Out of Cargill Girl

On May 17th, 2003, Peter Jenkins was awarded a "Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters" from ALFRED UNIVERSITY, his alma mater.

Excerpts from the citation, read by Peter's former sculpture professor and a nationally renowned sculptor, Glenn Zweygardt, follows:

"Mr. President, graduates, guests, I am pleased to present to you Peter Jenkins, a writer and explorer whose journeys have become nearly legendary in America today. These journeys that have taken him across the country and back began here, at Alfred University.

After earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in ceramics and sculpture from the School of Art and Design at Alfred, Peter Jenkins and his dog, Cooper, set off to walk across America. His first book, A WALK ACROSS AMERICA, became an immediate fixture on The NY Times bestseller list, and has retained popularity for more than twenty years. It is required reading in more than one thousand public schools and colleges and universities.

His journeys have continued in his quest for what he calls his "search for the real America". In all he has published six books. His most recent book, LOOKING FOR ALASKA, another best seller, was named by BookList as one of the "Top Ten Literary Travel Books of the Year", was named by Barnes and Noble, as one of its "Best Books of the Year 2001" and was twice selected by the organization of independent book sellers for honors.

What Peter found at Alfred University, at the start of his journey was friendship, creativity, and the broad training in the arts that he says prepared him to "reach out and attempt with confidence all kinds of creation: writing, photography, radio, and more."

For his words and for his creativity that have taught, touched, and inspired so many, Mr. President, it is with great honor that I present Peter Jenkins for the conferral of the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.