Family, friends, and community members gathered at Citizens Bank Park to honor Philadelphia’s next generation of leaders and changemakers
PHILADELPHIA (June 13, 2025) – Heights Philadelphia (“Heights”), an economic mobility catalyst dedicated to supporting all Philadelphia students, especially Black, Latino, and first-generation-to-college scholars, hosted a graduation celebration on Friday, June 6 at Citizens Bank Park. The event honored more than 800 graduates from 5th grade, 8th grade, high school, and college.
The celebration brought together students, families, academic advisors, mentors, and community supporters to recognize this important milestone. Highlights of the evening included a student procession led by Philadelphia’s beloved mascots, heartfelt speeches from student speakers sharing their Heights journeys, and culminated with a surprise guest appearance by former Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce.
In his message to the students, Kelce congratulated them on their incredible accomplishments and encouraged them to keep learning and striving, no matter where their journey takes them.
Photos from the graduation celebration can be found linked here.
“Our graduates are extraordinary. They have shown dedication, resilience, and ambition,” said Sean E. Veren, Ed.D., President & CEO of Heights Philadelphia. “Their achievements are a testament to their hard work and to the power of what’s possible when students are surrounded by the right support systems, belief, and investment. They provide hundreds of examples of what Philadelphia’s young people have to offer the world. At Heights, we are focused on creating real pathways to economic mobility, in an effort to build a Philadelphia that is stronger, more inclusive, and more equitable for future generations. I am incredibly proud of these scholars for their perseverance as they pursue their goals and shape the future of our city.”
Through its commitment to economic mobility and students’ path to opportunity and propensity, Heights Philadelphia continues to redefine college and career readiness for young people across the city, especially those from communities historically underserved by traditional systems.
Newly released data from Heights shows that 77% of Heights college students graduate within 6 years, exceeding the national average by 12/5 percentage points, and 84% are employed or in graduate school six months after graduation. Heights students are also pursuing high-opportunity fields and securing early career roles with top employers including Apple, Lockheed Martin, CHOP, Meta, and Jefferson Health. Others have gone on to top graduate programs at institutions such as MIT, Temple University School of Pharmacy, and Thomas Jefferson College of Nursing.
Today, Heights supports more than 3,500 Philadelphia students with personalized advising, academic enrichment, career guidance, internships, and financial assistance, ensuring students have the tools and opportunities they need to succeed at every stage of their journey.
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About Heights Philadelphia:
Heights Philadelphia (“Heights”) is an economic mobility catalyst committed to breaking the cycle of generational poverty in Philadelphia by creating pathways to educational and workforce success. Heights serves more than 3,500 students from middle school to career with staff embedded in 25 schools across the School District of Philadelphia, and partnerships with 13 colleges and universities. Through advising and enrichment, pathways to careers, partnerships, and community, Heights transforms opportunities for success by equipping students with the tools to pursue careers that lead to economic mobility. For more information, visit Heights.org.
Follow Heights on social media including Instagram, Linkedin, and Facebook: @HeightsPhilly
Media contact:
Kate Foley, Signature 57
kfoley@signature57.com
717.413.9820
