Outlander’s Sam among degree stars
Uni honours for six of the best
A World Cup winning footballer and a star of hit TV series Outlander are to receive honorary degrees from Stirling University,
Former French internationalist Lilian Thuram, and Outlander star Sam Heughan will collect the honours at next week’s graduation ceremonies.
Thuram won the World Cup at France 98 and followed that up with victory at Euro 2000. In 2008, at the end of his football career, the former defender – a Unicef ambassador – set up the Lilian Thuram Foundation, which educates against racism and promotes equality. He is being recognised for his outstanding contribution to football, as well as his commitment to tackle racism through education.
Heughan is recognised for his outstanding contribution to acting and charitable endeavours. Double-BAFTA award winning director Hamish Hamilton; CEO of Whitbread Alison Brittain CBE; CEO of the Scottish Grocers Federation Pete Cheema OBE; and retail expert Professor John Dawson, will also be recognised at the three-day event.
This summer’s graduation ceremonies will also see former First Minister, The Rt Hon Lord Jack McConnell, installed as the university’s Chancellor, succeeding Dr James Naughtie.
Following his installation on Tuesday, June 25, Lord McConnell will confer degrees on 2113 students, over five ceremonies.
Professor Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the university, said: “We aim to ‘be the difference’ and I am proud that, at this summer’s graduation ceremonies, we will honour six outstanding individuals who embody this ambition and are exemplary role models to our graduands.
“As Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, we are delighted to welcome France’s most-capped footballer and World Cup winner Lilian Thuram to Stirling, where we will celebrate his outstanding contribution to football and his efforts to tackle racism through education.
“Sam Heughan is one of Scotland’s leading actors – bestknown for his role in popular television series Outlander – and, through his charity work, is dedicated to improving the lives of others.
“We are also very pleased to recognise the outstanding contributions of Alison Brittain CBE, one of the UK’s pre-eminent business leaders and one of just six female chief executives listed on the FTSE 100; double-BAFTA award winning director Hamish Hamilton, who has produced and directed many of the biggest live shows on the planet; Pete Cheema OBE, who has transformed the Scottish Grocers Federation into a modern and highly influential trade body; and renowned academic Professor John Dawson, who founded the Institute for Retail Studies at Stirling.
“Graduation is a time of special celebration – and this year’s ceremonies are even more memorable, as they mark the installation of our new Chancellor, The Rt Hon Lord Jack McConnell. I warmly welcome home Jack – an alumnus of the university – to his new role and extend my congratulations to all of our graduands and honorary graduands on their hard-earned accomplishments.”
The summer graduation ceremonies will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week.
I am proud that, at this summer’s graduation ceremonies, we will honour six outstanding individuals who are exemplary role models