Eastern’s Board of Trustees approved an honorary degree for 1972 graduate Carl Mito.

Mito has had volunteered in various capacities at Eastern, including as a member of the EIU Foundation and a three-term member of the School of Business Advisory Board, as well as serving a two-year term on Eastern’s Board of Trustees.

According to the recommendation for the honorary degree, Mito and his late wife Marion donated in excess of $500,000.

Previously, he was recognized as the Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropist for 2012 as the recipient of the Alumni Association’s Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award for 2012. He also gave the commencement address to Eastern graduates in 2011.

Outside of his support for the university, he has served on the board of directors for the Cancer Wellness Center, serving on the board’s executive committee, co-chairing the fundraising committee and leading Team Marion for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Walk.

Excerpts from the nomination recommending Mito for an honorary degree applauded him for his accomplishments and dedication to Eastern:

• “Mr. Mito is an example of a life led for the benefit of others and is worthy of continued recognition.”
• “His leadership is a positive example to our students and represents the highest of our ideals.”
• “Conferring an honorary degree upon Mr. Mito would recognize his many personal and career accomplishments and stand as a powerful example to students to follow his lead, recognizing that they too can have not only professional success, but more importantly, that they can give back to their alma mater and communities following graduation.”

The Honorary Degree Committee unanimously supported an honorary degree for Mito, University President David Glassman and his council unanimously supported the committee’s recommendation and the Board unanimously approved the item awarding the degree to Mito.

Corryn Brock can be reached at 581-2812 or at deneic@gmail.com.