First Coed Class Graduates from Rosemont

In 1833, Oberlin College became the first university in the country to accept women. Last weekend, Rosemont College, for the first time in its history, graduated a few men.

On Saturday, the Bryn Mawr college handed out diplomas to its inaugural co-ed class. The newly-minted male graduates, admitted in 2009, are the first to have spent four years at the former women's college.

According to Rosemont President Dr. Sharon Hirsh, herself a graduate of the class of 1970, the men of Rosemont—who comprise about 33 percent of the school's total enrollment—were admitted after an 18 month review that resulted in a new strategic plan for the college. Hirsh says the school decided becoming coeducational would make it more competitive and strengthen it academically. And, according to CBSPhilly, the decision was made all the easier by the million dollar deficit the school faced.

The decision was a wise one. The first graduating class, Hirsh said, has been a credit to the institution.

“Being the first has its challenges," the president said. "These exceptional young men have helped change the attitude about Rosemont not only on campus but throughout the community and while doing so, this band of brothers has forged an exceptional bond.”

Graduating senior Ron Vogelei added that, while he received a warm welcome from the Rosemont family, the importance of the precedent he and his male classmates were setting was not lost on him.  

“The pressure was on us and all eyes were on us," Vogelei said. "So it’s safe to say I was nervous to be one of the first men to enroll at Rosemont. With other Rosemont men on the same journey, I knew with my new brothers, we could make history,” he continued.

The precedent, so far, has been a fine one. In addition to their academic successes, the men of Rosemont have made an impact on the athletic fields as well, as the men's soccer and basketball teams have been to the CSAC Conference playoffs, with the soccer team advancing all the way to the championship game last fall.