Rutgers University created history when it awarded 14,302 graduation degrees to the largest senior class in its 247-year history May 17, during a two-hour commencement ceremony held at High Points Solutions Stadium at the Piscataway campus.

The size of the graduating class was estimated to be more than 800 students, exceeding last year's record.

Officials did not hand over the degrees to each of the 14,302 graduates. Instead, most of the students attended smaller convocation at their colleges and departments, where they were individually conferred with the degrees.

In fact, the smaller ceremonies began last week, and continued through this week at the New Brunswick-Piscataway, Newark and Camden campuses.

University officials have projected next year's class to be much larger in size, as the university will take over most of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, effective July 1, adding additional an thousand students to Rutgers.

Former state Supreme Court Justice Virginia Long, who delivered the commencement address, urged the graduates to be more sensible toward their society and family.

"Some of your parents worked three shifts to deliver you to this moment. And, as a mother, I will presume to speak for all of them when I say they did not do it so you could have jewelry and fancy automobiles," Long said. "They did it so that your life would matter. Do not let them down."

Following the tradition at the end of the ceremony, the new graduates tossed their caps high up in the air.

Anna Bansil, a 22-year-old music major and minor in public health, said that studying at Rutgers has been a great valuable experience. The diverse community has supported her throughout her four-year stay at the university. She is planning to attend an accelerated nursing program at the university to become a 'singing nurse.'

Bansil was part of the Rutgers Kirkpatrick Choir, which, along with other university choirs, sang the "The Star-Spangled Banner" and Rutgers' alma mater, "On the Banks of the Old Raritan" during the commencement ceremony.

Another graduate student, 22-year-old sciences major Christopher Jones, has decided to study physical therapy in graduate school.