A Vermont university has awarded an honorary doctorate to its campus celebrity: a cat named Max.
Days before his graduation ceremony, Vermont State University’s Castleton campus announced it would award Max an honorary doctorate for his kindness on campus.
A post announcing the feline’s doctorate read: “Max the Cat has been a loving member of the Castleton family for years.
‘While his adventures may have slowed down, Max exemplifies the #CastletonWay and we are honored to have him as a member of VTSU’s #firstclass.
‘With a resounding purr of faculty approval, the Board of Trustees of Vermont State Cat-leges has awarded Max Dow the prestigious degree of Doctor of Literature, complete with all the benefits of catnip, scratching and sand privileges. responsibilities that come with it.’
A Vermont university has awarded an honorary doctorate to its campus celebrity: a cat named Max (pictured)
Days before his graduation ceremony, Vermont State University’s Castleton campus announced it would honor Max for his kindness on campus with an honorary doctorate.
Max lives in a house with his owners on Seminary Street that leads directly to the main entrance to the campus.
In an interview with Associated PressMax’s owner Ashley Dow said she has been socializing on campus for the past four years.
“He decided he was going to go to campus and started hanging out with the college students, and they love him,” Dow said.
He said students are always excited to see Max on campus.
They take selfies with him, pet him while he purrs, and even join campus tours with prospective students when they’re in the building across from the family’s home.
“I don’t even know how he knows how to go, but he does,” Dow said. “And then he’ll follow them on their tour.”
‘With a resounding purr of faculty approval, the Board of Trustees of Vermont State Cat-leges has awarded Max Dow the prestigious degree of Doctor of Literature, complete with all the benefits of catnip, scratching and sand privileges. “Responsibilities that come with him,” the Instagram post read.
Max owner Ashley Dow said students are always excited to see Max on campus. They’ll take selfies with him, pet him while he purrs, and even join campus tours with prospective students when they’re in the building across from the family’s home.
Dow, widely known among students and graduates as “Max’s mom,” is often asked about his well-being and when they will see him on campus again.
Max will not participate in the actual 2024 graduation ceremony.
The school will award its degree to Dow.