On Monday, the pop star made an appearance at the Ivy League school to accept a plaque given to her by Allen Counter, the director of the Harvard Foundation.
The 29-year-old, who never graduated high school, earned the prestigious award thanks to her various charitable efforts, including her role in creating an oncology center in her birthplace of Barbados.
Good works: Rihanna, 29, was named the Humanitarian of the Year by Harvard University on Monday; She is seen with Allen Counter, the director of the Harvard Foundation
For her ceremony, the Work singer modeled a head-to-toe gray look.
Rihanna was a vision in an off-the-shoulder dress paired with a set of over-the-knee boots.
The island beauty styled her shiny, brown locks in a ponytail and parted it to the side.
She kept her accessories to a minimum, choosing a pair of diamond earrings and a pearl necklace.
Big honour: The above is a close-up of her plaque
Style star: Rihanna was a vision in an off-the-shoulder dress and over-the-knee boots
Sleek: The island beauty styled her shiny, brown locks in a ponytail and parted it to the side
Classic: She kept her accessories to a minimum, choosing a pair of diamond earrings and a pearl necklace
In a video posted by The Shade Room, the 29-year-old expressed her excitement over her appearance at the university, in a speech given to attendees.
‘So I made it to Harvard,’ began the Grammy-winner, which caused a chorus of cheers from the crowd.
The pretty star then gave a matter-of-fact look, followed by a sassy hair flip.
‘Never thought I’d be able to say that in my life. But if feels good.’ she admitted.
‘So I made it to Harvard’: In a video posted by The Shade Room, the star expressed her excitement over appearing at the university
‘Thank you Harvard’: On Instagram, RiRi shared a photo naming her as the honouree
Rihanna continued her presentation on a more serious note.
The singer-actress hoped to inspire the crowd and managed to make them laugh when she innocently suggested one doesn’t ‘have to be college-educated’ to make a difference.
‘You don’t have to be rich to be a humanitarian,’ she began.
‘You don’t have to be rich to help somebody. You don’t gotta be famous. You don’t even have to be college-educated. I mean, I wish I was … especially today.’
According to PageSix, the audience laughed, and the singer, who did not graduate high school, followed up with a suggestion that she would consider returning to a higher education.
‘It’s true, I might come back.’
Oops!: During her speech, The singer-actress hoped to inspire the crowd and managed to make them laugh when she innocently suggested one doesn’t ‘have to be college-educated’ to make a difference
‘It’s true, I might come back’: The singer, who did not graduate high school, followed up with a suggestion that she would consider returning to a higher education
Well-deserved: RiRi earned her award based on her very inspiring charitable causes
RiRi earned her award based on her very inspiring charitable causes.
The singer, who was born on the island of Barbados in the Caribbean, created an oncology center to help treat breast cancer at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, according to Harvard.
She also founded the non-profit, The Clara Lionel Foundation Global Scholarship Program, to assist in funding Caribbean-born students who attend college in the U.S.
Rihanna also backs the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen Project.
The organization provides ‘access to education in over 60 developing countries, giving priority to girls, and those affected by lack of access to education in the world today.’
Previous recipients of the award include actor James Earl Jones, tennis player Arthur Ashe, and activist Malala Yousafzai.
Worthy: The singer, who was born on the island of Barbados in the Caribbean, created an oncology center to help treat breast cancer at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, according to Harvard
