Regis University will recognize the accomplishments of five individuals who are making a positive difference with presentations of an honorary degree and four Civis Princeps (First Citizen) Awards during spring commencement ceremonies, May 8-9, at the Regis north Denver (Lowell) campus.
Regis University conducts three ceremonies during spring commencement:
9 a.m. on May 8 for graduate and doctoral degree recipients in the universitys three colleges: Regis College, Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions, and College for Professional Studies;
1 p.m. on May 8 for bachelors degree recipients in CPS;
10 a.m. on May 9 for bachelors degree recipients in Regis College and RHCHP.
The Civis Princeps award is the highest honor the university bestows.
On rare occasions, the Regis board of trustees authorizes the awarding of honorary degrees to individuals who have led lives of distinguished service and professional achievement.
Award recipients include :
Charles Goldberg, lawyer and general counsel for the Archdiocese of Denver and general counsel for the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota, will receive the Civis Princeps at the 1 p.m., May 8 ceremony.
Edward A. and Richard L. Robinson, co-chief executive officers of Robinsons Dairy, will receive the Civis Princeps at the 9 a.m., May 8 ceremony.
Yohannes Gebregeorgis, founder of Ethiopia Reads, who will receive an honorary degree at the 10 a.m., ceremony on May 9.
Michael J. McManus, outreach worker for Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, will receive the Civis Princeps at the 10 a.m., May 9 ceremony.
Gebregeorgis was named one of the Top 10 heroes of the year by CNN in recognition of his work to bring global change by empowering children through education.
He is also the recipient of the 2008 Presidential Citation for International Innovation from the American Library Association.
Ethiopia Reads believes that education is the key to improving the lives of the next generation of Ethiopians, a country filled with children, and that books are the key to fostering a genuine love of learning.
The organization invites all who love children and books to join them in their endeavor.
Soon after launching his career as a trial lawyer, Charles Goldberg was appointed at age 34 to serve as a district court judge in the Denver District Court.
Along with his partner Martin Nussbaum, they were able to build an ecumenical bridge among virtually all religious denominations throughout their development of their religious institutions practice.
Goldberg is listed in the Best Lawyers in America 20082010 editions, commercial and bet-the-company litigation.
He was appointed in 1999 by the Colorado Supreme Court as the first chair of the board of trustees of the Colorado Attorneys Fund for Client Protection.
He earned a juris doctor in 1964 from the DU College of Law and a bachelor of arts in 1961 from CU.
Edward A. Robinson, a fourth generation Denver native, has spent his entire working career in the dairy products processing business.
After graduating from East High School and then earning a bachelor of science in agriculture in 1954 from Colorado A&M College (now CSU), he spent two years in the US Army, receiving an honorable discharge as a first lieutenant.
He and his brother, Dick Robinson, formed the present Robinson Dairy in 1975, later selling the company to Dean Foods in 1999.
Ed Robinson has served on countless community and charitable organizations and is currently a lifetime member of the Denver Zoological Foundation, where he was past chair. He is also a board member of National Jewish Health and serves on many additional boards.
Richard Robinson, a fourth generation Denver native and a life trustee of Regis, graduated from East High School, earned a BS in agriculture and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2007 by CSU.
Before beginning his career in the dairy business, he served for two years in the US Army, earning a Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
He has been active in countless community and charitable organizations. He is a member of Consolidated Containers and is on the boards of the Denver Art Museum, HCA-HealthONE and Regis University.
Michael McManus, a Denver native, has been an outreach worker for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless since 2003.
His extensive career has included two years as a Jesuit novice, managing Romero House at Regis University, working at Our Lady of Guadalupe, living and working with the Catholic Worker on Los Angeles skid row, and teaching and serving on many boards.
He is a 1992 Regis University graduate and earned a masters degree from St. John University in Minnesota.
Following presentation of the awards by Regis University President Father Michael Sheeran, SJ, the recipients will offer brief remarks.
