Award-winning journalist, bestselling author, motivational speaker and women’s health and wellness advocate Joan Lunden has been a constant voice in American homes for more than 30 years.

The DEGREES Project will host its annual recognition ceremony and Lunden is scheduled to be the keynote speaker in the University Union Ballroom at Sacramento State Tuesday from noon to 1:30 p.m.

DEGREES has been hosting the recognition ceremony event for over four years, said Marcellene Watson-Derbigny, associate vice president for student retention and academic success.

“Our goal is to honor and recognize students for their persistence, and often times we wait until commencement to honor the success of students,” Watson-Derbigny said. “The DEGREES Project Recognition Ceremony really embodies a motivational push to urge our students to be successful semester to semester, and then to [obtain] their degree.”

Watson-Derbigny said the event will embody a theme of “Celebrating Momentum: Honoring Progress in Motion.”

Following the event, there will be a light lunch, an awards and recognition component, as well as music and community building, according to the DEGREES Project website.

The award portion is designed to acknowledge the educational strides that students are making at Sac State, so all enrolled students who are in attendance will receive a Persistence Award. The community building will also allow parents and community guests to socialize with one another as they eat their lunch, according to Watson-Derbigny.

According to Lunden’s website, Lunden was co-host of ABC’s “Good Morning America” for nearly 17 years. She also reported from 26 countries and covered five U.S presidents as well as five Olympics.

Today, she is a special correspondent on the “Today” show and host of the CBS series, “Your Health.” She continues to interact with women on topics covering her everyday health, wellness, lifestyle and family.

Lunden’s biography states that in 2014, she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer which required chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. She chose to blog about her cancer treatment and wrote a memoir titled, “Had I Known.” It documents her treatment and reflects on her life and career.

She has also served as a national spokesperson for various organizations such as The American Heart Association and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, according to her biography.

Watson-Derbigny said Lunden was chosen by DEGREES because she is a very well-known alumna and has many accomplishments that Watson-Derbigny thinks will inspire many students.

The event is free and open to all members of the campus community and to the public. DEGREES is offering a free parking permit to all members who wish to attend.