in a speech at the ceremony, Josh said was “thrilled” to have been given the honorary degree. He also joked with the graduates about studying in Exeter before offering them career advice, saying that “life isn’t a straight path” and not to take themselves too seriously.

“Your 20s are meant for finding out about life, they are meant for experimenting,” he said. “Genuinely it’s not a race, if you don’t know you will find out. Life isn’t a straight path, none of it is a waste.”

Mel B

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Utterly obsessed with the leopard print robes! Spice Girl Mel B was awarded an honorary degree from Leeds Beckett University for her work as a campaigner and advocate for victims of domestic violence.

She described the degree as “life-changing” and “as massive” as performing at Wembley Stadium with the Spice Girls. She also thanked Chris Bottley at William Northam Robemakers for creating her a personalised gown with leopard print lining. I need one, please.

In her speech, she said: “Being awarded this honorary degree from Leeds Beckett University has been life-changing. I didn’t just want to accept an award. I wanted to be accepted as a student at Leeds Beckett. Not only have I been awarded this degree, but I was also accepted as a student on the trauma-informed care course, which has been a huge step for me in so many ways.”

Davina McCall

Via YouTube

TV presenter Davina McCall was awarded an honorary degree from Newcastle University in the same week her daughter also graduated from Newcastle. The former Big Brother host was made an honorary doctor of civil law by Newcastle for her work championing women’s health.

She said: “I feel a bit of a fraud, having seen how much work my daughter has put into her four-year degree and I swan in and get one.”

But she added: “I am particularly chuffed that it is given to me for my work around women’s health. I will continue to raise awareness and campaign for education and more research for as long as I am breathing. I have rather fallen in love with Newcastle. Thank you so much.”

Loyle Carner

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Rap artist Loyle Carner has been given an honorary doctorate by the University of the Arts London this week. Speaking in an Insta post about the award, he said: “10 years ago, in heavy times I dropped out of uni after my first year and promised my mum if I hadn’t made us any money after six months I’d try and go back. But I never did.

“10 years later, I’m proud to say I’ve been awarded an honorary doctorate from @unioftheartslondon, and my kids were in the room to watch it happen. So, if you know me. Feel free to change my name in your phone…” Students at the event were apparently shocked that his real name isn’t Loyle Carner and was read out as Benjamin Gerard Coyle-Larner.

Damon Albarn

Via YouTube

Another musician and another Exeter grad, Damon Albarn, frontman of Blur and Gorillaz was given an honorary degree “in recognition of his creativity, innovation and commitment to environmental causes”

The musician joked his honorary degree “was somewhat of an elevation” as the last time he had been to Exeter was to get his driving theory certificate. He told students he knew they would “forge wonderful careers”.

“Trust in your instincts and don’t take no for an answer. Be open-minded and go out there and do good things,” he added.

Millie Bright

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Lioness Millie Bright is another celeb to have been given an honorary degree this week. The Chelsea player, who captained England to the Women’s World Cup final in 2023, was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Derby. She said it was a “massive honour and a privilege” to be recognised.

She added: “Still trying to process these prestigious awards I have been honoured with. Feeling extremely lucky to be recognised for my services to football on and off the pitch, something that is known as my job but I see it as my playground, my happy place and a community that is inspiring so many.”