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Published on Thursday, 19 April 2012 10:43
Columbia College Chicago will be honoring its 2,000-student graduating class at commencement ceremonies taking place on May 5th and 6th at the Chicago Theatre. At the ceremonies, six individuals in the entertainment/media/arts fields, whose careers and legacies have been inspirational to Columbia College students, will be receiving honorary degrees. The six honorary degree recipients include music legends, a critically-acclaimed filmmaker, a highly-regarded photographer, a top marketing executive, and video game producer.
The six individuals receiving honorary degrees from Columbia College Chicago are...
Phil Ramone, Music Producer. (To be honored on May 5th at 9:00am.) One of the most respected producers in the music industry, Phil Ramone has earned 33 Grammy nominations, 14 Grammy Award wins, an Emmy, and numerous other awards, and three honorary degrees from other universities.
Lee Flaherty, CEO of Flair Communications. (To be honored on May 5th at 12:30pm.) While not a native Chicagoan, Lee Flaherty has lived here most of his adult life, starting in 1964. He started his own marketing firm, Flair Communications Agency here in Chicago, which now has satellite offices in New York & San Francisco. In 1977, he founded the Chicago Marathon, and in 1984, founded the Old St. Pat's Worlds Largest Block Party.
Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Photographer. (To be honored on May 5th at 4:00pm.) Considered to be one of the most influential and innovative photographers working today, Philip-Lorca diCorcia has had his work exhibited across the world.
Steve James, Film Producer/Director. (To be honored on May 6th at 9:00am.) Acclaimed, multi-award winning film producer & director Steve James is probably best known for his Chicago-based documentary "Hoop Dreams" (1994) and his downstate Illinois-based documentary "Stevie" (2004). He works quite a bit with the non-profit Chicago movie production company Kartemquin Films, including for his latest movie, "The Interrupters," which is about life inside Chicago street gangs.
Warren Spector, Video Game Designer/Producer. (To be honored on May 6th at 12:30pm.) A top video game and role playing game designer and producer, Warren Spector is responsible for such huge hits as "System Shock," "Deus Ex," "Ultima," "Wing Commander," "Marvel Super-Heroes," and the recent "Epic Mickey." A New York native, Spector earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Chicagoland's Northwestern University.
Mavis Staples, Singer. (To be honored on May 6th at 4:00pm.) Born in Chicago, Mavis Staples became one of the most beloved gospel/rhythm & blues singers of all time. She is know for her work with her family in the Staples Singers, as well as her solo work. Staples has won a Grammy Award and was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. VH1 named her one of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll, Rolling Stone magazine listed her as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time, and she has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Columbia College Chicago, founded in 1890, is one of the largest art colleges in the country with nearly 12,000 students in over 120 undergraduate and graduate programs. The college, located in Chicago's South Loop, features a School of Media Arts, School of Fine and Performing Arts, and School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. A great many Chicago radio & television employees/staffers started their careers at Columbia College Chicago.
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