More than 400 students received degrees during Monmouth University's winter commencement on Friday afternoon.
WEST LONG BRANCH - The more than 400 students who graduated during Monmouth University's winter commencement on Friday afternoon received life lessons from a record company executive and a three-time Olympic gold medalist before receiving their diplomas.
U.S. women's soccer star Christie Rampone, a 1999 graduate of Monmouth University, was awarded the school's "Distinguished Alumni Award" during the commencement ceremony.
Rampone said she learned a lot during her 19 years on the U.S. women's national soccer team and shared some of that wisdom with the graduates.
U.S. women's soccer star Christie Rampone received a "Distinguished Alumni Award" during Monmouth University's winter commencement ceremony on Jan. 13, 2017. (Rob Spahr | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) "Really enjoy and embrace all the good times. Persevere through all of those difficult times, because you're going to have some ups and downs," she said.
"Believe in yourself. Be you, be who you are. And always remember what wakes you up every day to be you and what inspires you, and bring that with you into your next chapter and into your workplace. Have that positive energy that's contagious and good things will happen."
Jon Esposito, the chairman and CEO of Warner Music Nashville, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the university and delivered the ceremony's commencement address.
Esposito, who has worked with artists ranging from Bon Jovi and Blake Shelton to Jay Z and Sum 41, challenged the graduates to "get busy" finding their hearts' desires, to make a difference in the world and to be decisive when faced with life's many forks in the road.
"You do not need to have the answers today," he reassured the graduates. "Have ideas, but accept that the road of life is a process and one to enjoy."
He also encouraged the graduates to be compelling and trustworthy, to reinvent themselves often and not to be afraid to fail, but to learn from the failures that they do have.
"As you become the leaders of tomorrow... lead," he said. "Lead with an open mind, an attentive ear and understanding heart. And have fun. Have lots and lots and lots of fun. You've got enough crap along the way. Find the moments to have fun as often as you possibly can. "
Monmouth University President Paul R. Brown said the 229 undergraduates and the 189 graduate students were the first class to graduate in the school's newly renamed OceanFirst Bank Center, as well as the university's last class to participant in a winter commencement.
"So this ceremony - your ceremony - is a historic one," he told the graduates.
Brown then told the graduates that recent polling determined that nearly half of the registered voters nationwide believe the "American way of life" is under a great deal of threat, while another third sense some threat.
"Hiding from issues doesn't make them go away. ... The world needs leaders who can engage in productive civil discourse even when, especially when, good people with good intentions disagree," he added. "Your new responsibility, as an educated citizen and a leader, is to help find solutions through action informed by thoughtful, respectful discussion - no matter what side of any particular issue you are passionate about."
Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.