Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was awarded an honorary degree in absentia during the 68th Dominican College Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 15. Dominican College is among about 30 colleges and universities throughout the United States conferring on Zelenskyy an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in recognition of his extraordinary leadership, courage, sense of justice, and his willingness to possibly lose his life in the effort to defend freedom.
“President Zelenskyy has displayed such inspiring and courageous leadership in the face of unimaginable horror, as Russia launches a relentless and unprovoked attack against his country. He has risen to the challenge and has been the right leader for this moment in history,” said Dominican College President Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien, O.P., Ph.D. “Because of this, Dominican College is among the institutions of higher learning recognizing the exceptional dedication of President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people by awarding him an honorary degree.”
The Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate of Sloatsburg, who are members of a congregation founded in 1892 in Zhuzel, Ukraine, will also be honored at the Commencement. Since the Russian attack on Ukraine, the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in the United States have been raising money and sending medical supplies to members of the congregation located in Ukraine and Poland to help the Ukrainian people. Dominican College will recognize the admirable service of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Sloatsburg by awarding them the 2022 Veritas Medal.