Entire French village wins honorary degree

Haverford College broke with tradition and awarded an honorary degree to an entire French village. The college, which has a Quaker heritage, gave its highest honor to the village of Le Chambon, in a remote region of southern France, for its secret work during World War II.

Between 1940 and 1944, the villagers of Le Chambon concealed, cared for, and eventually led to safety 2,500 Jewish men, women, and children --providing an education for the children while they were in hiding.

Also receiving an honorary degree was Rosa Parks, who helped fire up the US civil-rights movement by refusing to give up a seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Ala. in 1955.