COMMENCEMENT 2006

Early in the morning of Penn’s 250th Commencement, on May 15, 2006, the skies opened and rain came but stopped long enough to have the traditional procession led by bagpipes and drums down Locust Walk through campus to Franklin Field. Although it drizzled on and off during the ceremony the spirits of the 6,000 graduates were not dampened.

Above, Ben on the Bench was joined by Penn President Amy Gutmann and the honorary degree recipients: (standing) Stephen Wynn, Lawrence Klein, Shirley Ann Jackson, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Judith Klinman, as well as Trustees’ Chairman James Riepe, and Commencement Speaker Jodie Foster.

Photos by Marguerite F. Miller

Andrew Gee Wai Chung, WG ’06, (left) sang a rousing rendition of The National Anthem at the beginning and led the crowd in a spirited singing of The Red and Blue at the end.

Benjamin Franklin was invoked by speakers, embraced by graduates and honorary degree recipients alike as they paused and posed with him in front of College Hall and on his bench.

Online: Almanac’s Commencement slideshow; Commencement webcast; or audio-only downloads, and Podcasts.