9/14/99

Editors: A picture of Bob DeMott is available at: http://cscwww.cats.ohiou.edu/news/pix/DEMOTT.JPG

ATHENS, Ohio -- Distinguished Professor of English Bob DeMott will keynote this year's Honors Convocation at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.

The Honors Convocation, held annually since 1978, celebrates student scholars and recognizes the generosity of those who donate to student scholarships. For the 1999 academic year, about 4,760 students will receive over $8 million in awards.

"This is a very meaningful event for all students who receive scholarship assistance on campus," said Program Coordinator for the Honors Tutorial College Jan Hodson.

Demott, who received his Ph.D. at Kent State University in 1969, is the recipient of such awards as University Professor and Outstanding Graduate Professor. Demott is the former director of the English Department's Honors Tutorial Program and earlier this year was a co-winner of the Honors Tutorial College's Outstanding Tutor Award.

DeMott is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on the work of Noble Prize winning novelist John Steinbeck. His annotated, interpretive edition of Working Days, Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath Journal was chosen as a New York Times Outstanding Book in 1989. DeMott is currently a consultant for the Discovery Network's forthcoming documentary on The Grapes of Wrath.