April 2000

BOV Names Mason Medal, Honorary Degree Recipients Two "fathers of the Internet," a Supreme Court justice, and a former dean of the George Mason School of Law will receive honorary degrees at George Mason's 33rd annual Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 20. Sandra Day O'Connor, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and this year's Commencement speaker; Henry G. Manne, dean emeritus of the George Mason School of Law in Arlington; Vinton G. Cerf, senior vice president of Internet Architecture and Technology for MCI WorldCom; and Robert E. Kahn, chairman, CEO, and president of the Corporation for National Research Initiatives (CNRI), will be awarded honorary degrees. O'Connor and Manne will receive honorary doctor of laws degrees, and Cerf and Kahn will receive honorary doctor of science degrees. Nobel Laureate James M. Buchanan, who retired this year and is now distinguished professor emeritus of Economics at George Mason, will be presented with the George Mason Medal at a separate ceremony in early April. The George Mason Medal is the university's highest honorary award and is given by the Board of Visitors. This medal is designed to honor George Mason, the man, and those receiving the award should have a record of service to their community, state, or nation consistent with the level and quality of George Mason's public service in his own time.