BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADER JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. TO BE HONORED

Terry Bradshaw

Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, sports analyst, actor, author, and gospel singer Terry Bradshaw will deliver the commencement address to New England Institute of Technology graduates on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Bradshaw was the first quarterback to win four Super Bowl titles and led his team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, to eight AFC championships. He is the only NFL player with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is a two-time Super Bowl MVP and received the NFL Alumni’s Career Achievement Award. He was also named Player of the Year by the Associated Press.

Bradshaw co-hosts the Emmy award winning program FOX NFL Sunday and is recognized as one of the best-known broadcasters in sports. He’s built his career around his passion for football, but his interests have taken him far from the football field. He’s acted in feature films including the hit Failure to Launch with Sarah Jessica Parker. He’s lent his unique voice to the animated film Robots and has guest starred in numerous TV shows including Everybody Loves Raymond, Malcolm in the Middle and Hardcastle and McCormick. He is one of the most sought after personalities for TV talk shows and has appeared on virtually every show on air, including numerous appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Bradshaw also launched a successful country singing career and has authored five books.

During his long and diverse career, Bradshaw has worked to help others. He’s raised money and awareness for numerous charitable organizations and also started a program to feed the hungry called Food for Families. Beyond funding the project himself, he also raises the livestock and has provided meals for nearly 100-thousand families. He has been named Man of the Year by the Big Sisters of America and Father of the Year by the National Father’s Day Council. He will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters during New England Tech’s commencement.

John Hazen White, Jr.

An honorary doctor of humane letters will also be presented to John Hazen White, Jr. who is a prominent Rhode Island business leader and civic activist. Mr. White is president of Taco, Inc., a third-generation, $200 million manufacturing company headquartered in Cranston, Rhode Island. Taco is a world-class manufacturer of pumps, valves, tanks, electric controls and other components used in heating and cooling applications. The company is known for empowering its employees through education and involvement in all levels of decision making. White is deeply committed to education, the arts and in working to improve Rhode Island’s business and political climate. He writes a bi-weekly newspaper column which focuses on issues of concern to Rhode Islanders and has hosted a public affairs and advocacy TV show called Lookout. He is a visiting professor and trustee at Johnson & Wales University, and a trustee of Wheaton College and of the Williston Northampton School. He has served on the boards of the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council, The Rhode Island Philharmonic, Women & Infants’ Hospital and the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Center for Performance Excellence. He was also the founding member of the Rhode Island Manufacturing Summit, a non-partisan coalition of manufacturing and business interests that worked to improve manufacturing in the Ocean State.

This year marks New England Institute of Technology’s 72nd commencement ceremony. Commencement begins at 11 a.m. on May 5, 2013 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence.