Widener Celebrates Excellence at 2025 Commencement

Emily Barrett, associate director of communications

Pride and joy filled the Chester campus as Widener celebrated the 2025 commencement season. 

The university recognized this year’s graduates over the course of one week with five ceremonies for the Chester-based colleges and schools. 

President Stacey Robertson addressed the graduates in each ceremony and reflected on the challenges and opportunities that await them in their next chapters. Robertson advised the graduates to use the connections they built at Widener and continuously seek and embrace curiosity, hard work, mindfulness and humility.

These foundations of both personal and professional success have weathered every technological revolution, every market disruption, every societal shift. Do these things, and I have every confidence that you will not merely navigate the changing world – you will help shape it for the better.” —President Stacey Robertson

Take a closer look at the 2025 statistics and celebrations.

2025 By the Numbers:

Our Graduates

485 undergraduate students and 412 graduate students

Celebration Crowd

3,000+ chairs in the ceremony tent

Global Representation

Graduates hailed from 12 countries, including India, Greece, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia, and 27 states, including Alabama, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah, and Texas. 

Pride on Display

4,000(ish) blue and gold pom-poms distributed

Moments from Commencement 2025

Click here for the full photo album to see each Chester college and school ceremony.

A female graduate shakes the president's hand on stage at commencement.
A female graduate smiles with her diploma during the recessional.
Male and female grad students take a selfie together at commencement.
A family cheers for their graduate from the crowd with posters and signs.
A female graduate poses in between the mascots, Chester and Melrose.
President Stacey Robertson and Associate Dean Jill Black smile as they recess out of commencement.

You May Also Like

Taylor Easter smiles at the camera wearing a blue graduation cap and blue Widener sweatshirt

Meet Taylor Easter, the 2025 President’s Award Winner

Taylor Easter is the 2025 President's Award winner. One of the university's highest honors, the President's Award recognizes a graduating senior who has contributed the most to Chester campus life through scholarship and participation in extracurricular activities.

Amanda Bickerstaff speaks on stage in front of a crowd

Widener AI Day Showcases AI Exploration and Education

Widener hosted the university’s first “AI Day” to engage students, faculty and staff in meaningful conversation, exploration and education about artificial intelligence through hands-on workshops, a keynote address and more.

View All News