KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor (SOHN’-ya soh-toh-my-YOR’) has been chosen to deliver a commencement speech at the University of Rhode Island.

Sotomayor will address thousands of students and their families at the school’s undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 22. She also will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

URI President David M. Dooley calls Sotomayor “a true champion for equal rights and social justice.” He says she’s a role model for students and the community.

Sotomayor is the 111th justice to serve on the Supreme Court and the first Hispanic and third woman to sit on the nation’s highest court.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Princeton in 1976 and her law degree from Yale in 1979.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.