Then Second Lady, Jill Biden, spoke at Villanova University’s graduation ceremony on May 16, 2014, after being awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities.
She herself is an alumna of Villanova, having earned a Master of Arts in English in 1991.
At the start of her address, Biden established her “local cred,” telling the audience –
I’m a Philly girl. I grew up in Willow Grove straight down Broad Street.
My childhood was spent crossing the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge every single weekend with my entire family. Five sisters would pile in our car – without seatbelts – and drive to South Jersey to visit my grandparents.
Along the way, we would pass pretzel vendors on the street corners, but we’d never stop. We didn’t ask because we never had any extra money.
My summers were spent watching the Phillies with my Dad on a black and white Philco TV. As a teenager, I waitressed at the shore.
I ran the Race for the Cure, the Broad Street 10-miler, and the Philadelphia Half Marathon. I watched the Mummers Parade and spent my class field trips at the Fels Planetarium and the Betsy Ross House.
I skated in the winters on the canals of Washington’s Crossing.
Read Jill Biden’s full address at the 2014 Villanova Commencement