CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Grammy Award-winning singer Rihanna finally “made it to Harvard” to be honored as the university’s 2017 Humanitarian of the Year.
She received a standing ovation as she accepted the award on Tuesday.
For the first time in my life… I was speechless #Rihanna #Harvard #HumanitarianOfTheYear #wcvb pic.twitter.com/nrwVYbrDyq
— Kellen Young (@KellenTV) February 28, 2017
“So I made it to Harvard,” she said, flipping her long ponytail and striking a pose as the crowd erupted into cheers. “Never thought I’d be able to say that in my life. But it feels good.”
Ceremony starts around 37:00
It all started in 2006 when Rihanna founded The Believe Foundation, helping children with cancer all around the world. pic.twitter.com/811wb8yCgv
— xxx (@woo7me) March 1, 2017
The university says it chose Rihanna for her involvement in a number of charitable causes. She built a state-of-the-art center for oncology and nuclear medicine to diagnose and treat breast cancer in her home nation, Barbados.
When your youngest gives Rihanna flowers and gets a hug and kiss. @rihanna pic.twitter.com/kJsppE8how
— Ronald S. Sullivan (@ProfRonSullivan) February 28, 2017
Rihanna, whose songs include “Work” and “Diamonds,” also supports the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen Project, providing children with access to education in more than 60 developing countries. She created the Clara Lionel Foundation scholarship program, named for her grandparents, for students from the Caribbean who attend college in the U.S.
Previous winners of the award include actor James Earl Jones and activist Malala Yousafzai.
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