It’s starting to look like every Star Trek captain will get an honorary degree this year. First it was Captain Kirk aka William Shatner who received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from McGill University, his alma mater. Now, it seems as though it’s Captain Picard’s turn. Sir Patrick Stewart will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of East Anglia, this July.

UEA Registrar and Secretary Brian Summers said: “We present honorary degrees to those who have made a remarkable contribution to the arts, science, sport, and civil society. This July we will bring together 14 highly acclaimed and distinguished individuals who richly deserve this recognition.”

The honorary degrees will be awarded at this year’s graduation ceremonies which take place from July 19 to 22 at the University of East Anglia.

Sir Patrick Stewart OBE is one of Britain’s best loved actors, best known for his film roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men film series.

As well his leading film roles, he has had a distinguished career in theatre and television for around half a century.

He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966 and has appeared in more than 60 RSC productions - most recently as Claudius in Hamlet in 2008.

His extensive television work includes appearances on Frasier and Ricky Gervais’ Extras and most recently he starred as Macbeth in Rupert Goold’s production, filmed for the BBC, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award and the programme also won a George Foster Peabody Award in March 2011.

Patrick is a patron of the organisations Refuge and Dignity in Dying. He has also given his name to a scholarship at the University of Huddersfield, where he is chancellor, to fund post-graduate study into domestic violence.

He receives an Honorary Doctorate of Letters.

Hmmmm….I wonder which captain will be next…

(source; University of East Anglia)