Press Release:
Gratz College held a Commencement ceremony for its 126th graduating class in Jenkintown on Sunday, June 14th. An online graduate college with students from around the world, Gratz awarded master’s and doctoral degrees to 106 students.
In full regalia, the students and faculty were a spectacle as they processed across York Road to the ceremony taking place at the Hiway Theater. Family and friends watched their graduates receive their diplomas either in-person or on a livestream for those across the country and beyond.
“Commencement is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our graduates and honor the hard work and determination that have defined their academic journeys,” remarked Dean Leslie Ginsparg Klein. “We are proud of our students’ accomplishments and excited to see the impact they will make as they carry their knowledge, skills, and values into the future.”
Student speaker and newly minted doctor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies Leah Dukes described her experiences, “Gratz is more than a program, more than a college. It’s a community. A family. It’s where the phrase “yes, absolutely” is ever present, and students are made to feel as if they can do anything and conquer the world.” She continued, “Being a Gratz student opened a whole series of doors that I believe would have been closed to me otherwise. When I went to job interviews with Gratz on my resume, the interviewers recognized the name and asked me about my coursework. Gratz is respected in every institution in which I have been a part.”
Josh Bergerson Ed.D., recent alumnus and Aviation Academy teacher at Frankford High School offered inspiration to the graduating students.
“Class, as you step forward into your next chapters as leaders, directors, policymakers, advocates, and advanced practitioners…I urge you to remember one thing: Our work must be deeply intentional, and the people we serve must always be the priority. Every policy you write, every grant you pursue, and every institutional decision you make must pass a single, uncompromising test: Is this what is absolutely best for the individuals and communities whose lives are impacted by our leadership? We must continually assess what the people we serve truly need and deserve, so that we can equip them to live happy, successful, and meaningful lives.”
About Gratz College
Gratz College, a private non-profit institution based in the Philadelphia area, is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Founded in 1895, Gratz College is the oldest independent college for Jewish studies in North America. Today, Gratz enrolls a diverse population of students from around the world with many programs that reflect its historic focus on Jewish studies and education. An early adopter of online education, Gratz offers blended and fully online degrees in a broad range of studies, including the world’s only Doctorate in Antisemitism Studies, the world’s only online Doctorate in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, a Doctorate in Education Leadership, and a Doctorate in Jewish Studies. Gratz also offers ten master’s degree programs, including a Master’s in Education, a Master’s in Antisemitism Studies, and a Master’s in Nonprofit Management; various graduate certificates; and a robust continuing education program.
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Photos: Jonathan Gilbert Media