Former Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam gets major honour from Canadian university
Former Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam went back to school this week and got a nice new title.
On Wednesday, Siakam was granted an honorary degree from the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton.
Siakam had previously partnered with the university’s McKenna Institute and the River Philip Foundation in 2023. Siakam opted to establish a $200,000 tech-focused scholarship through his PS43 Foundation to honour his late father, Tchamo, who passed away in 2014.
“Receiving an honorary degree from UNB is an incredible honour but the bigger story is the scholarship we created with the McKenna Institute in my father’s name,” Siakam wrote in a post on social media. “The Pascal Siakam Scholarship supports students from Cameroon studying computer science and technology, giving them the gift my father always valued most: an education no one can take away.”
UNB stated in a release that they’d chosen to honour Siakam with the degree for his “commitment and support of higher education, and his immense impact that extends well beyond the basketball court.”
Receiving an honorary degree from UNB is an incredible honour but the bigger story is the scholarship we created with the McKenna Institute in my father’s name.
The Pascal Siakam Scholarship supports students from Cameroon studying computer science and technology, giving them… pic.twitter.com/UegQKIG76R
— pascal siakam (@pskills43) September 4, 2025
Siakam himself spent two years at the University of New Mexico before entering the NBA draft. The two-time NBA All-Star also surprised a group of 30 middle-school kids that took part in his “Data Dunkers” program in the nearby town of Gagetown, as per CBC’s Karissa Donkin.
Siakam also shared some love for the local New Brunswick community, which showed up for the degree ceremony.
“A huge thank you to the fans and community who showed up last night, your support made this moment even more meaningful,” he said.
In the process of getting the honorary degree, Siakam is also embracing a new title.
“Yes, you can call me Dr. Siakam,” he concluded the note, adding a laughing emoji.
While Siakam now plays for the Indiana Pacers after a 2024 trade away from the Raptors, it’s clear his time in Canada left quite the impact on him.
“I remember in Toronto just how passionate they were about our team, the things that we’re able to do, and it’s the same thing here,” Siakam told TNT during the Eastern Conference Finals.