Editor's Note: At 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's Spring 2025 Commencement, the Nevada System for Higher Education will honor standout individuals with honorary doctorates for their contributions to improving academic programs and student life on campus.
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Joe Murphy – A dedicated philanthropist and business leader, Murphy has supported 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ for over 15 years through contributions to the Rebel Athletic Fund and the establishment of scholarships at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine. His generosity has helped countless students achieve their academic and professional goals.
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Claytee D. White – As a historian, researcher, and advocate for cultural preservation, White has made lasting contributions to 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ and the broader Nevada community. Her dedication to documenting oral histories has provided an invaluable record of Nevada’s evolving social and cultural landscape.
White will also be honored, along with the late Lois Tarkanian, as a Distinguished Nevadan. Read the . This story from our archives takes a look at some of the luminaries honored in the past.
Like many universities, 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ awards honorary doctorates to public figures who have made extensive and notable contributions to their fields and to higher education. From politicians to philanthropists to sports figures and generals, 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's honorary doctorate awardees have come from a variety of backgrounds. With Las Vegas' rich entertainment history, it is not surprising that 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ has presented honorary degrees to some notable showbiz luminaries.
Bob Hope
Although 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ has been awarding honorary doctorates since 1964, it wasn't until 1970, that the first celebrity, legendary comedian Bob Hope, was presented with his Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Hope, who headlined a charity benefit at the Sahara Hotel for the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ athletic program in April 1970, was a natural to receive the award for his work on behalf of the university.
Frank Sinatra
Fast forward to 1976, our nation's bicentennial, and an extra special honoree was needed. It was none other than "Ol' Blue Eyes" himself, Frank Sinatra, who held court on the commencement podium on a blustery May afternoon at Sam Boyd Stadium. Noting that his education primarily had come from "the school of hard knocks," the man who had made his Las Vegas Strip debut at the Desert Inn back in 1950 and who had enthralled thousands of visitors with his Rat Pack buddies on the stage of the Copa Room in the Sands Hotel, was suitably touched by his award. "This is the first educational degree I have ever held in my hand. I will never forget what you have done for me today." Dr. Sinatra, as he was referred to in the Rebel Yell after the award, remained a strong supporter of 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ following his award, giving a star-studded benefit for the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ athletics department in 1981.
Wayne Newton
Another legendary Las Vegas entertainer, Wayne Newton, received his honorary degree in 1980 and was honored at commencement again in 2001 with a Distinguished Nevadan Award. Appearing for the first time as a headliner in 1963, Newton soon broke all hotel attendance records at the Flamingo Hilton. By 1994, he hit 25,000 shows on the Strip, cementing his place as "Mr. Las Vegas."
Diana Ross
Singer Diana Ross was presented with a doctor of humane letters in 1984 for her generosity in standing in for an ailing Sammy Davis Jr. at a 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ fundraiser the previous year. Her appearance at the ceremony was notable for the a patch over her left eye, which according to Jet magazine, was due to the fact that she had accidentally splashed fingernail glue into her face. Ross was the last entertainer to stand on the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ commencement stage for nearly two decades.
Anthony Zuiker
In 2003, 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ recognized alumnus Anthony Zuiker, '91 BA Communication Studies, better known around Hollywood as the creator and executive producer of the wildly successful CSI: Crime Scene Investigation television series and its spinoffs. It was a proud day for Zuiker, who said at the time, "The university means a great deal to me. I had great relationships with professors on campus who guided me through my years here. I have always had the same dreams: win an Oscar, win an Emmy, and receive a doctorate."
Siegfried and Roy
The following year, Siegfried and Roy, Magicians of the Century, were honored with the Distinguished Nevadan Award, which is presented at commencement to prominent residents who have made "significant achievements that have contributed to the cultural, scientific or social advancement of Nevada." Coming less than a year after Roy was severely injured by a tiger in the duo's long-running show, the award showed the deep feelings that the university community felt toward the entertainers. They had done much philanthropic work for the community during their long and distinguished career on the Las Vegas Strip.
Guy Fieri
At the 2012 fall commencement, celebrity chef and 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ alum Guy Fieri, '90 BS Hotel Administration, received an honorary doctorate for his public service, for maintaining a strong connection with 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ students, and for supporting fundraising efforts for the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration. Fieri has held strong to his Rebel roots throughout the years. 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ faculty and students have been featured on his show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, and he regularly returns to campus to motivate and interact with students. Upon receiving the honorary degree, Fieri said, "To get the honorary doctorate is amazing. I've had some great things happen in my career, but this is at the top."
Jimmy Kimmel
The most recent entertainment honoree was comedian, talk show host, and former Las Vegan Jimmy Kimmel, who received his honorary doctorate in 2013. A one-time 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ student (1985-86), Kimmel joked that he had worked harder on his commencement speech than on all the homework he'd had at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ. No doubt it was one of the funniest commencement speeches ever given at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ but Kimmel's primary message to students -- finish what you started and do it well — is timeless.
