Acclaimed pediatric neurosurgeon and recent Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson will address the newest graduates of Grove City College during Saturday’s commencement exercises, filling in for conservative author and thought leader William J. Bennett, who was scheduled to speak but had to decline unexpectedly.
“Dr. Carson’s story of his journey from extreme poverty to becoming one of America’s leading physicians will certainly inspire our students. His address entitled “The Power of Knowledge” promises to resonate with the nearly 600 students who will be celebrating their own academic achievements,” President Paul J. McNulty ’80 said. “Grove City College deeply appreciates Dr. Carson’s gracious offer to step in as our esteemed speaker on such short notice.”
The College also will confer an honorary Doctor of Science degree upon Dr. Carson during the ceremony in recognition of his contributions to advancing medical science.
Commencement is slated for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14, on the Quad between Harbison Chapel and Crawford Hall on the campus of Grove City College. (In case of inclement weather, Commencement will be held in the Arena of the Physical Learning Center for advance ticket holders only.)
Before his pursuit of public office, Dr. Carson made a name for himself as one of the most respected neurosurgeons in the world. He is an emeritus professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he directed pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center for 29 years.
In 2008, Dr. Carson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. He also won the 2006 Spingarn Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the NAACP, and was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve on the President’s Council on Bioethics. In 2001, Dr. Carson was named by CNN and TIME magazine as one of the nation’s 20 foremost physicians and scientists. That same year, he was selected by the Library of Congress as one of 89 “Living Legends” on the occasion of its 200th anniversary
In 2009, an award-winning movie based on Dr. Carson’s memoir “Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story” and starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., premiered on the TNT Network.
Dr. Carson holds more than 60 honorary doctorate degrees and has received literally hundreds of awards and citations. He serves on the board of directors of numerous organizations including Kellogg Company and Costco Wholesale Corporation. He is an emeritus fellow of the Yale Corporation, the governing body of Yale University. Dr, Carson also has spoken at the President’s National Prayer Breakfasts in 1997 and 2013.
He is the author of several books, including “Gifted Hands,” “America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made This Nation Great,” and “One Nation: What We Can All Do to Save America’s Future.” His latest book, “A More Perfect Union: What We the People Can Do to Reclaim Our Constitutional Liberties,” was released in 2015.