Stormzy has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Cambridge for his work helping Black students access higher education.
The rapper received a Doctorate in Law for his scholarship programme, which provides funding for Black UK students to study at the university.
Since 2018 when he launched the scholarship, it has helped 56 undergraduates with full tuition while providing maintenance support backed by his #Merky Foundation and HSBC UK.
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.”
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The 31-year-old is also known for other philanthropic work in the arts, with his #Merky Books imprint supporting Black British authors. In his work with sport, he bought the AFC Croydon Athletic football team in south London to turn it into a “community asset”, The Guardian reported.
Not too long ago, his production company #Merky Films in collaboration with Apple released a short film called Big Man on YouTube, which “tells the fictional story of Tenzman, a world-weary musician, and the two bright, joyful kids who come into his life by chance.” Stormzy played the lead role.
Stormzy was among eight public figures to receive an honorary degree from Cambridge on Wednesday.
Other recipients included the U.S. political activist and author Prof Angela Davis and the acclaimed actor Sir Simon Russell Beale, who both received a doctorate in letters.
Lady Arden of Heswall, a former justice of the UK supreme court, and the Olympic gold medallist Dame Katherine Grainger, the chair of UK Sport and incoming chair of the British Olympic Association, also received a doctorate in law.
“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,” Prof Prentice added.
This is Stormzy’s second honorary degree as he received one in 2022 from the University of Exeter “in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of higher education philanthropy and widening participation”.
