Widener University celebrated the achievements of 1,375 Chester-campus graduates in five ceremonies held on Memorial Field this week.

The Widener University graduation ceremonies began on Tuesday, May 9, and concluded on the evening of Thursday, May 11.

Graduates from the School of Business, School of Nursing, School of Engineering, College of Arts & Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, and Center for Graduate and Continuing Studies individually crossed the stage and were congratulated by President Stacey Robertson as they received a symbolic representation of their degrees.

Separate Widener University graduation ceremonies will be held next week to celebrate graduates at Widener’s Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Delaware Law School in Wilmington, Delaware.

Robertson spoke at each of the Chester ceremonies, sharing life lessons she’s collected over a career that has included “twists and turns, detours and even U-turns.”

Dubbing them “Robertson’s Reflections” she encouraged graduates to self-reflect daily through journal writing, be intentional with how they spend their time, routinize decisions that are regular and repeated in order to save precious time, get adequate sleep for their overall well-being, embrace failure as an opportunity for growth, and practice mindfulness by using all their senses to pay attention to the moments of their lives.

“I want to offer my most enthusiastic congratulations to each of you. Earning this degree has required focus, hard work, a willingness to grow and learn, and the ability to recover from challenges – and I know we have all experienced those,” she said. “I am absolutely confident that each of you – as Widener alumni – will use your degree to find career success, enrich the communities around you, and play a part – big or small – in making the world a better place.”

Graduates hailed from 12 countries and 38 states. The university gave out associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees.

In addition, three inaugural graduates of Widener’s Integrated Professional Studies program earned certificates of higher education. The program is a non-degree course of study that supports students with intellectual disabilities who want to cultivate skills of self-advocacy, independence, and confidence to succeed in rewarding careers.

The university bestowed an honorary doctor of humane letters degree to August-Wilhelm Scheer, PhD, a longtime educator of business and computer science courses at Saarland University in Germany. Scheer is an exemplar in the field of business process improvement and a pioneer of digital technology who founded the software company IDS Scheer, and the August-Wilhelm Scheer Institute for Digital Transformation.

Virtually every business in the world is better due to his innovation and relentless focus on continuous process improvement.

The degree was awarded to Scheer during the commencement ceremony held Wednesday, May 10 for the School of Business Administration and Center for Graduate and Continuing Studies. He spoke after receiving it.

“Many inventions and discoveries, such as penicillin, were made by accident. But they would not have been made if the inventors had not begun their journey into uncharted territory. So it is always necessary to stay active and start a journey,” he said.

Widener University is a private institution known for its commitment to the personal and professional success of every student, where academic experiences are distinguished by excellence and students develop the leadership qualities employers seek.

Core values of respect, integrity and excellence are reflected in an outstanding student experience provided through an agile, innovative and inclusive approach to learning.

Industry-shaping faculty provide close, personal mentorship and share powerful connections that help students build professional networks.

Recognized as one of the Philadelphia region’s leading universities, Widener offers programs and experiences that empower our community of learners to discover and create better futures as scholars, leaders, and globally engaged citizens.

Find out more about Widener University.