Presented by Catharine R. Stimpson H’90, Trustee, for Doctor of Laws

President Hansen, I am honored to present Paul Soros.

In this country, the talent and aspirations of new citizens have always kindled the most vital communities, the most dynamic cultural landscapes, and the healthiest economic outlook. Paul Soros epitomizes the character and spirit of a new American.

Mr. Soros left Communist Hungary in search of a homeland where democracy and the rule of law guided society. Education played a critical role in his success in the United States. He studied at Polytechnic University before establishing an engineering firm that would become a world leader in port design and materials handing. In addition to his great entrepreneurial success, he holds many patents for engineering innovations.

In establishing the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, Paul Soros sought to give back to the United States by inspiring leadership and civic responsibility in others. Central to the Fellowship program is a regard for the democratic values the Soroses hold dear:  the preservation of civil liberties; a free, open society; and a responsible and responsive government.  The Soros Fellows—over 230 of them to date—share these laudible ideals.

For encouraging creativity and initiative among new Americans, supporting a just and civil society, and reminding us that American life is immeasurably enriched by the contributions of immigrants, I present Paul Soros for the degree Doctor of Laws.

President’s Conferral:

Paul Soros, the trajectory of your life tells the compelling story of the promise of new citizenship; your ambitious efforts to nurture the talents of new Americans benefits all of society. Therefore, by the authority vested in me by the Board of Trustees, I hereby confer upon you the Degree of Doctor of Laws, with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities which here and everywhere pertain to this degree.