Sir Arthur Foulkes was yesterday awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree by Saint John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota.
The conferral ceremonies were held at Government House yesterday.
The degree was conferred by Fr. Robert Koopmann, president of Saint John's University.
Honorary degrees have been awarded by American colleges and universities since early colonial times.
In 1692, Harvard, only 50 years after its founding, awarded the first such degree and thus began what has become a recognized function of degree-granting institutions of higher learning.
Honorary degrees were granted to recognize the achievements of persons in the particular field of their interest.
The doctor of laws, first conferred in 1773, is the most frequent honorary doctorate awarded.  It is regarded as the most appropriate award for a person distinguished in general service to the state, to learning and to humankind.
Sir Arthur was recognized by Saint John's University for his "love for his country, his outstanding contributions to the public service and his tireless work for political and social change in The Bahamas".
This is the first time that Saint John's University has awarded this degree to a Bahamian.
The university was founded by Benedictine monks in 1857.
It is situated on a 2,600-acre campus on the grounds of Saint John's Abbey.  Saint John's is one of four remaining all-male colleges in the United States.
The university's college of arts and sciences operates in a coordinate relationship with the College of Saint Benedict, which is an under graduate women's college founded by Benedictine sisters in 1913.
Saint John's relationship with The Bahamas began in 1891, when the first monks ministered to the community here.
Since then, 126 monks have served the people of The Bahamas and 650 Bahamian young men have attended Saint John's University, according to a statement sent on the conferral.
Saint John's University established St. Augustine's Monastery in 1943 and St. Augustine's College in 1945.
Sir Arthur's family and friends as well as government officials and members of the diplomatic corps attended the degree conferral ceremonies.

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