You may have seen him act and sing on stage but you have not seen him receive a degree - an honorary doctorate one at that. Jon Bon Jovi has two honorary doctorate degrees in total.
Last year, he received one from Rutgers University. His first one was from Monmouth University in 2001, it was a doctorate for Humanities. And according to Business Insider, his doctorate from Rutgers at Camden was for his leadership in civic justice and equality.
John Francis Bongiovi, Jr., also known as Jon Bon Jovi, was born in 1962. The Perth Amboy, New Jersey resident was raised a Catholic. He spent summers with his grandparents and sold newspapers. At a young age, he attended St. Joseph High School in Methuchen, New Jersey. Two years later, he transferred to Sayreville War memorial High School in Parlin, New Jersey.
But he was not keen in sitting in a classroom all day. He spent most of his teenage years skipping classes. He did not do it for vices or such. He skipped to attend to musical activities. Being musically inclined, he went where the music was. He ended up playing in local bands with friends and cousins. The end result? His high school grades showed a poor performance. But he did not stop. He started playing at clubs when he was 16 years old.
When he was 17, he took up some janitorial work at his cousin Tony Bongiovi's recording studio. It was there that he made his big break. Meco was there at the studio recording "Christmas in the Stars: The Star Wars Christmas Album." His cousin Tony recommended him for the song "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas."
This was Jon Bon Jovi's first professional recording single. Later on, he became a successful singer, song writer, record producer, philanthropist and actor. He is forever known as the founder and front man for Bon Jovi - the band he formed in 1983.
But it was not his music that earned him the honorary doctorate degrees. It was his passion to combat issues that push families apart and drive them into economic despair that earned him the honor. He continues to do so.
Check out Jon Bon Jovi's commencement speech at Rutgers below:
