MASSACHUSETTS: Matt Damon has been awarded a special accolade from America’s Harvard University. The actor studied English at the prestigious college from 1988 to 1992 but dropped out before graduating to pursue his acting career. He returned to the university to receive the 2013 Harvard Arts Medal in recognition of his contribution to the arts. The ceremony was hosted by actor John Lithgow, who himself studied at Harvard, and the pair discussed their school days, as well as Damon’s breakthrough in Hollywood with his Oscar winning movie Good Will Hunting. The prizegiving comes a day after it was announced Damon’s best friend Ben Affleck will receive an honorary doctorate degree from Brown University next month.–WO