FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SDSU Honorary Degree Recipients for 2003
Display Leadership, Strong University Ties

SAN DIEGO, Monday, May 5, 2003 - San Diego State University will confer three honorary doctorates as part of the spring 2003 commencement ceremonies May 17 and 18. The recipients are renowned artist John A. Baldessari, entrepreneur and philanthropist Sol Price and former NASA astronaut Major General Charles F. Bolden.

"This year's recipients build on SDSU's rich tradition that started 40 years ago when the university awarded its first honorary degree to President John F. Kennedy," said SDSU President Stephen L. Weber. "These extraordinary individuals have made great contributions to scientific scholarship, civic service and the arts."

John A. Baldessari

Baldessari is an internationally renowned conceptual artist, who invented a new approach to photography, often working with images taken from old Hollywood black-and-white movie stills.

After receiving two degrees in art from SDSU (a bachelor's degree in 1953 and a master's degree in 1957), Baldessari began to develop his mature painting style, incorporating letters, words and photographs into his works. By 1970, he was working simultaneously in printmaking, film, video, installation, sculpture and photography. Because of his unique and pioneering visual research, Baldessari is widely respected as one of the leading figures in interdisciplinary arts studies.

Baldessari will receive his honorary doctorate of Fine Arts on Saturday, May 17 at 4 p.m., as part of the commencement ceremony for the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts.

Sol Price

As a result of Price's vision and generous philanthropic support, the urban renewal in City Heights has united government, business, nonprofit agencies, SDSU and other groups to help transform the once-struggling inner-city neighborhood into a thriving community. It is through Price that SDSU assumed a leadership role in the City Heights Educational Collaborative, one of the university's most ambitious civic service initiatives.

Price, an accomplished businessman and entrepreneur, is widely recognized as the father of the warehouse-club industry - thanks to the Price Club, which he founded in 1976. Price received his undergraduate degree from SDSU in 1934 and a law degree from the University of Southern California. He practiced law in San Diego until 1954, when he founded the Fed-Mart Corporation.

Price's son, Robert, will accept the honorary doctorate of Humane Letters on his father's behalf on Sunday, May 18 at noon, as part of the commencement ceremony for the College of Education.

Major General Charles F. Bolden

Bolden is best known for his career as a NASA astronaut, piloting four missions, including the one that launched the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990. Bolden has provided SDSU faculty ongoing access to the telescope - a benefit afforded only to a select group of institutions. It is a major part of the university's continued top-level research efforts in astronomy.

Bolden, a regular guest lecturer at SDSU, also served as the Commanding General of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station from 2000 to 2002. He has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, and three NASA Exceptional Services Medals. He earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Southern California in 1977.

Bolden will receive his honorary doctorate of Science on Sunday, May 18 at 4 p.m., as part of the commencement ceremony for the colleges of Science and Engineering.

Honorary Degrees Previously Conferred by SDSU

In all, SDSU has awarded 19 honorary degrees since 1963. They are, in chronological order:

1963 John F. Kennedy Doctor of Laws

1966 Glenn T. Seaborg Doctor of Laws

1968 Edwin O. Reischauer Doctor of Laws

1996 Bernard Lipinsky Doctor of Humane Letters

1996 Alvena Storm Doctor of Humane Letters

1997 D. Bruce Johnstone Doctor of Humane Letters

1997 Shimon Peres Doctor of Laws

1998 Arthur Barron Doctor of Humane Letters

1998 Arthur G. Linkletter Doctor of Humane Letters

1998 Vahac Mardirosian Doctor of Humane Letters

1999 Shirley Chisholm Doctor of Humane Letters

1999 James D. Sinegal Doctor of Humane Letters

2002 Miguel León-Portilla Doctor of Letters

2002 George Walker Smith Doctor of Humane Letters

2002 Dwight E. Stanford Doctor of Laws

2002 Claire Van Vliet Doctor of Fine Arts

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Founded in 1897, SDSU has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 78 areas, master's degrees in 62 areas and doctorates in 14. SDSU's more than 33,000 students participate in academic curricula distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information log on to www.sdsu.edu.

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