McCartney receives honorary degree from Yale

Yale University apparently sees something in Paul McCartney that Heather Mills doesn't.

The institution rewarded the former Beatle with an honorary Doctorate of Music degree during their graduation ceremony on Monday, weeks before his 66th birthday.

According to EFluxMedia and Yale Daily News, Richard Levin, Yale's president, was full of praise for McCartney's musical efforts, saying, your songs awakened a generation, giving a fresh sound to rock 'n' roll, rhythm and blues." He also praised McCartney's "musical genius" and his willingness to support worthy causes.

Compliments such as these must have sounded great to McCartney, considering the financially and mentally taxing divorce battle that he waged with former model Heather Mills.

McCartney wore a black academic robe at the event and was warmly received upon his introduction. He was also present with other honorary degree recipients, including poet John Lawrence Ashbery and astronomer Martin Rees.

The Beatles song 'Hey Jude' was played when McCartney received his award; the day before his presence, former Prime Minister Tony Blair mentioned the musical icon in a speech he gave at the university.

He inspired students to be persistent, and reminded them that the first record company that the Beatles approached rejected them and called them a band that "no one would want to listen to."