Rutgers president Robert Barchi looks on as Steven Van Zandt waves to the crowd during Rutgers University commencement at High Point Solutions Stadium on Sunday in Piscataway, NJ. 5/14/17 (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Don't run from where you're from, one of the founding members of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band told Rutgers University graduates Sunday.
Standing before Rutgers' largest-ever graduating class at the campus football stadium in Piscataway, actor and musician Steven Van Zandt told students to stay true to their Garden State roots.
It worked for Bruce Springsteen when he used a postcard of Asbury Park for the cover of his first album, Van Zandt said. It worked for David Chase, creator of "The Sopranos," when he set the hit television show in his home state.
"Authenticity worked for Bruce. It worked for David Chase," the rocker said, wearing his signature head scarf with his graduation gown and twisting one of his five large rings as he looked out over the podium.
"Embrace your Jersey roots and authenticity. Jersey strong," Van Zandt said as the graduates cheered. "It doesn't matter where you're from. You're in the Jersey family now."
The rocker became "Dr. Van Zandt" at the Rutgers ceremony. He was awarded an honorary Rutgers doctorate for his many accomplishments, which include his work with Springsteen, his acting role on "The Sopranos" and his activist work fighting apartheid in South Africa and injustice in other parts of the world.
Van Zandt received a standing ovation from the tens of thousands of graduates and their families at the morning ceremony at High Point Solutions Stadium on Rutgers' Busch campus.
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E-Street band and "Sopranos" star Steven Van Zandt joins a long list of celebrities given honorary doctorates by New Jersey colleges despite a lack of a higher education.
The state university will hand out an estimated 17,729 degrees this month to the largest class in its 251-year history. The degrees for graduates on the New Brunswick-Piscataway campus were conferred at the ceremony in the stadium. The remaining degrees will be awarded at commencements at Rutgers-Newark on Wednesday and Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday and Thursday.
Graduates will also participate in various ceremonies and convocations with their individual schools and departments throughout the week.
With this year's graduates, Rutgers has handed out a total of nearly 586,000 degrees since it was founded as Queens College in 1766, according to the university registrar.
Van Zandt was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree during the ceremony, patting his chest as the doctoral hood was placed around his neck. Another honorary degree, a Doctor of Science, went to Harvey Makadon, a Harvard Medical School professor and advocate for LGBTQ and HIV health care.
The ceremony was more relaxed than last year's Rutgers commencement, when President Barack Obama spoke in honor of the university's 250th anniversary. This year's festivities, which were free and open to the public, did not include the heavy security, road closures and hard-to-get tickets that came with last year's presidential visit.
Van Zandt was selected to speak by a committee of students, faculty and staff. He will be paid a $35,000 honorarium for his appearance, though the money will not come from tuition or the university's state funding, Rutgers officials said. Instead, money from the university's beverage distribution contract with Coke will be used for the payment.
The actor and musician is a 1968 graduate of Middletown High School in Monmouth County, but never earned a college degree. He was a founding member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and co-produced Springsteen's "The River" and "Born in the U.S.A." albums. He also formed his own band, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, and launched a syndicated radio show.
Van Zandt became a successful actor, best known for creating the character Silvio Dante on "The Sopranos." Rutgers also honored him for his extensive work for charity and as an activist, including his "Sun City" project to help end apartheid in South Africa.
He urged graduates to seek out "greatness" in their lives and to pick up the activism of earlier generations, including standing up to protect the environment.
"Lead us into a green future. Reach for greatness, nothing less. And make sure you have some fun along the way. Life should never be boring. Congratulations. Go get 'em," Van Zandt said.
Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook