Congratulations to vocalist, violinist, composer, and producer Caroline Shaw, who was one of ten individuals to receive an honorary degree from her alma mater Yale University for distinction in their fields at Yale’s 321st graduation ceremony in New Haven, CT, on Monday. She was given an honorary Mus.D. Shaw (pictured seated front, second from left) earned her master’s degree from Yale in 2007 after graduating from Rice University in 2004.

“The 10 individuals we honor this morning serve as examples to you, our graduates, to encourage you to aspire to excellence and to value those elements of human character that they embody: creativity, curiosity, discipline, integrity, and a passion for public service,” Yale President Peter Salovey said during the university-wide Commencement ceremony.

The other honorary degree recipients include former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (in memoriam), Congressman James Clyburn, journalist Krista Tippett, historian Jill Lepore, Judge Myron Thompson, gene therapy pioneer Dr. Jean Bennett, cultural sociologist Orlando Patterson, and biochemist Katalin Karikó and immunologist Drew Weissman, whose work was the cornerstone for the development of the COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information on these honorees, visit news.yale.edu.