Outlander star Sam Heughan was on hand in Glasgow to celebrate the graduates from the Royal Conservatoire Scotland - and was honoured with a doctorate degree of his own.
The Scottish actor returned to the city to join the Class of 2022 at their summer graduation, after graduating from the university himself back in 2003. The actor left with a BA in Acting at the time, and was honoured with a doctorate degree during the ceremony on Thursday afternoon.
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Sam announced a ten-year scholarship at the Royal Conservatoire back in 2021, and also personally funds three annual scholarships for undergraduate students in the School of Drama, Dance, Production and Film. Sam also created Write Start: The Sam Heughan Creative Commission, designed as an annual award at the university to encourage students to devise new work.
Commenting on his honorary doctorate, Sam Heughan said: “I am honoured to share in this special day and would like to thank the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for bestowing on me this wonderful honour.” Addressing the students, Sam said they have ‘a whole career of possibilities’ ahead of them, and urged them to 'dream big'.
He continued: “You have had many wonderful new, first experiences here, and will have many to come. This place has given you the greatest start and I’m incredibly excited for you.
“It is here, where my first dream became a reality. It’s here, where I have been shooting a major US TV show, and have been able to rely on the experience and lessons I learnt in this building.
“I never would have imagined back then, walking down Great Western Road on my way to movement class (where we were working on being a tree) or daydreamed that it was possible to make my own work. I never imagined I’d write my first book or have a whisky business or set up a scholarship for fellow students.
“I’m willing you on, I want you all to succeed and I know you will. Dream big and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I cannot wait to see what you all achieve.”
Professor Jeffrey Sharkey, Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said: “Sam Heughan is a wonderful ambassador for the arts and Scotland. He’s an artist of international acclaim with an entrepreneurial spirit, who passionately believes in giving back and helping others to fulfil their potential.
“Through his scholarship programme at RCS, he is helping to make the arts accessible for all and supporting the next generation as they follow their dreams.”
You can watch Sam in his many projects on television, with the latest on Channel 4 in Suspect. You can catch up with this gripping drama on All4.
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