Hip-hop icon Missy Elliott received her second honorary doctorate from Norfolk State University on Saturday, Dec. 10.
Two time Doctorate “Dr. Elliott” I am so Grateful??Thank you @Norfolkstate for having me today?? To the Class Of 2022” May your Journey be Successful/ Fearless/ Determined to be the BEST! Behold The Green & Gold!!!!??#HBCU pic.twitter.com/23OLkEiqpI
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) December 11, 2022
The femcee was the university’s Class of 2022 keynote speaker and told the graduating class they “already won” during her commencement speech.
“I am proud of y’all, and y’all should be proud of [yourselves],” she said. “Now, I want y’all to look at each other and say, ‘You already won.’ Let ’em know. There ain’t no winning. You already won. Y’all could have been doing anything else these last few years. Y’all could have been wilding out, but y’all decided to finish the course, and that’s major.”
She also told the graduating students to go after what they wanted, no matter the circumstances.
“…live for yourself,” Elliott said. “You are your own…you know your vision better than anybody. And do everything. If you’re sitting here right now, I know that some of y’all got in your mind already what you want to do. Do it!”
The school presented the “Get Ur Freak On” artist with NSU’s Presidential Commencement Medallion and the honorary doctorate in humane letters.
Elliott also donated $20,000 to the school for “areas of greatest need.”
To close out our 109th commencement, Missy Elliott presented a $20,000 check to the university, then took a selfie with the entire graduating class of December 2022! pic.twitter.com/KO6jZmH7JR
— Norfolk State University (@Norfolkstate) December 10, 2022
Elliott has a history with NSU, playing her music on the campus back then even though she wasn’t a student. In October, Elliott was honored with a street named after her, Missy Elliot Boulevard, between Airline Boulevard and Greenwood Drive in Portsmouth, VA. The request for the street name change was approved in August.
Behold ????? “Dr.Elliott” @Norfolkstate Class of 2022! Let’s Gooooooooo! Visionaries ??? pic.twitter.com/K2XA46osxe
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) December 11, 2022
Congrats, Dr. Elliott!
