University of Pennsylvania international students Aishwarya Pawar and David Kato have been named as the winners of the 2024 Penn Global Student Citizenship Award, which honors international students who have exemplified a spirit of global citizenship during their time at Penn.
Pawar, a Ph.D. student in cell and molecular biology at the Perelman School of Medicine who came to Penn from Pune, India, is the graduate student winner; Kato, a fourth-year political science major in the School of Arts & Sciences from Kigali, Rwanda, was named the undergraduate winner.
The awards were handed out as part of Penn Global’s International Student and Scholar Services graduation reception, held at Perry World House for the more than 2,100 international students. The reception celebrated the accomplishments of graduating international students during their time at Penn.
“Penn would not be what it is today—a vibrant, intellectual hub for innovation and impact—without international students,” says Associate Vice Provost for Global Initiatives Amy Gadsden. “The richness of their experiences and unending drive to transform our campus and the world continuously elevate the University to new heights. The Penn Global Student Citizenship Award and reception are our way of celebrating international students’ contributions, large and small, but no less influential, to life at Penn.”
The award reflects Penn Global’s commitment to honor international students who, during their time on campus, prioritized the office’s global mission to “bring the world to Penn and Penn to the world.”
This marks the ninth year Penn Global has presented the award. “We are incredibly proud of this tradition and what it represents: a celebration of Penn’s international students as indispensable, impactful members of the University,” says Rudie Altamirano, executive director of International Student and Scholar Services.
Pawar and Kato each received a trophy, and their names will also be displayed on a plaque in the ISSS office.
Altamirano says Pawar’s “unwavering dedication to her role as the graduate chair of the International Student Advisory Board (ISSS) is evident in her consistent efforts to uplift and advocate for the welfare of international students. Aishwarya’s compassion and big heart make her a role model among her peers.”
Gadsden notes the “incredible impact” Kato has made on Penn’s campus during his four years. “As an active international student leader and World House Student Fellow, among other things, David used his perspective and experience to raise important issues facing the entire undergraduate international community. He has consistently been a welcome and thoughtful presence in meetings and discussions.”
Penn Global and ISSS also gave two honorable mentions to graduates and undergraduates. The graduate honorable mention awardees were Gaurav Mangal, an electrical engineering master’s student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Sparsh Maheshwari, a master’s student in nonprofit leadership with a dual degree in social policy and data analytics in the School of Social Policy & Practice.
The undergraduate honorable mention awardees were Leah Tesfa, a mechanical engineering fourth-year student in Penn Engineering from Harare, Zimbabwe, and Carolina Yuka Nakada, a mechanical engineering and computer science major and a robotics master’s student in Penn Engineering from São Paulo, Brazil. Tesfa is also a robotics master’s student and the Penn World Scholar of the Year.
