WBTV – Country music singer Luke Combs was given an honorary degree from Appalachian State University during the school’s graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 7.

A Charlotte-area native who went to high school in Asheville, Combs studied at App State before his music career took off.

The country star was reportedly just 21 hours short of graduating from Appalachian State but got his start playing small shows in the college town of Boone.

“In every sense, Luke Combs represents the character and heart of a Mountaineer,” App State Chancellor Heather Norris said during the ceremony. “His story inspires our students to dream big, work hard and always remember where they came from.”