Honorary degree

Recognized for his vast contribution to science education, U.S. Rep. Vern Ehlers received an honorary Doctor of Human Letters degree during a special convocation October 11 in the Cook-DeWitt Center.

The Science and Mathematics and Social Science divisions sponsored the convocation.

Ehlers, a Republican from Grand Rapids, is the nation's first and only physicist with a doctorate degree to serve in Congress.

Ehlers contributions to science education are vast. He currently chairs the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards. As a member of the Science Committee in 1997, he was asked to rewrite the nation's science policy. Also, he introduced the National Science Education Acts, which are aimed at reforming K-12 science and math education.