Helen C.M. Woo, who is from Los Angeles, was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letter for Humanitarian Contributions in the Field of Education. Ms. Woo has built schools, primary through university, in poor rural communities abroad as well as providing scholarships to students who would otherwise not have the means to obtain an education. In receiving the award she said, "Although I am in my seventies, having received this award, I will have to work even harder."

Dharma Master Heng Hsien, a founding faculty member of the University, (Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley) was awarded Professor Emerita status in recognition of her many years of hard work in teaching and her help in establishing Dharma Realm Buddhist University.

World renowned scholar, Huston Smith, author of the best selling text The World's Religions and subject of a widely viewed Bill Moyers PBS special recorded a special keynote address for the graduates. Now in his nineties, he expressed his admiration for a university that is dedicated not only to scholarship but also practice and wished that he could "turn the clock back fifty years and teach there."

The commencement hall was filled to overflowing with family and well-wishers, and all joined together in closing with a Dedication of Merit praying , "May every living being, our minds as one and radiant with light, share the fruits of peace with hearts of goodness, luminous and bright."

Dharma Realm Buddhist University is located at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah. For more information see its website: www.drbu.org or e-mail info@drbu.org.