Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, renowned filmmaker, Spike Lee receive Johns Hopkins University honorary degrees

Johns Hopkins University's 2016 commencement ceremony was held on Wednesday, May 18 at Royal Farms Arena in downtown Baltimore. It was a celebration of more than 7,500 graduates—including about 1,500 undergraduate students, eight distinguished achievers. 

Award-winning Nigerian novelist, Chimamanda Adichie, groundbreaking filmmaker, Spike Lee, a Nobel Prize winner, and Maryland's first woman to become an administrative Circuit Court judge are among eight distinguished achievers who received Johns Hopkins University honorary degrees.

Dr. Adichie wore the traditional gold and black gown at the ceremony. The commencement speaker was renowned U.S. filmmaker Spike Lee who delivered a poignant address in which he advised graduates to "build bridges of love versus walls of hate".