2017 Honorary Degree Recipients Announced

Published: April 19, 2017 | Read Time: 3 minutes

Honorary doctoral degrees will be presented to Bob Schieffer, Richard Kendell, Carole Mikita and Bill Marcroft at Southern Utah University during the 118th University Commencement Ceremony on April 28 in the Centrum Arena.

These honorees were selected by the SUU Board of Trustees after discussion on individuals who have had a positive impact on the university, excelled in their chosen fields and service to society.

A native of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Bob Schieffer got his first taste of reporting while an 8th grader on his school newspaper, and he went on to be a journalism student at Texas Christian University. Following his TCU graduation with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, he served three years in the U.S. Air Force as a public affairs officer, then after his discharge as a captain, was hired on at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as a reporter, covering a wide variety of stories, including the desegregation of the student body at the University of Mississippi. Through circumstance and enterprise, he was a unique voice in the coverage of the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Following a stint as the news anchor of a Fort Worth television station, he moved to CBS in 1969 and went on to cover every major Washington, D.C., beat over the years. 

Following his 2015 retirement from “Face the Nation,” he has continued to work for CBS as a contributor and his appearances have included political commentary covering the 2016 presidential election.

Recipient Rich Kendell was born in Ogden, Utah and is an alumnus from both Weber State and the University of Utah. He served as SUU's interim president in 2013. During his time as deputy to Gov. Michael O. Leavitt for public education, higher education and economic development, he led the crusade to initiate six early college high schools, assisted with the development of supportive charter school legislation and worked to attract and retain a stronger corps of math and science teachers.

Following his service with Gov. Leavitt he was appointed by the Utah Board of Regents as Commissioner of Higher Education for the state of Utah from 2003 to 2008. During this time, he was involved in USTAR legislation, the creation of the K-16 Alliance, and the development of the Regents Scholarship. Kendell has been awarded the G. Homer Durham Regents Professorship by the Utah State Board of Regents and has an endowed chair in his name at Southern Utah University.

Honoree Carole Mikita has provided exceptional service to the Utah Shakespeare Festival with valuable television coverage of special events and plays. Mikita, whose journalistic work has brightened life in the Beehive State for nearly 40 years, has worked for KSL-TV News since June 1979 as an anchor and reporter and for many years specialized in arts and religion. She retired from full-time duties in 2013, but continues to contribute pieces in her areas of expertise, as well as performing other work tied to KSL’s programming for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through her extended coverage of the arts emanating from Southern Utah University, she has added to her viewers’ lives and helped to amplify the stature of the institution. 

A familiar voice to southern Utah, Bill Marcroft was the voice of the Utah Summer Games for 30 plus years. His employer, KUTV, was the media sponsor for the Games for many years (due in large part to Marcroft's commitment to the Games), and was instrumental in helping build the Games through nightly wrap-up shows, advertising and overall publicity. Marcroft covered news and sports, but when he began announcing games, primarily for the U and for the Utah Stars of the American Basketball Association, his career really took off and he would go on to spend more than two decades as sports director of KUTV and KALL Radio. 

SUU’s commencement ceremony for the Class of 2017 will begin at 9 a.m. in the Centrum Arena. For more information on graduation, please visit SUU's Graduation website.

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