Pomp & Circumstance

Stephen Henry Lewis, a Canadian AIDS activist, former politician and broadcaster, served as this years Commencement speaker. Lewis (above), who was the United Nations' special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa from 2001 to 2006, now helps run AIDS-Free World, an advocacy nonprofit. His 2005 book, Race Against Time, examines the international community's deficiencies in dealing with the disease in Africa. Lewis also received an honorary degree at the June 13 ceremony. "I'm thrilled," he says. "It's my first honorary degree from an American higher education institution, and Dartmouth has such a sterling reputation." Following Lewis' selection, some students went through the annual ritual of grousing and asking, "Who is this guy?" President Kim countered by telling The D that Lewis is "one of the greatest ora- tors living on the face of the earth... .There's nobody else I know who has made the world's troubles their troubles and does something about them as effectively as Stephen Lewis." Also chosen to receive honorary degrees: U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, photo journalist James Nachtwey '70, Rwandan health secretary Agnes Binagwaho, CEOs Arthur Irving and Barry McLean '60, Th'61, and author Jodi Picoult.

DID YOU KNOW?

14 Dartmouth's rank on The DailyIH Beast website's list of the most stressful colleges to attend. Stanford earned the top spot.

$35 million Amount of an Anonymous gift to create the Dartmouth Center for Health Care Delivery Science.