Commonwealth Games star Eilish McColgan is to be given an honorary degree by Dundee University.
The athlete – who won gold and silver medals during the games in Birmingham this year – is one of four people set to be awarded a doctor of laws degree by the university next week.
Witches of Scotland activists Claire Mitchell KC and Zoe Venditozzi, who successfully campaigned for the Scottish Government to apologise for all the woman killed during witch trials, and Professor Sosten Chiotha – a Malawi-born environmentalist known for his work on poverty and climate action – will also be recognised.
McColgan and the Witches of Scotland campaigners will be given their degrees next Thursday (November 17) with Professor Chiotha receiving his the following day.
They will be accompanied by more than 1,000 Dundee University students at the Caird Hall for the winter graduations.
McColgan, 31, previously studied at the university for a maths and accountancy degree – but she left early to compete for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics.
Professor Iain Gillespie, principal and vice-chancellor of the university, said: “I am delighted that we will be able to honour Eilish, Claire, Zoe and Sosten at our graduations.
“They have all made a great impact in their respective endeavours, which is truly inspiring for everyone in our university community and far beyond.
“Professor Chiotha has been of Africa’s strongest voices on sustainability and poverty alleviation in lower-income countries.
“Claire and Zoe have led a campaign which has resonated around the world and which has already resulted in an apology from the first minister for the wrongs of a dark period in Scotland’s past.
“And I know I was not alone in all but shouting myself hoarse in encouragement at Eilish’s athletic achievements over the course of this summer, noting also the huge impact she is having off the track with her efforts to lower the barriers for young women to get into athletics.”
Conversation