Ben Affleck accepted an honorary degree from Brown University on Saturday (05.25.13).
The ‘Argo’ director and star took to the podium during the Ivy League university’s graduation ceremony in Providence, Massachusetts to receive his prestigious Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) degree for his achievements in cinema.
The 40-year-old actor was also recognized for his contributions to humanitarian causes and threw his fist into the air with his diploma after giving a passionate speech to his fellow graduates.
Ben was nominated and voted on by the Board of Fellows in September, before his CIA thriller took awards season by storm, receiving the Best Motion Picture of the Year Oscar, Best Film BAFTA and Best Director at the Golden Globes, amongst many other accolades.
Pulitzer-winning author and MIT professor Junot Diaz and four others were also honored at Brown University’s commencement ceremony.
Ben joins the likes of Daniel Day Lewis, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep and even Kermit the Frog who have also picked up honorary degrees for their film work.
The philanthropic actor recently lived on just $1.50 a day to raise funds for the Live Below the Line charity campaign, which aims to help people living in poverty.
He has also collaborated with shoe company Toms to launch a line of fashionable footwear to benefit his own charitable organization, the Eastern Congo initiative.
The limited edition shoe line is made from colorful Congolese textiles and $5 for every pair sold will be donated to the Eastern Congo Initiative, which supports communities in the Congo, and a pair of shoes will also be donated to a child in need with every purchase.