Newswise — "Governor Rendell will be an outstanding Commencement speaker," said Bucknell President Brian C. Mitchell. "He will have an important, meaningful and memorable message for our graduates and I very much look forward to his address."
During commencement, Rendell will receive the Bucknell Award of Merit in recognition of his "significant contributions to his profession and community," said Mitchell.
Upon taking office as Governor, Rendell proposed The Plan for a New Pennsylvania, which aims to return one and a half billion dollars to taxpayers, giving homeowners significant tax relief that lessens the financial burden faced by many older Pennsylvanians and others on fixed incomes. It closes the resource gap between school districts while at the same time investing up to $1.25 billion annually within three years to fund proven programs that boost student achievement. Rendell's Plan also outlines an economic stimulus program that will invest nearly two billion in bonds and loan guarantees to leverage an additional five billion in private investment in economic development projects across the state.
Under Governor Rendell's leadership and direction, major elements of his Plan for a New Pennsylvania have been realized including: historic increases in education funding; passage of an economic stimulus package to revitalize towns and communities; passage of legislation to reduce property taxes; and expansion of Pennsylvania's PACE and PACENET program to provide seniors with much needed prescription drug coverage.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova Law School, Rendell has served as District Attorney of the City of Philadelphia (two terms from 1978-1985), Mayor of the City of Philadelphia (1992-99), and General Chair of the Democratic National Committee during the 2000 Presidential election.
Rendell, who has been active in the community through a variety of memberships on boards, also teaches two government and politics courses at the University of Pennsylvania.
Rendell and his wife, First Lady Marjorie O. Rendell, a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, have one son, Jesse.
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