Many people go to great lengths to earn a degree from prestigious institutions like Dartmouth. Hopeful Ivy League applicants often scramble to find the perfect balance of academics and extracurriculars to catch the admissions committee’s eye. Yet, with limited spots, even strong candidates can be turned away. But apparently, there’s another path just become the most successful skier in history.
On Sunday morning, alpine skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin was presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Dartmouth College during the Class of 2025’s commencement ceremony. Actress Sandra Oh, who delivered the keynote speech, also received an honorary degree.
In her speech, Dartmouth president Sian Beilock noted Shiffrin’s deep personal ties to the college. Her father, Jeff Shiffrin, graduated in 1976 and had been on the Dartmouth ski team. Beilock recalled that when Shiffrin’s family moved back to the Upper Valley, she joined a local ski club at age eight. While other kids slid around on cafeteria trays, Shiffrin was already studying the technical aspects of skiing.
Beilock highlighted Shiffrin’s historic athletic accomplishments she holds the most World Cup victories ever in alpine skiing and has won two Olympic gold medals but emphasized her broader impact. “This honor is not just about sports,” she said. “It’s about how you’ve faced setbacks from disappointing performances to injuries to profound personal loss with courage, honesty, and strength.”
Beilock praised Shiffrin’s role in advocating for mental health and helping young people speak openly about their struggles. “Because you’ve led with authenticity and courage at the height of your sport, you’ve made space for others to do the same. Your legacy goes beyond medals; it lies in the inspiration you give and the lives you’ve touched.”
Following the ceremony, Shiffrin posted a heartfelt message on Instagram addressed to her late father, who passed in 2020. “I got an honorary degree from Dartmouth today,” she wrote. “Hard to believe we’ve now got two Dr. Shiffrins in the family one earned it through years of study, the other by skiing. For the first time in a long while, I felt really close to you and I’m so thankful for that.”
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