With almost a month until
Arizona State University's commencement ceremony featuring President Barack Obama, the university has decided to honor the world leader by naming a scholarship program after him.
The university also apologized Saturday for any confusion regarding whether or not he would receive an honorary degree from
ASU.
"I apologize for the confusion surrounding our invitation to President Obama to address ASU students at commencement," said ASU President Michael M. Crow in a written statement.
School official said last week that Obama, who will to speak May 13 to ASU graduates on the Tempe campus, would not be given an honorary degree, an honor universities typically give to commencement speakers.
"It's our practice to recognize an individual for his body of work, somebody who's been in their position for a long time," Sharon Keeler, an ASU spokeswoman, told The Associated Press.
"His body of work is yet to come. That's why we're not recognizing him with a degree at the beginning of his presidency," she added.
Keeler said people should not look upon ASU's withholding of the honor as a presidential dis.
"We hope that the recent discussion of honorary degrees will not detract from the honor and thrill that ASU - and indeed all of Arizona - is experiencing in anticipation of his visit," said President Crow in his written statement.
"I am honored, as are our faculty, staff and students, that President Obama will give his first commencement speech as president of the United States at ASU," he added.
ASU officials said they would expand its most important scholarship program to pay tribute to President Obama.
The program, which will grant thousands of students an opportunity to attend college, will be called President Barack Obama Scholars. It will help the most financially needy students pay for school.
"It has always been our intention to recognize and honor President Obama's accomplishments during his visit," said Crow, "but we had not yet determined the best or most appropriate way to do so," he continued in the written statement.
"Although the focus and attention of the media and others has been on an honorary degree, we never felt that was the only-or even the best-means of honoring his tremendous service to our country," he said.
