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Tavis Smiley to receive honorary degree May 11
April 29, 2004 | |||||||
KOKOMO, Ind.—Indiana University will present an honorary degree to Tavis Smiley during the May 11 Commencement ceremony on the IU Kokomo campus. The Doctor of Humane Letters degree honors Smiley’s accomplishments as an author, philanthropist, and host of cutting edge radio and television talk shows.
“It is fitting that IU Kokomo be the first Indiana University campus to bestow an honorary degree on Tavis Smiley,” said Chancellor Ruth Person. “This distinguished son of north central Indiana presents an inspiring example to our graduates of how to use their education and talents to improve life, not just for themselves, but for others as well.” The son of Kokomo residents Joyce Smiley and Emory Smiley, Tavis Smiley was raised in the Miami County community of Bunker Hill and graduated from Maconaquah High School in 1982. He pursued a degree in public affairs at IU Bloomington and, in his senior year, served as an intern for Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. Accepting a full-time position in Bradley’s administration, Smiley went on to work in political commentary and analysis for numerous national news outlets, including CNN, C-SPAN, NBC’s “Today Show” and “The Tom Joyner Morning Show.” From 1996–2001, Smiley was executive producer and host of the award-winning current-affairs show “BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley” on Black Entertainment Television (BET). In 1999, Newsweek listed Smiley as one of 20 people changing the way Americans get their news. In 2002, Smiley became the first African American to host his own signature talk show for National Public Radio. That success was followed by the January 2004 launch of “The Tavis Smiley Show” for Public Broadcasting Service television. In both programs, Smiley interviews influential figures from politics, current events and popular culture. Smiley has authored seven books, focused largely on economic and social empowerment for disadvantaged Americans. He has established the Tavis Smiley Foundation, a philanthropic organization supporting programs to develop leadership skills in black youth. [Biographical information on Tavis Smiley from www.tavistalks.com, www.pbs.org and www.npr.org.] Local reminiscences of Tavis Smiley’s early days Her oldest son’s drive to “make something of himself” was evident early in life, said Joyce Smiley of Kokomo. “Tavis was always determined to win, to be the best at what he did.” Tavis was an avid Scrabble® player and spelling bee champion from second through fifth grades, Mrs. Smiley recalled. “He wasn’t always an A student, but he loved going to school. He had perfect attendance.” Mrs. Smiley said she is “grateful to God” for the honorary degree being given to Tavis, because it reflects Tavis’ original dream of earning a law degree through IU. “If he had not gone to all the success he has had [in broadcasting and writing], he probably would have a law degree now,” she said. Two of Tavis Smiley’s teachers at Maconaquah High School in the early 1980s also saw early promise and talents in Smiley. “Tavis was very articulate and had a lot exuberance,” said social studies teacher David Beall. Beall served as senior class sponsor in 1981–82, when Tavis Smiley was senior class president. Like many students, Smiley wanted “to solve the world’s problems,” Beall said. But Smiley was different in that “he was also very pragmatic. He could see what could be done and what couldn’t.” Beall sees that same deep basis in reality reflected in some of Smiley’s current writing. “He sets out a very strong belief system—nothing very surprising to me,” Smiley said. “I like what Tavis is doing with empowerment.” Joyce Oatess, now chairperson of Maconaquah’s English Department, taught Tavis Smiley in English and psychology courses. A member of the debate team, Smiley “loved to argue” any issue, Oatess said. But Smiley always ended on good terms with whomever he was debating, she added. “He would never damage your friendship.” At 17-years-old, Smiley told Oates that he intended to be the first black president of the United States. “I told him to never lose sight of his dreams, that they would take him to insurmountable places,” Oatess said. Oatess is impressed with the way Tavis Smiley continues to “remember the people who have helped him on his journey, his family and his friends.” For more information on Tavis Smiley, read "Talking With Tavis," from the March/April issue of Indiana Alumni magazine at www.alumni.indiana.edu.
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