Burton's Jake Burton and Donna Carpenter, and Education Leader Debra Ren-Etta Sullivan, to Receive Honorary Degrees At Champlain College

Undergraduate and Online Degree Graduations to be Held May 12

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BURLINGTON, VT (04/24/2018) Champlain College will award honorary doctorates to Burton's CEO Donna Carpenter and founder Jake Burton Carpenter of Stowe, Vermont, and education leader Debra Ren-Etta Sullivan, of Seattle, Washington during the College's commencement exercises on Saturday, May 12.

Champlain College President Donald J. Laackman will confer 473 bachelor and 13 associate degrees during the morning's 140th Undergraduate commencement. An additional 485 master's degrees, 333 bachelor degrees, and 47 associate degrees will be conferred to eligible students in the afternoon at the commencement ceremony for Champlain Online, Master's in Education, and Master's of Fine Arts degree students.

Donna Carpenter, who will receive an Honorary Degree in Business, will address the graduates at the undergraduate commencement. "Donna's professional achievements leading a global company, advocating for equity in the workplace, expanding the marketplace and promoting women's leadership truly reflects the spirit of Champlain College's mission," said President Laackman.

Jake Burton Carpenter, who started building snowboards in 1977 and by 1988 had helped to make snowboarding a Winter Olympic sport, will also receive an Honorary Degree in Business. "Perhaps no Vermonter has had a greater impact on the development of a sport over the last 30-plus years than Jake Burton Carpenter," noted President Laackman. "His story is an inspiration to every entrepreneur who has ever dreamed of taking a good idea from the dream stage to reality."

Sullivan, who will receive an Honorary Degree in Humane Letters, will speak to the Champlain Online undergraduate and master's degree recipients in the afternoon. "Debra has been a leader and visionary in the field of education, with a focus on innovative educational models that cultivate the genius of every child. She has shaped learning environments in ways that change lives," noted Champlain Provost and Senior Vice President for Academics Laurie Quinn.

"All three of our honorees have professional and personal achievements in fields that speak to our educational strengths at Champlain," said President Laackman. "We look forward to having our 2018 Honorary Degree recipients share their inspiring stories with our graduates as they embark on the next great adventures in lives of purpose," he added.

About the May 12th Champlain College Commencements

The 140th Commencement will be held Saturday, May 12 at Edmunds School field, adjacent to the College off Main Street. The main entry gate will open for guests at 9 a.m. The undergraduate ceremony begins at 10 a.m. and should conclude by noon. Admission to the May 12 commencement, either under the tent or via the simulcast live-feed in Alumni Auditorium, is by ticket only. Campus and college officials will provide a broadcast link online at www.champlain.edu. Seniors participating in the ceremony are required to attend the graduation rehearsal on Friday, May 11 at 10 a.m.

The Online Undergraduate & Master's commencement ceremonies will be held Saturday afternoon, May 12 at Edmunds School field, adjacent to the College off Main Street. The main entry gate will open for guests at 2 p.m. and the ceremony begins at 3 p.m. and should conclude by 5 p.m. For more information about graduation, visit the commencement website.