Community College of Philadelphia hosts 60th Commencement Ceremony to honor Class of 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2026

Contact:
Antwon R. Martin
armartin [at] ccp.edu (armartin[at]ccp[dot]edu)
267.666.7881

Community College of Philadelphia hosts 60th Commencement Ceremony to honor Class of 2026
The College celebrated 1,968 graduates during this year’s Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 2

PHILADELPHIA – Community College of Philadelphia hosted its 60th Commencement Ceremony today in the Liacouras Center on Temple University’s campus, honoring CCP’s 1,968 graduates.

Marking the 60th anniversary of the College, this year’s keynote Commencement speaker was Cherelle L. Parker, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. Mayor Parker is a former public school teacher, a state legislator who headed the Philadelphia delegation, and member of Philadelphia City Council, where she represented the 9th District and rose to become majority leader. She is the 100th mayor of the City of Philadelphia and the first woman elected to lead the city.

Graduates, their families, and their loved ones also heard from College President Dr. Alycia Marshall, College Board of Trustees Chair Harold T. Epps, interim provost and vice president of Academic and Student Success Dr. Lisa Sanders, and Class of 2026 student speaker Jessica Dobney.

During her remarks, Dr. Marshall applauded the graduates for their perseverance and encouraged them to continue their journeys.

“How you succeeded in overcoming doubts and barriers is a template for your next challenge and your next victory,” Dr. Marshall said. “Through your studies, you have learned how to balance responsibilities, set priorities, address conflicts and know sacrifices are worth the end result. You have learned, and have demonstrated, how to rise from within.”

Jessica Dobney told her classmates about her time as a student at CCP, including her packed courseload, her full-time job, her part-time internship with the City of Philadelphia, her household responsibilities, and her volunteering and leadership activities both on- and off-campus. The 2026 summa cum laude graduate acknowledged the systems of support at CCP that helped her find success.

“Rather than bestowing students with only knowledge for their chosen degrees and certifications,” Dobney said, “CCP faculty have been working to ensure that important life skills, like prioritizing tasks, punctuality, communication, and other aspects of professionalism, are crucial as we look forward to life after graduation.”

This year marks a special milestone as CCP celebrates its 60th anniversary as the city’s only open-admissions institution. For six decades, the College has made higher education accessible and affordable to more than 750,000 individuals.

Among the 1,968 graduates from the Class of 2026 are 122 dual enrollment students who will be earning their associate degrees in addition to graduating from high school. This includes 103 students from Parkway Center City Middle College, 12 students from MaST Community Charter School, five students from Boys' Latin Charter School and two students from School of the Future who earned proficiency certificates. This is the first year that dual enrollment students at Boys’ Latin Charter School and School of the Future have graduated from CCP.

Additionally, more than 300 Octavius Catto Scholars are projected to graduate this year—the largest group of graduating Catto Scholars to date. The Octavius Catto Scholarship, supported by the City of Philadelphia, provides financial and academic support to empower students as they complete their college education.

Additional information about the College’s Commencement Ceremony, including our virtual yearbook and our Class of 2026 message wall, is available here.

Immediate photos of Commencement are available at @CCPedu on the College’s Instagram and Facebook. To request additional photos, please email Antwon R. Martin at armartin [at] ccp.edu (armartin[at]ccp[dot]edu).

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About Community College of Philadelphia
Community College of Philadelphia is the largest public institution of higher education in the City of Philadelphia. With an open admissions policy, the College serves all who may benefit – regardless of age, income, or ability. For 60 years, the College has lived up to its mission and goals by providing educational access for over 750,000 Philadelphians, setting families, businesses and neighborhoods on the path of shared prosperity and opportunity. For information on the College's degree and certificate programs, workforce development strategies, and community engagement initiatives, visit ccp.edu and follow us on social media @CCPedu.