Princeton University Awards Honorary Degree To Bon Jovi, 5 Others

PRINCETON, NJ — At Sunday’s commencement ceremony, Princeton University awarded six honorary degrees to New Jersey natives, including singer-songwriter Jon Bon Jovi.

The university’s commencement ceremony was held outdoors at the Princeton Stadium.

Bon Jovi, who was conferred the Doctor of Music Degree, accepted the honor in absentia. Described as a “thoughtful philanthropist” by the university, the musician established the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation in 2006, with a mission to “break the cycle of hunger, poverty and homelessness.”

“Over the past 15 years, his foundation has helped to do just that, supporting affordable housing for thousands of people across 11 states, and serving tens of thousands of meals to New Jerseyans in need,” the university said.

The JBJ Soul Kitchen community restaurants provide access to access to a meal. They have locations in Red Bank, Toms River, and the Rutgers-Newark campus.

JBJ Soul Kitchen has provided more than 135,000 meals.

Bon Jovi also served on President Barack Obama’s White House Council for Community Solutions, assisting in recovery efforts after Superstorm Sandy and building affordable housing in 11 states.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the JBJ Soul Kitchen Food Bank provided meals to first responders, hospital workers, soup kitchens, and other nonprofits.

“Through his commitment to rebuilding pride in one’s self and one’s community — one soul at a time — and his joyful contributions to the world of rock ‘n’ roll, he has taught us, “We’ve got to hold on to what we’ve got... We’ve got each other and that’s a lot,” the university said.

Other honoraria include Linda Caldwell Epps, educator, President, and CEO of 1804 Consultants; John V Fleming, Professor of English and Comparative Literature Emeritus at Princeton University; Rush Holt, physicist and eight-time member of Congress; Risa Juanita Lavizzo-Mourey, public health advocate and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Population Health and Health Equity Professor; and Constance Mercer Myers, founder, and chief executive officer of HomeFront.

Mercer Myers founded Mercer County-based HomeFront to provide housing assistance, education, life skills, employment training, childcare, and more for homeless or at-risk people.

“As the founder and chief executive officer of HomeFront, she has mobilized a small army of staff, volunteers and donors with the goal of empowering families to “break the cycle of poverty” by overcoming the interlocking obstacles to self-sufficiency — from prohibitive housing costs, to inadequate childcare, to underdeveloped life skills,” the university said.

Princeton University's 274th commencement ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of students and acknowledged the hardships of the pandemic.

“By completing your studies amidst this awful pandemic, you have distinguished yourselves even by the standards of this University’s long and illustrious history,” university President Christopher L. Eisgruber said.

“And in so doing, you have earned the right to participate in this unique and memorable Commencement ceremony, a ceremony that … provides a surprisingly apt metaphor for the past year.”

Seniors and graduate degree candidates were invited to the ceremony with two guests each. Around 1,100 seniors, 200 graduate students, and 3,000 guests attended the ceremony, the University said.

The ceremony was held in a socially distanced manner.

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