This kind of thing can’t be celebrated enough. Acclaimed actor, director, and literacy advocate LeVar Burton will address the graduating class of Howard University during its 157th commencement ceremony. The event, scheduled for Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 10 a.m. on The Yard, will also see Burton awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of his contributions to education and the arts.
Yes, yes, and yes. Education and inspiration are what the culture needs more of, period.
This year’s graduating class, representing Howard’s 14 schools and colleges, is set to be one of the largest in the university’s history. Students will earn bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across various academic disciplines.
Alongside Burton, several distinguished figures will receive honorary degrees. Emery Neal Brown, Ph.D., will be honored with a Doctor of Science degree, while the Honorable Barbara Lee and Lilian Seenoi-Barr will each receive a Doctor of Laws degree. Natasha Trethewey will be awarded a Doctor of Letters degree.
Burton, best known for hosting Reading Rainbow, recently reconnected with his passion for storytelling during a special reading at the Altadena, CA, library. The event marked the library’s reopening after wildfires had forced its closure earlier in the year. Burton chose The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm for the occasion, offering comfort to children affected by the disaster.
“So many kids have been impacted by the fires, by this tragedy,” Burton said. “An event like this was just an opportunity for them to be kids.”
As Howard University prepares to celebrate its graduates, Burton’s speech promises to deliver a message of hope, resilience, and the enduring power of education.