The View from Here

From Dionne Warwick to Dr. Dre, American Music Honors again turned campus into the center of the music world.

One Night Only

Rolling Stone magazine has called the American Music Honors “a live event on par with the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.” The fourth annual installment, held April 18 on campus, lived up to that billing. Hosted by the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music, the sold-out event once again transformed Monmouth’s 700-seat Pollak Theatre into a stage for music icons—an intimate setting for an evening that felt anything but small.

Honorees and performers gather onstage at the 2025 American Music Honors.
In addition to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, musical greats as wide ranging as Flavor Flav, Steve Earle, Patti Smith, and John Densmore of the Doors were part of the festivities. This photo and above courtesy of John Cavanaugh.

This year’s honorees spanned genres and generations: Dionne Warwick, celebrated for her elegant phrasing and emotional precision; Patti Smith, whose work fused punk, poetry, and rock; Dr. Dre, a pioneering force in hip-hop; the E Street Band, one of rock’s most enduring and influential ensembles; and the Doors, a defining late-’60s band that fused blues, psychedelia, and literary ambition. The evening also included a posthumous tribute to The Band.

With the Disciples of Soul serving as the house band, the evening moved seamlessly between tributes, live performances, and spontaneous collaborations. Highlights included Warwick’s duet with 2023 honoree Darlene Love on “That’s What Friends Are For,” Bruce Springsteen taking on “Light My Fire” with John Densmore behind the drums, and a high-energy performance of Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” by Chuck D and Flavor Flav. The night ended with a full-stage finale of “People Have the Power,” led by Smith and Springsteen, that featured many of the honorees and guests joining in.

Proceeds from the event support the Center’s exhibitions, educational programming, and public outreach, extending the reach of a night that once again placed Monmouth at the center of the American music story.

Stepping Onto the National Stage

Monmouth has been designated a National University by U.S. News & World Report, a milestone that reflects the University’s expanded academic scope, growing research activity, and breadth of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.

The classification follows Monmouth’s 2025 Carnegie designation as a Research College and University and more than two decades of steady gains in academic profile, student outcomes, and national reach.

This One Goes to 11

Cover art for Blue Hawk Records' "From the Basement" featuring student musicians seated with instruments

Clocking in at under 12 minutes, Blue Hawk Records’ latest release might be brief—but it still rocks.

“From the Basement,” the student-run label’s 27th compilation, features three original tracks by students from across the University. The EP, which made its live debut at Springfest, was released in April and is available on all major streaming platforms.

Breaking New Ground

Bryana Ruiz didn’t just earn a Gilman Scholarship; she made institutional history.

In January, the junior biology major became the first Monmouth student to receive the program’s STEM Supplemental Award, building on the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship that took her to London this semester. A first-generation college student planning a career in medicine, Ruiz said the study abroad experience will help her better understand the social and cultural factors that shape patient care.

Honoring Abele

Portrait of Julian Francis Abele

Monmouth recently honored Julian Francis Abele, the chief architect behind the Great Hall, with the official dedication of Great Hall 104 as the Julian Abele Room. During the ceremony, the University also announced the acquisition of the Julian Abele Special Collection and the Great Hall’s inclusion on the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail.

Abele (1881–1950), the first African American graduate of Penn’s School of Architecture, was the lead designer of the University’s most iconic building, though his role went largely uncredited during his lifetime. Three generations of his family attended the celebration.

A Strong First Showing

Competing in its first National Cyber League Capture-the-Flag tournament last fall, Monmouth’s Cyber Hawks team made an immediate impact.

Junior Ikey Sasson finished No. 1 overall among more than 7,800 participants, earning a perfect 3,000-point score with 99.34% accuracy, while 10 additional students placed in the top 500. The team closed out 2025 ranked No. 2 in the national power rankings, trailing only the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Perfect Pitches

Senior business majors Ashley Bento and Matt Fries split top honors at the Center for Entrepreneurship’s annual HawkTank competition for concepts that couldn’t be more different.

Bento’s “The A Grain” is a flavor-forward superfood bowl concept built around bold, signature granolas, while Fries’ “StriperLog” is a data-driven app designed to help anglers fish smarter by tracking conditions and outcomes. Their pitches rose above a competitive field of ventures that included AI-powered learning tools, real estate tech, and a diabetic-friendly bakery concept.

Infographic summarizing Monmouth University's 2026 Giving Days results: more than $500,000 raised, more than 2,600 gifts received, and donors representing all 50 states for the first time.