Every year, Colorado College awards Honorary Degrees to individuals who have distinguished themselves through professional, scholarly, or artistic achievements or through notable contributions to the College or the wider community. Past recipients have included a choreographer, a U.S. Senator, a photographer, a National Geographic millennium explorer, and a banjo-playing international relations advocate, ranging in age from 34 to 94 years.

Honorary degrees are awarded twice a year: at Opening Convocation and Commencement. Opening Convocation Honorary Degree recipients are CC alumni who in their careers and achievements exemplify the imaginative and resourceful use of their liberal arts education. Commencement Honorary Degree recipients must have demonstrated excellence in their fields and be representatives of Colorado College's values and vision, and need not necessarily be Colorado College alumni.

The criteria for honorary degrees, approved by the Colorado College Faculty, are as follows:

Commencement Honorary Degree – Open to non-CC Alumni

• Individuals, alumni or not, who have distinguished themselves through professional, scholarly, or artistic achievements or through notable contributions to the College or larger community.

Opening Convocation Honorary Degree – Must be CC Alumni

• CC alumni who exemplify the successful application of their liberal arts education at Colorado College, who have demonstrated excellence in their fields, and who are role models for CC students.
• Successful nominations will provide a justification that the nominee is pursuing a course of excellence, innovation or commitment that may lead to notable achievements.
• The distinguished recipients of Alumni Honorary Degrees ordinarily are in mid-career, not at the end of their working lives.

Do you know someone whose work should be recognized with a Colorado College Honorary Degree? If so, please prepare a nomination!