Meryl Streep, Debbie Harry among 2018 New Jersey Hall of Fame inductees

Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Meryl Streep, Debbie Harry, Steven Van Zandt, Gloria Gaynor and the band The Four Seasons are to be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame on May 6.

The induction ceremony is to take place at Convention Hall in Asbury Park.

Also set to be honored are authors Harlan Coben and Anna Quindlen; real-estate executive Jon Hanson; publishing executive Steve Forbes; businessman Joe Buckelew; celebrity chef and Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro; athletes Al Leiter and Mary Decker; astronauts Mark Kelly and Scott Kelly; nurse Clara Maass; and politician Millicent Fenwick.

"Induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame is the highest civilian honor that our state can bestow on someone. It's a celebration of New Jersey that inspires the next generation of New Jersey leaders. Our inductees remind us how so many of our citizens have transformed the world, and how proud we should be of that fact as New Jerseyans," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement Tuesday.

"Our May 6 induction ceremony is the NJHOF's 10th-anniversary celebration, and former inductees will help us to induct this year's class. It will be an inspiring ceremony, with lots of surprises," added Steve Edwards, NJHOF Foundation Board president.