United States congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis will be the guest speaker at USC's winter commencement ceremony in December.
Rep. Lewis has been a prominent figurehead for civil rights in America for decades; he worked closely with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was one of the 13 Freedom Riders. The congressman was also a keynote speaker at the 1963 March on Washington.
In addition to speaking to graduates, Lewis will receive an honorary degree — a doctorate of public service. Retired Columbia attorney James Konduros will also receive the honorary doctorate.
Lewis was elected to Georgia's Fifth Congressional District in 1986 after he'd spent five years on the Atlanta city council as an advocate for "ethics in government and neighborhood preservation," according to a press release.
The congressman will speak at the ceremony for baccalaureate, master's and professional-degree recipients, which will be at Colonial Life Arena on Dec. 12 at 2:30 p.m. The doctoral hooding ceremony will be at 9:30 a.m. at the Koger Center for the Arts.
The release states that about 1,800 degrees will be awarded to Columbia campus students.
December's commencement exercises will be the last to feature a guest speaker. University President Harris Pastides will speak at future ceremonies.