CALIFORNIA, Pa. (EYT) — Pennsylvania Western University celebrated the achievements of its fall 2025 graduating class during coordinated commencement ceremonies held Saturday at its Clarion, California and Edinboro campuses.
According to PennWest, nearly 900 students from its in-person and online programs were eligible to graduate this fall and winter, with ceremonies highlighting undergraduate and graduate students from the College of Health Sciences and Human Services, the College of Education, Arts and Humanities, and the College of Science, Technology and Business.
All ceremonies were held at 10 a.m. and were livestreamed for remote guests.
Each campus held its own event, featuring student speakers, university leaders, and alumni representatives. Faculty members served as mace bearers, a ceremonial role that PennWest uses to emphasize the importance of faculty in student development.
At the California campus, President Jon Anderson conferred degrees and delivered greetings. The student speaker was Alexis Steenburg of Coal Township, Pennsylvania, who earned both bachelor’s and associate degrees in criminal justice and engineering technology, along with a minor in honors interdisciplinary studies. Steenburg held numerous leadership roles on campus and was recognized with multiple awards.
At the Clarion campus, degrees were conferred by Susanne Fenske, vice president for Institutional Effectiveness and Student Affairs. The student address was delivered by Zachary Troese, a psychology major and Clarion resident with a strong record of involvement in student organizations, including the University Activities Board and the Clarion Student Association Board…