Major donors and a noted jazz saxophonist will receive honorary degrees at San Diego State University and Cal State San Marcos, the schools announced Monday.
Conrad Prebys, whose major gifts resulted in construction of the Aztec Student Union that bears his name, will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from SDSU’s College of Business Administration during a private ceremony June 3.
Prebys gave $20 million to support more than 150 student scholarships and $2.5 million to replace the old Aztec Center.
“Conrad Prebys has been an extraordinary supporter of San Diego State and a host of cultural, bio-medical and educational institutions in our region,” said SDSU President Elliot Hirshman. “His extraordinary generosity and his profound commitment to our students, faculty and staff have inspired our entire campus. We are grateful for his vision and his support.”
The real estate developer and philanthropist also gave $45 million to boost construction of a cardiovascular center at Scripps Health that bears his name. He has also provided gifts to KPBS, the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Opera and many other organizations.
At Cal State San Marcos, Joseph E. Bear will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at a May 15 commencement ceremony. Bear, the retired president and CEO of Hughes-JVC Technology Corp., has supported the school over its 25 years and served on several advisory boards.
The next day, alto saxophonist Charles McPherson will be given an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts by CSUSM. McPherson has performed at the school and offered clinics for music classes.
According to CSUSM, his performances and instruction have inspired numerous musicians and music educators in San Diego County.
— City News Service
