Two-time Tony winner Chita Rivera will receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Florida May 4 at the spring commencement ceremony. The award recognizes eminent achievement in scholarship or high distinction in public service.
“Chita Rivera’s accomplished career and exceptional talent have left a legacy in the Broadway world,” said Joseph Glover, UF provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, in a statement. “We are grateful for the connections she has made with our musical theatre program and are delighted to grant her an honorary degree from the University of Florida.”
Rivera first came to UF in 2004 to receive the Linda Wilson Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Theatre. Professor Tony Mata, head of the musical theatre department, created the award with Linda and George Wilson to honor preeminent artists, and he chose Rivera to be the second recipient.
“Chita Rivera is honestly one of the few remaining legendary Broadway stars of all time,” Mata said. “There are few stars that are unlike anybody else, and she’s one of them. You can’t get any better than Chita.”
Read: CHITA RIVERA LOOKS BACK AT 6 BROADWAY ROLES SHE’LL NEVER FORGET
