Holy Family University Celebrates 68th Commencement: A Community Bound by Purpose, Lifted by Education
Holy Family University proudly celebrated its 68th Commencement on Saturday, May 17, awarding degrees to 828 graduates whose diverse backgrounds, determination and achievements reflect the University’s strength as a beacon of opportunity and workforce-ready education.
The Class of 2025 includes 20 associate’s degrees, 565 bachelor’s degrees, 219 master’s degrees, and 24 doctoral degrees awarded across Holy Family’s four schools: Arts & Sciences, Business & Technology, Education, and Nursing & Health Sciences.
Nearly 49% of students who self-identified reported being first-generation college graduates — underscoring Holy Family’s critical role in advancing access to higher education and economic mobility. That mission was recently affirmed by the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, which recognized Holy Family as a national leader in student opportunity and outcomes.
In her address, University President Dr. Anne Prisco reflected on Holy Family’s founding values and their continued relevance in today’s world:
“At Holy Family, we are inspired by our founding Sisters and our mission — teneor votis: I am bound by my responsibilities,” said Dr. Prisco. “Responsibility not just to ourselves, but to one another. To lift others as we rise. To seek justice, serve with compassion, and lead with integrity. What gives me hope — deep, enduring hope — are all of you,” she continued. “Your generation isn’t sitting on the sidelines. You care. You are problem-solvers. You are looking for ways to live your values out loud.”
The Class of 2025 also included 82 student-athletes across 14 sports and 139 recipients of named scholarships awarded for academic talent, financial need or service.
Keynote speaker Louis P. Kassa III, chief executive officer and president of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, and chief executive officer of the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute and Hepatitis B Foundation, called on graduates to view life’s uncertainties as opportunities for growth. “In the face of unpredictability, I urge you to be ever curious,” said Kassa, who was also an honorary degree recipient for the graduate ceremony. “Always read, always seek knowledge, and always ask questions. Curiosity is the compass that will guide you through the unknown, opening doors to new opportunities and insights.”
He also emphasized the value of resilience and compassion. “Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it,” Kassa said. “Resilience becomes not just a trait but a necessity. It is the ability to adapt, to persevere and to rise above challenges that will carry you forward.”
As students turned their tassels, they joined a growing network of Holy Family alumni who are leaders, caregivers, educators, and advocates across the region. Each graduate’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance—and the strength of a university community that supports its students every step of the way.