Penn’s 251st Commencement, took place on Monday, May 14 under sunny skies. President Amy Gutmann (upper left) conferred the degrees to the seven honorary degree recipients and the 6,000 graduates. Provost Ronald Daniels and Chaplain William Gipson (upper right) looked on as Secretary of the University Leslie Kruhly, carried the University mace, the symbol of the authority of the University. David Fraga, C ’07, (above) sang the National Anthem before the Chaplain gave the Invocation, and led the singing of The Red and Blue, after the Dismissal—complete with closed- captioning.

President Gutmann joined Ben on the Bench, (below) as Trustees Chairman Riepe and the seven honorary degree recipients gathered with them. Standing (from left to right) the Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Aaron Beck, Caroline Bynum, Mildred Dresselhaus, James Riepe, Aretha Franklin, Commencement Speaker James Baker III and Shirley Franklin.

Online: Visit Almanac’s website for links to Almanac’s Commencement slideshow, and the University’s Commencement webcast; audio-only downloads and Podcasts.