A former senator named to oversee Penn State's compliance with NCAA sanctions has an honorary degree from the school.
 
Senator George Mitchell attended the May 1999 commencement ceremony for Penn State's College of Health and Human Development and was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Officials say Mitchell has received honorary degrees from more than 40 colleges and universities.
 
The NCAA announced Wednesday it had picked Mitchell to monitor Penn State's compliance with its sanctions in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal.
 
Sandusky was convicted in June of 45 counts of child sexual abuse, including attacks on boys inside athletics facilities at Penn State, where he became a successful defensive coach under Joe Paterno.