Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliott and Alex Lacamoire receive honorary doctorates
Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliott recently added another accolade to their long running list of combined achievements.
The two music icons received honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts on Saturday. Four-time Grammy Award winning musician Alex Lacamoire was also presented with an honorary doctorate.
During Timberlake's address to graduates, he shared an inspiring message about working towards success.
"You're defined by what you define failure as. It's not a thing if it leads you to your success. It's all part of the journey," he said.
"I hope that in the years to come, two things will happen: one, I will represent you in the way that you most hope for," he added. "And two, I look around and see this graduating class. Meet me at the studio. I want to see y'all!"
"No Dream is too big!!! Keep chasing!!! Trust me... I'm a DOCTOR!!" he captioned an Instagram showing off his degree.
Timberlake's wife, actress Jessica Biel, commented, "Literally every hat looks good on you, but this is my favorite one."
Elliott, the first hip-hop artist to receive the college's honorary doctorate, also shared a message of perseverance to graduates during her remarks.
"There will be ups and downs. Prepare for that, but don't give up," she said during the commencement ceremony. "If I had given up a long time ago, I wouldn't be standing here today."
"As long as you are breathing, it is never too late," she said. "Don't forget that. You have come too far to quit."
"CREATE YOUR OWN LANE!!!! Sincerely Dr. MISSY ELLIOTT," she captioned a celebratory Instagram post.
Lacamoire said during his speech that receiving his honorary doctorate "fills me with a level of pride that I can't compare to anything else I've felt until today."
