"When the name of your company becomes a verb, you know you've done something special," said Interim Provost Vincent Price during his introduction of the 2009 commencement speaker May 18 on Franklin Field. "That's market penetration." In an event marked by pop culture references, laughs from the audience and heartfelt moments, Google CEO Eric Schmidt led the 2009 commencement ceremony with a speech geared toward guiding new graduates in the current economic environment.

The Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed the city's $3.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2010 on May 21, with key aspects of the budget awaiting approval from the state legislature. The approved budget closes a $1.4 billion gap in the city's five-year financial plan by increasing the sales tax by 1 percent, deferring pension payments of city employees for two years and stretching payments to the pension fund from 20 to 30 years.

Burglary May 23 - A male student, 20, reported at about 7:30 p.m. that an unknown suspect entered his secured apartment, located on the 4000 block of Spruce Street, and removed personal items. May 23 - A female student, 30, reported at about 11:45 a.m. that an unknown suspect entered her secured apartment, located on the 400 block of 43rd Street, and removed personal items.

Two more members of the Penn community received political appointments from President Barack Obama and will try to make their mark in international affairs. Penn alumnus and governor of Utah Jon Huntsman Jr., was nominated by Obama as the United States ambassador to China, and Penn Law professor William Burke-White has been appointed to a policy position in the U.

Penn recently announced that it will change its dining services provider from Philadelphia-based Aramark to Bon Appetit Management Company of Palo Alto, Calif.

Approximately 2,000 seniors graduate this weekend. Hopefully, we at the DP have had a relationship with most of you - to all of our readers and sources, we admire and salute your accomplishments. You're truly extraordinary.

The University announced yesterday that Bon Appetit Management Company will be its new food-service provider.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt led the 2009 commencement ceremony with a speech geared toward guiding new graduates in the current economic environment.

According to a notice filed with the state of Pennsylvania, Aramark, Penn's dining services provider, will cut 185 jobs at a site on the University's campus.

The women's lacrosse team pulled out a 9-8 overtime victory the previous time it faced Duke, in last year's NCAA Tournament Final Four.

Penn will enroll 63 percent of students who were accepted to the class of 2013, according to Dean of Admissions Eric Furda.

Updated May 23 3 p.m. TOWSON, Md., May 22 - Penn almost pulled off one the biggest comebacks in NCAA history, yet fell just short of the incredible. Down 11-7 with 9:14 to go in the NCAA national semifinal against No. 1 Northwestern, the No. 4 Quakers tallied four straight goals, sending the game into overtime.

My application essay to Penn included the line "I live and breathe this Philadelphia freedom," from the Elton John song appropriately titled, "Philadelphia Freedom." This was something of a lie. As a native of Washington, D.C., I often passed the city on the Amtrak train to New York or Boston, and took class trips to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.