The University of Ulster is to award 25 people with honorary degrees this summer. They join several "unsung heroes and heroines" the university will honour for their "decades of selfless commitment and drive to build a better society in Northern Ireland".
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, will receive a doctorate of university (DUniv) "in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the political and economic life of Northern Ireland and his unswerving commitment to the search for peace in the province".
Lady Jean Mayhew, whose husband is the former Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, will also receive a DUniv for her "distinguished contribution to public life in Northern Ireland".
The High Court judge, Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, is cited "for her distinguished contribution to law and public services in Ireland" and will receive a doctorate of letters (DLitt).
Mr Martyn Turner, cartoonist with The Irish Times, receives a DUniv for "his work as a gifted and influential cartoonist", while Sir George Quigley (DUniv), chairman of the Ulster Bank, is honoured for his contribution "to public life and education in Northern Ireland".
Derry-born Prof Seamus Deane, professor of Irish studies at Notre Dame University in the US, will receive a DLitt "for his outstanding contribution to the arts and scholarship". His novel Reading in the Dark was shortlisted in 1996 for the Booker prize and won the Irish Times 1997 international fiction prize and Irish literature prize for fiction.
Prof Elizabeth Shannon, whose late husband William was US ambassador to Ireland, has been cited for "her work as US co-ordinator of the Reaching Common Ground Initiative".
Recipients also include Ms Kathleen Kelly (DUniv), a west Belfast community worker cited for her work on cross-community initiatives and Prof Adele Dalsimer, professor at the University of Boston, who receives a DUniv for her involvement in Irish-American women's projects.
Ms Margaret Holmes (DUniv) is cited for her "outstanding service to the community, the trade union movement and to pensioners", Ms May Blood (DUniv), a community worker is recognised for her work as a leading community activist and Ms Aideen Mc Ginley (DUniv), chief executive of Fermanagh District Council, is honoured for "her distinguished contribution to public life in Northern Ireland".
Mr Alan Elliott (DUniv), former permanent secretary at the Northern Ireland Department of Health, is cited for his "distinguished contribution to the National Health Service" and Sir Donald Acheson, chief medical officer at the UK Department of Health and Social Security, receives a doctorate of Science (DSc) for "his distinguished contribution to the National Health Service".
A former presenter of the BBC Panorama programme and visiting professor of history at the University of Ulster, Prof Keith Kyle (DLitt) is cited for his contribution to history and the media, while Lord Lester of Herne Hill, formerly Mr Anthony Lester QC, a specialist in civil and human rights law, receives a DLitt for his distinguished contribution to human rights law.
A businessman, Mr Alan McClure (DUniv), is cited for his contribution to economic development in Derry and to university-industry co-operation and Prof Patrick Murphy, of the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education, receives a Doctorate in Education (EdD) for services to education in Northern Ireland.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Surrey, Prof Patrick Dowling (DSc), is cited for his distinguished contribution to engineering and education, while Mr Paul McWilliams, a businessman, receives a DUniv for his contribution to computing and business in general in Northern Ireland.
