Alvernia celebrates record number of 800 graduates during commencement weekend

Customers Bank's Jay Sidhu offers advice; first Alvernia physician associate students earn degrees

by Sarah Matarella

Reading, PA (05/09/2026) — Alvernia University celebrated a record number of 800 students in the Class of 2026 with a weekend of events, including commencement at the Santander Arena in downtown Reading, Pa., on Saturday morning.

The ceremony, which featured a speech from Customers Bank Executive Chairman Jay Sidhu, included Alvernia's first Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate (PA) Studies graduates.

"At Alvernia, we believe education is more than a credential. It is the formation of life-long learners, reflective professionals, engaged citizens, and ethical leaders with moral courage. It is about preparing people who will use their gifts not only to succeed, but to serve," said President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D., who welcomed the graduates. "That commitment to serve is not an abstraction here-it is lived. It is rooted in our Franciscan values of service, humility, peacemaking, contemplation, and collegiality. You have carried those values into classrooms and residence halls, onto fields and stages, into labs and clinics, and out into the community."

Fitzgerald's speech spotlighted the impact stories of several students who led with conviction and compassion and reflected on the four years she has spent with the class, first as Provost, then as President. Student speaker, communication major and theater minor, Hector Malave '26, addressed the class, noting the value of higher education and the impact Alvernia had on him and his peers. He prompted his peers to consider that success is not just about their achievements but about the impact they will have.

"I'm not only representing the class of 2026, but I'm also representing the 15% of Latinos graduating with me today," said the Puerto Rico and Reading, Pa. native. "As we leave this campus, we step into a complicated world. A world that asks us to be informed, adaptable, and compassionate. A world that does not need more division, but more understanding and an open heart, so that you can have an open mind. Our Alvernia education was rooted in more than academics. It asked us to think about service, about ethics, about the kind of people we want to be, not just the careers we want to have."

Jay Sidhu, Executive Chairman of Customers Bancorp, was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane letters and served as the commencement speaker to inspire the Class of 2026. In his speech, he reflected on the experiences that shaped him, including immigrating to the United States in 1971. He inspired the graduates by sharing anecdotes from his own higher education journey, including four pieces of advice for a "successful, satisfied, and fulfilling life."

"Be a lifelong learner and give back. Never say you are done because you are never done. There is always more to do; more to give; more to receive; and more to learn in life," said Sidhu. "The more you learn, the more you realize how much there is to learn. But, learning alone is not enough. Use your knowledge and your success to help others-especially those who have not had the same opportunities. Lift people up. Strengthen your communities."

Graduates then received their associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. The ceremony concluded with a benediction prayer, a blessing for the graduates as they go into the world, led by Bernude Meizer Heaps '26, who also earned her doctorate at the ceremony. A scrolling list of names of every graduate appeared on video boards in the arena as students and families exited, cheering and posing for one last set of celebratory photos.

Celebrations began Friday and continued all day Saturday ahead of commencement, including Nursing and Occupational Therapy pinning ceremonies, a senior athlete award reception, an honors convocation, and a baccalaureate mass at the Sacred Heart Chapel on campus in the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters' Motherhouse. This made travel more accessible for parents and other loved ones to participate.

Alvernia University Class of 2026 by the Numbers:

800 total graduates

643 Pennsylvania residents

306 Berks County residents

4,200 miles is the farthest distance traveled for students within the U.S. (Anchorage, Ak.)

8,500 miles is the farthest distance traveled for international students (Vietnam)

194 are first-generation college graduates (Undergraduate)

64 is the age of the oldest graduate

19 is the age of the youngest graduate

15 graduates are military veterans

17 graduates are Reading Collegiate Scholars

19 international graduates from 7 countries (Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Yemen)

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Alvernia University is a Catholic comprehensive university with a liberal arts foundation founded by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters in 1958. The university serves nearly 3,000 students in Reading, Pottsville and Philadelphia with a unique blend of rigorous liberal arts education, strong technical training in many high demand majors, ever-expanding experiential learning opportunities through study abroad and internship experiences and community engagement through its Franciscan-based community service model.

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