During today’s graduation ceremony at the Culinary Institute of America, Nathan became the third person to be awarded an honorary degree from the institution. He delivered the commencement address at graduation ceremonies for the CIA’s Hyde Park campus, and later in the day delivered a presentation about Modernist Cuisine to more than 1,000 students.

During Nathan’s address, he admitted that (despite having earned several advanced degrees) this was the first commencement he had ever attended. Following Nathan’s remarks, Dr. L. Timothy Ryan, the president of the CIA, rejoined him on stage and issued a proclamation making Nathan an honorary alumnus. For more details and photos, see the coverage on the CIA website.

 

Dr. Kathy Merten gave the Invocation, which was followed by a speech given by student Jack Stoessel. Some in the audience were visibly moved by Stoessel’s remarks, which included the following quote from the song “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” by Baz Luhrmann: “Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.”