York St John to honour inspirational figures in sport, human rights, social justice and education

York St John University students will be celebrating their graduation alongside leading figures in sport, human rights, social justice and education at ceremonies held in York Minster on 13, 14 and 15 November.

Professor David Fleming, Vice Chancellor of York St John University said:
“Graduation is an exciting and rewarding time for our students and this year we are delighted to be awarding honorary degrees to some truly inspirational people during the celebrations. Sir Philip Craven, Shami Chakrabarti, Camila Batmanghelidjh, Professor the Baroness Afshar and Martine Wright will receive honorary degrees alongside thousands of students in York Minster. These individuals have all made an outstanding impact in their respective fields and I am certain that their stories will inspire our students for many years to come.”

Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the sport of wheelchair basketball and the London Paralympics. A five-time Paralympian for Great Britain in wheelchair basketball, Sir Philip has headed the IPC since 2001. Sir Philip was paralysed in a rock climbing accident in 1966. He represented Great Britain at the Paralympics from 1972-1988.

One of the nation’s leading civil liberties campaigners Shami Chakrabarti CBE, will be awarded with the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, in recognition of her achievements in equality and human rights. Shami has been Director of Liberty, the human rights campaigning group, since September 2003. Her role has seen her play a major part in Liberty’s engagement with the ‘War on Terror’ and with the defence and promotion of human rights values in Parliament, the Courts and wider society. Shami was one of six independent assessors advising Lord Justice Leveson in his public inquiry into the culture, practice and ethics of the UK press. A Barrister by background, she worked as a lawyer in the Home Office from 1996-2001 for both Governments.

Camila Batmanghelidjh CBE, charity leader and business woman, will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of her outstanding contribution to counselling for young people. Camila, a psychotherapist by background, is one of Britain’s most progressive thinkers on the psychological and emotional wellbeing of children and young people.

Professor the Baroness Haleh Afshar OBE, ACSS will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of her enormous contribution to the promotion of equal opportunities. Haleh teaches Politics and Women's Studies at the University of York and serves as a Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords. In 2005 she was awarded an OBE for services to equal opportunities. She was born and raised in Iran where she worked as a journalist and a civil servant.

London 7/7 bombings survivor and Paralympic athlete Martine Wright will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Health Sciences in recognition of her remarkable contribution to sport in the face of adversity. Martine lost both legs in the 7/7 terrorist attacks on the London underground, sitting just feet away from the bomber. She has since rebuilt her life, skydived, learned to fly, and became a member of the British 2012 Paralympic volleyball team. A driving force in Team GB’s gold efforts at the London 2012 Games, Martine was a founding member of the GB women's volleyball squad having become hooked on the sport of sitting volleyball following a try-out day for amputees.

Honorary Degrees will be presented at the graduation ceremonies in York Minster by Chancellor of York St John University and Archbishop of York, The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr John Sentamu, or by Vice Chancellor Professor David Fleming, in front of an audience of graduands, their families and friends, and staff and guests of the University.