EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK RECEIVES HONORARY DEGREE AT GW

WASHINGTON—The George Washington University recognized Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak with an honorary doctor of laws degree today. President Mubarak attended a ceremony at GW to receive the degree.

"In the grand sweep of the twentieth century, only a very few men have ever been given the chance to shape the course of events; fewer still are known as peacemakers," said GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg in prepared remarks. "You, Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, addressed destiny as one of the pre-eminent figures in the contemporary story of the Arab Republic of Egypt, a role that history gave you and that you filled with compassion, courage and grace."

Prior to his tenure as head-of-state, President Mubarak served in the Egyptian Air Force as a pilot, instructor, squadron leader and base commander. He eventually became director of the Air Force Academy, Air Force chief of staff, commander of the Air Force and deputy minister for Military Affairs.

In 1975, Mubarak was named vice president of Egypt and was appointed vice chairman of the national Democratic Party in 1978. After becoming the President of Egypt in 1981, Mubarak was re-elected in 1987 and 1993.

For more than a century, GW has awarded honorary degrees to individuals who have played a major role in shaping world history. Past recipients include Desmond Tutu, Yitzhak Rabin, and Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.

Located four blocks from the White House, The George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the nation's capital. The University offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study as well as degree programs in medicine, law, engineering, education, business/public management and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of 19,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 120 countries.

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