What do Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs and Jill Scott have in common? This month they both received honorary doctorates. Combs received his from Howard; Scott's Doctor of Humane Letters degree is from Temple University. She attended Temple before having to drop out of the school's secondary-education program because of financial constraints.
In an interview with Essence, Temple University President Neil D. Theobald said that Scott's "values and achievements embody the mission and ideas of the university." Outside of Scott's successful music career, she also founded the Blues Babe Foundation, which helps low-income students in Philadelphia (Scott's hometown); Camden, N.J.; and the Delaware Valley pay for college.
During Thursday's ceremony, Dr. Bill Cosby introduced Scott to the commencement crowd.
Those in attendance took to social media to congratulate Scott:
Scott also sent her thanks to Temple this morning:
Congrats, Dr. Scott!
Yesha Callahan is editor of The Grapevine and a staff writer at The Root. Follow her on Twitter.
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