School of Arts & Sciences

Celebrating family firsts and resourcefulness in the Class of 2024

Lynn Larabi, Crystal Marshall, and Jason Chu all entered Penn as first-generation college undergraduates and the children of immigrants and pursued different paths: political science, film, and finance and accounting.

William Niu standing outside in front of a brick wall

Penn fourth-year student William Niu named a 2024 Hertz Fellow

Fourth-year student Zijian (William) Niu in the College of Arts and Sciences has been awarded a 2024 Hertz Fellowship in applied science, engineering, and mathematics and will receive five years of funding, as much as $250,000, to pursue a doctoral degree.

Wyatt Henseler sits in the bleachers at Meiklejohn Stadium while wearing his white jersey and his right arm resting on a baseball glove.

Wyatt at the bat

The fourth-year third baseman on the baseball team discusses his 36 best friends, hitting home runs, getting hit by 90 mph fastballs, and why the New York Yankees are “God’s team.”

A Class like no other

As three fourth-year students look forward to Commencement, a look back at their Penn journey, which started during a global pandemic.

Going above and beyond in archaeology and museum work

Fourth-year Qi Liu has participated in every undergraduate program at the Penn Museum, done research for two senior theses in anthropology and art history, and joined excavations in the U.S. and abroad.

Zach Koung stands in front of a building next to a flight of concrete stairs, his reflection in the window behind him.

Seeking answers on civil discourse, finding a community

In his quest to tackle dialogue across differences, political science major Zach Koung has taken more SNF Paideia-affiliated courses than any student in the program.

Deborah Olatunji sits on a bench in springtime outside the Kelly Writers House

Deborah Olatunji embraces vulnerability

Through art, poetry, and the written word, fourth-year student Deborah Olatunji embraces vulnerability.

A spilt image shows Arielle Alterwaite in the left half, posing with arms crossed and leaving against the exterior of a brick building, and the right side shows Katherine Scahill looking at the camera against a wallpapered background of tan and dusty red print.

Two Penn Ph.D. candidates awarded 2024 Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

The School of Arts & Sciences awardees are Arielle Xena Alterwaite, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in history, and Katherine Scahill, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in music.

Amanda Yagerman poses with arms crossed, surrounded by trees with bright green leaves on Penn's campus.

Who, What, Why

Laying the groundwork at Penn before taking to the air

Amanda Yagerman, a fourth-year student is majoring in history and English in the College of Arts and Sciences while training to be a naval officer in the Naval ROTC program. She says her experience at Penn has been “the best of both worlds.”

Wearing her swim cap and goggles, Anna Kalandadze sits in the pool with her head above water.

A deep dive with Anna Kalandadze

The fourth-year distance swimmer discusses swimming 11,000 yards a day, competing at the NCAA Championships, learning to dive from watching Michael Phelps, her interest in coral reef restoration, and getting circled by a shark.

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