Phila U. sends off largest graduating class in school’s history

Nearly 800 Philadelphia University graduates walked across the stage of the Mann Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday.

It was the largest graduating class in Philadelphia University history – a total of 795 undergraduate and graduate students.

In his address to the students, President Stephen Spinelli said the students would soon elevate from student status to alumni, making the group his “new boss”.  

Legendary Philadelphia swim coach Jim Ellis, who was the inspiration for the movie ‘Pride’, gave the 2012 commencement speech. Ellis founded the Sayre Swim Club and recruited and coached troubled teens for a swim program with the Philadelphia Recreation Department. 

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D. Walter Cohen, D.D.S., chancellor emeritus of Drexel University College of Medicine and Phila U. trustee received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.  

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