You can add yet another honour to the seemingly ever-growing list of accolades that belong to Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry.
On Sunday, May 9, Nova Scotia's Acadia University awarded an honorary doctorate degree to Lowry, who has made an impact on the entire nation of Canada since joining the Raptors franchise in 2012.
It's official! Dr. Kyle Lowry joins the Acadia University Class of 2021. #AcadiaUGrad21 #WeTheNorth Read his bio and full video here: https://t.co/23f2oOzyoP pic.twitter.com/xcR1fTCp3S
— Acadia University (@AcadiaU) May 9, 2021
Within the full video, Lowry detailed the journey of his life shared a special message to the Acadia graduates. "Class of 2021, look at you guys," Lowry began. "You guys made it.
"After countless hours of studying your craft, pulling all-nighters – Some of us pulled all-nighters," Lowry said with a laugh. "You've also managed to navigate through an unprecedented and unpredictable pandemic. Your determination, your perseverance and resiliency to make sure you made it here is truly admirable.
"You and those ones – the individuals that supported you along the journey, are real champions today," he added. "Congratulations."
In the first official announcement , the university commended a number of Lowry's achievements over the last decade:
"The University will also award an honorary degree to 2016 Olympic gold medalist (US Men’s Basketball) and Toronto Raptor Kyle Lowry. He rallied the nation when he led Canada's only NBA Franchise to an historic NBA championship victory in 2019. Lowry and his wife, Ayahna Cornish-Lowry, are committed to improving the lives of the disadvantaged in Toronto and Philadelphia to help them experience a better quality of life. Together, they set up the Lowry Love Foundation, a charity that gives back to community."
Dr. Peter Ricketts, the university's President and Vice-Chancellor, spoke on the qualifications of those receiving the honour, adding that "Acadia's honorary degree recipients are excellent role models for our graduates. Each one is a distinguished individual who has made a significant impact in their community.
"By recognizing their outstanding achievements with honorary degrees, we acknowledge them for their many contributions to society."
Following Toronto's win over the Brooklyn Nets in late April , the six-time All-Star first made note of the forthcoming honour, quipping with reporters that "I will not respond to anything other than Dr. Lowry," once his honorary degree is conferred.
Whether or not Lowry actually refuses to answer to any other name remains to be seen but the honour is yet another reminder that the impact made by Lowry in each community that he has called home will be felt for generations to come.
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