Congressman Fattah, a Public Policy Innovator, Will Deliver Commencement Address at Penn's Fels Institute, His Alma Mater

PHILADELPHIA, May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA-02) will return to his alma mater, the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, to inspire the next generation of public policy leaders as he delivers the Commencement address on Sunday, May 13, 2012.

Fattah, a leader throughout his career in accessibility to higher education, has a policy profile in Congress focused on improving the life chances of children and working families.

Fattah achieved a historic advance in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education for young people last week. He forged an innovative agreement between The Boys & Girls Clubs of America and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) to provide mentoring in science, robotics and technology at 3,000 boys and girls clubs over the next three years.

His legislative achievements include the creation of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) assisting 12 million young people from sixth to 12th grade in preparing for college, and making college more affordable for 13 million college students and families through his American Opportunity Tax Credit, enacted in 2009. He has won the Best of Congress Award three times for improving the quality of life of working families.

Fattah, the recipient of ten honorary degrees, recently received the 2012 Leadership Award from the Biological and Ecological Sciences Coalition (BESC) for his initiative in establishing neuroscience research as a heightened national priority coordinated by the White House.

Fels is celebrating its 75th anniversary as one of the nation's oldest academic programs in public leadership with the maxim: "Purpose. Practice. Possibility." For Fattah, the invitation represents a journey home to the graduate school where he matriculated from 1984 to 1986, receiving the Master of Government Administration from the Fels Center of Government, as it was known at the time. In 2000, he received its Samuel S. Fels Award for Alumni Achievement, "honoring his distinguished leadership and numerous accomplishments in public service." The Congressman is also a member of Fels' 75th Anniversary Advisory Committee.

The 2012 Commencement will be conducted May 13 at 2 p.m. in the Fels courtyard at 3814 Walnut Street on the Penn campus in Philadelphia's University City district. About 400 guests are expected, including the 60 graduate students who will be receiving the Master of Public Administration and Certificate degrees.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah

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