This May the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, will add Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J., Ti Adelaide Martin, the immediate Landrieu family, the Rev. Ladislas Orsy, S.J., Janet Mary Riley and Col. John Bourgeois USMC (Ret.) to the Honorary Degrees Committee’s list of awarded honorary degrees.

Since 1913, a year after receiving its official charter from the Louisiana state legislature to offer university degrees, Loyola has bestowed only 210 honorary degrees.

Among the 210 are Huey P. Long, 1931; Corinne “Lindy” Boggs, 1977; and Walter L. Cronkite, 1983.

Prejean, Martin and Moon Landrieu, who will accept the degree on behalf of his family, will also be the guest speakers at the commencement ceremonies.

Prejean will speak at the College of Arts and Sciences’ morning commencement on May 14, and Martin will address the College of Business Administration in the evening. Landrieu will be the guest speaker at the School of Law’s commencement on May 13.

“I will be honored to share this event with your terrific new president, Father Wildes, and with you who are about to reshape the world,” Prejean said in a press release. “And I promise not to talk for long.”

According to Honorary Degrees Committee guidelines, an individual is eligible for an honorary degree if he or she has made any outstanding achievements, particularly in fields such as religion, public service and business, which are at the center of Loyola’s mission as a university. Also, the recipient’s life should reflect Loyola’s commitment to principles such as academic excellence, the pursuit of faith and justice and service to others.

Prejean, who will receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, is a well-known advocate for the poor and an opponent of the death penalty.

In 1981, Prejean dedicated her life to New Orleans’ poor and moved into the St. Thomas housing project in the Lower Garden District. While living in St. Thomas, Prejean began her prison ministry and met Patrick Sonnier, a death row inmate. Her friendship and support of Sonnier and another death row inmate eventually evolved into “Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States.” Prejean is also the author of “The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions.”

Prejean also said the class of 2005 “not only can, but will change the world, one way or another. There’s no such thing as running in place. Our world will get better or it will get worse.”

“I feel the Gospel of Jesus calls upon us to be passionate about peace and justice. But you’re not off the hook even if you’re not a Christian. We all need to do this,” she said.

Martin, who is the managing partner of Commander’s Palace, will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Business in recognition of her business and leadership skills.

In 1986, Martin created a food products company called Creole Cravings, which won a National New Products contest with its product, Creole Mayonnaise.

Martin sold Creole Cravings to McCormick and in 1991 started the restaurant Palace Café with her cousins Brad Brennan and Dick Brennan, Jr. “Esquire” magazine later rated Palace as one of the top new restaurants in America.

Martin is also the co-leader of Proud to Call It Home, which is New Orleans’ first long-term, self-image campaign. Launched in May 1994, Proud to Call It Home has raised more than $500,000.

Landrieu will accept an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws on behalf of his family. It is the first time in Loyola history that an entire family will receive an honorary degree.

Landrieu, who is the former mayor of New Orleans, said his family was ecstatic to receive such an honor.

“It’s very unusual and a great tribute and we feel undeserving but will accept it nonetheless with gratitude,” he said.

In a press release, Wildes said the Landrieu family will receive the Doctor of Laws in recognition of its example as a family, whose members have led lives committed to giving back to the community at the national and local levels.

Orsy, Bourgeois and Riley will also receive honorary degrees at the commencement ceremonies.

Orsy, will receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. An author, lecturer and teacher, Orsy is an internationally known theologian and a canon lawyer who concentrates on the relationship between theology and canon law.

Bourgeois will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Music. Loyola alumnus and Louisiana native, Bourgeois joined the Marine Corps in 1956 and became the 25th director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in 1979.

Riley will receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. A Loyola law professor emerita and Loyola alumna, Riley wrote the first casebook on Louisiana property law and served as a reporter for the Louisiana Law Institute, where she revised gender discrimination laws.

“I think our speakers are people who are rooted in New Orleans and who have made important contributions on the national – and the international with Sister Helen and the Landrieus – stage,” Wildes said. “They embody the ideals of service that we talk about here at Loyola.”

Sarah Castagnetta can be reached at [email protected].