TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Texas A&M University

College of Education & Human Development

Recognizing a Legacy of Advancing Literacy

Former First Lady Barbara Bush Receives an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Texas A&M University

"Howdy, class of 2005," exclaimed Barbara Bush at the graduation ceremony for the Texas A&M University Colleges of Architecture, Education and Human Development and Liberal Arts.  After much whooping and applause, Mrs. Bush piped back in with, "That's me too, you know."

During the Saturday afternoon ceremony on December 17, 2005, former First Lady Barbara Bush was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters and served as the keynote speaker.

Mrs. Bush joked about never having a hamburger with her fellow graduates at Koppe Bridge or joining them for a drink or two at Northgate, so she was delighted to be able to spend some time with them at the graduation ceremony. She went on to urge graduates to always value family and friends.

"Remember that there is a difference in making a career and making a life," Mrs. Bush urged. "Try to give something back. It's important to get involved in your communities. And, remember that no act of kindness is too small."

Mrs. Bush was sharing an adage she herself has lived by for all 80 of her years. In fact, it is her exemplary service to humanity and her tireless efforts to promote family literacy for which her honorary doctorate was awarded.

The College of Education and Human Development nominated Mrs. Bush for the degree. When Jane Close Conoley, then dean of the College of Education and Human Development, posed the nomination to faculty, staff and friends of the college, she was met by well over 100 enthusiastic responses.

"Barbara Bush has managed to define her passions and commitments as an individual crusader, not just in her role as a former president's wife," wrote Dr. Dominique Chlup, an assistant professor in the college and director of the Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning. "She has worked relentlessly to sponsor events both to raise money and awareness of the importance of family literacy."

Relentlessly indeed.  Mrs. Bush's national literacy initiative has made seeking help with reading skills socially acceptable for those in need. Through the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, Mrs. Bush lends her financial and moral support to nationwide projects that are working to educate families about the importance of literacy. Over $16 million has been awarded to nearly 500 family literacy programs in the United States.

In 1995, the former First Lady received the Freedom Forum World Center's Free Spirit Award.  With the award came a $100,000 check that she designated for literacy programs provided through the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum at Texas A&M.

"My number one cause, now and forever, is literacy," Mrs. Bush said in her Free Spirit Award acceptance speech. "If more people could read, write and comprehend, we'd be much closer to solving so many of the other problems our country faces today. Unfortunately, too many people in our country lack the literacy skills to read the First Amendment and to really understand what it means. Just think for a moment how important the ability to read and write is to being a good citizen ‹ to be able to read and to understand the Constitution, to be able to read the newspaper and be an informed citizen, to be able to read and understand a ballot so that you can vote."

Texas A&M researchers were involved in evaluating the First Lady's grant programs in Texas from 1996 to 2004.  The results of the evaluation are encouraging and showed that families are reading more often to their children. Parents involved in the grant-supported programs also are more involved in the day-to-day school activities of their children. The evaluation found that many parents go on to obtain more stable employment and further their education, and families reported that they are spending more time than before in reading activities ‹ and that they and their children are enjoying it.

"For almost 20 years, I have worked alongside Mrs. Bush in developing a national understanding about the nation's literacy challenge," wrote Sharon Darling, president and founder of the National Center for Family Literacy, in her letter of support for Mrs. Bush's honorary doctorate. "Mrs. Bush understands that we must reach families if we are to overcome the vicious cycles of illiteracy and poverty."

Mrs. Bush closed her commencement address by saying that the graduates should think of their lives as coast-to-coast trips across America.

"You always think things will be perfect once you've reached a certain station in life," Mrs. Bush said. "But that's not true. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough."

The College of Education and Human Development is thrilled that Mrs. Bush received the honorary doctorate she so richly deserves and is delighted to have been a stop along her way to the station.

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