BISMARCK - A soldier who died in Afghanistan, a best-selling author and a nationally recognized entrepreneur are among those who will receive honorary degrees from North Dakota colleges and universities.
The state Board of Higher Education authorized the honorary degrees at a meeting at Bismarck State College. They will receive the degrees at May graduation ceremonies.
Cpl. Nathan Goodiron of Mandaree will receive an honorary bachelor of science degree in finance from Minot State University.
Goodiron, 25, died in an enemy attack while serving in Afghanistan last November. He was working toward a degree in finance at Minot State.
Laurel Reuter, founding director of the North Dakota Museum of Art, will receive an honorary doctoral degree from UND.
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Reuter, who grew up on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation, holds a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in American literature from UND.
Reuter has served on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts, McKnight Foundation and the American Association of Museums.
Author Louise Erdrich will receive an honorary doctoral degree from UND. Much of the Wahpeton native's writing is based on the Red River Valley.
She received the National Book Critics Award for "Love Medicine" and was a National Book Award Finalist for "The Last Resort on the Miracles at Little No Horse."
Others to receive honorary degrees are:
-- Ed Shorma, founder of WCCO Belting, will receive an honorary associate degree from the North Dakota State College of Science. Shorma is the only North Dakotan ever named National Small Business Person of the Year.
-- James Meier, Brighton, Mich., president of North Dakota State University's Development Foundation, will receive an honorary doctor of science degree from NDSU.
-- Frank Jennings, Seattle, president-elect of NDSU's Development Foundation, will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree from NDSU.
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-- Russell Lefevre, president-elect of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, will receive an honorary doctoral degree from UND.
-- The late Craig Bauer, former Ward County narcotics task force coordinator, will receive an honorary bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Minot State University. Bauer was three classes short of earning his degree at the time of his death in September.
