U. to honor Leavitt, others with degrees

The University of Utah will award six honorary doctoral degrees at its May 5 commencement.

Awards will be presented to Pierre Lassonde, John M. Matsen, Marcia Poulson Price, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Homer Warner and former Utah Gov. Michael O. Leavitt, this year's commencement speaker.

Leavitt, now the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, previously served as head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Lassonde is president of Newmont Mining Corporation and donated $3 million to the U. for a venture development program.

Matsen served as dean of the School of Medicine at the U. and as the CEO of Associated Regional and University Pathologies Inc.

Price is a member of the International Women's Forum and serves on the National Committee for the Performing Arts at the Kennedy Center.

Shriver founded the Special Olympics for disabled athletes and heads the Community of Caring organization.

Warner served as a senior member in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, as well as on review boards for the National Institutes of Health.