Stormzy has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Cambridge for his work helping black students get into higher education. The 31-year-old received a Doctorate in Law for his "transformative" scholarship programme, which funds black UK students to study at the university. Stormzy, whose real name is Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, launched the Stormzy Scholarship in 2018. Prof Deborah Prentice, vice-chancellor at the university, said: "Stormzy's scholarship programme has had a transformative impact and we are proud to recognise his work with this degree." So far, 56 undergraduates have benefited from full tuition and maintenance support, backed by his £Merky Foundation and HSBC UK. When helaunched the scheme, Stormzy said: "It's so important for black students, especially, to be aware that it can 100% be an option to attend a university of this calibre." The rapper was among eight public figures to receive the honorary degree. Other recipients included Lady Arden of Heswall, a former justice of the UK Supreme Court who was honoured with a Doctorate in Law, and Olympic gold medallist Dame Katherine Grainger, who was awarded the same honour. Acclaimed actor Sir Simon Russell Beale was awarded a Doctorate in Letters, as was US political activist and author Professor Angela Davis. Prof Prentice added: "Each of this year's honorary graduands has made an extraordinary contribution to their field, and their work continues to inspire people in Cambridge and around the world." Follow Cambridgeshire news onBBC Sounds,Facebook,InstagramandX.
Stormzy awarded Cambridge University doctorate
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"Stormzy Receives Honorary Doctorate from Cambridge University for Scholarship Initiative"
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Stormzy, the British rapper whose real name is Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, has been awarded an honorary Doctorate in Law by the University of Cambridge, recognizing his significant contributions to increasing access to higher education for black students in the UK. This accolade is primarily in honor of the Stormzy Scholarship, a program he launched in 2018, which provides financial support for black students seeking to study at Cambridge. The initiative has already helped 56 undergraduates by covering their full tuition and maintenance costs, with funding facilitated through his charity, the £Merky Foundation, in collaboration with HSBC UK. Professor Deborah Prentice, the vice-chancellor of the university, praised the transformative impact of Stormzy's scholarship, emphasizing the importance of such initiatives in making prestigious education more accessible to underrepresented groups. Stormzy initially expressed his commitment to this cause by stating the necessity for black students to recognize that attending a university of this caliber is an achievable goal.
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