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Class of 2025

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Actor, director, producer, Penn alumna Elizabeth Banks to speak at 269th Commencement
Elizabeth Banks.

Class of 1996 alumna Elizabeth Banks will address the Class of 2025 at Penn’s 269th Commencement on May 19.

(Image: Robert Ascroft)

Actor, director, producer, Penn alumna Elizabeth Banks to speak at 269th Commencement

At the Commencement ceremony on Monday, May 19, Banks will receive an honorary degree, along with the other 2025 Penn honorary degree recipients.

4 min. read

Bringing together passions for nursing, community, and policy
Charlotte Brown in front of historic nursing photo display.

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Bringing together passions for nursing, community, and policy

Charlotte Brown recalls a childhood climbing up and falling out of trees, picking blueberries in the mountains and currants in the woods, and paddling down her backyard creek on snow sleds with her three younger brothers—“lots of just being outside, being happy, being rained on,” she says.

5 min. read

On the court with Stina Almqvist
Stina Almqvist poses with a ball resting on her shoulder.

Image: Eric Sucar

On the court with Stina Almqvist

The Swedish fourth-year guard discusses adjusting to the American game, playing pro ball as a teenager, attending the Eagles parade, scoring 1,000 points, and what the future holds.
Expanding on a legacy of heart health education
Taylor Brothers, Aravind Krishnan, and Rashmi Acharya at Project HERO workshop.

At a recent Project HERO workshop at one of SHOP’s partner sites, Aravind Krishan, center, gave a brief presentation on heart health and Taylor Brothers, left, gave a CPR demo.

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Expanding on a legacy of heart health education

Fourth-year Aravind Krishnan, the inaugural Sarah Katz Award recipient, is working to help shelter residents in Philadelphia better monitor their health.
Penn fourth-year Annabelle Jin named 2025-26 Luce Scholar
Annabelle Jin standing outside in the sunshine

Penn fourth-year student Annabelle Jin is one of 16 students chosen as a 2025-26 Luce Scholar by the Henry Luce Foundation.

(Image: Courtesy of Annabelle Jin)

Penn fourth-year Annabelle Jin named 2025-26 Luce Scholar

Annabelle Jin, a fourth-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences, is one of 16 recipients selected by the Henry Luce Foundation to be a 2025-26 Luce Scholar.
Penn announces seven 2025 Thouron Scholars
a composite with seven headshot photos

Penn’s 2025 Thouron Scholars are (left to right): (top) Benjamin Cohen, Alexander Gerlach, Joy Gong, and Sarah Hinkel; (bottom) Sophie Kadan, Benjamin May, and Joey Wu.

(Images: Courtesy of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships)

Penn announces seven 2025 Thouron Scholars

Seven University of Pennsylvania affiliates—five fourth-years and two recent graduates—have each received a 2025 Thouron Award to pursue graduate studies in the United Kingdom.
Senior thesis explores Bayard Rustin’s civil rights vision
A man stands in a stairwell leaning on the banister.

Connor Nakamura’s senior thesis traces Bayard Rustin’s life from 1955 to 1965, including his focus on creating economic opportunity.

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Senior thesis explores Bayard Rustin’s civil rights vision

Fourth-year Connor Nakamura’s research delves into Rustin’s life, work, and legacy as a thinker and leader.
Who, What, Why: Alexander Schrier on Uzbekistan’s role in a new world order
Alexander Schrier looks down from an upper floor of a building, standing behind waist-high glass panels.

Fourth-year Alexander Schrier has been studying Uzbekistan and Central Asian diplomacy for his senior thesis in international relations.

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  • Who, What, Why

    • Who, What, Why: Alexander Schrier on Uzbekistan’s role in a new world order

    The fourth-year international relations student is researching Uzbekistan and Central Asian diplomacy, with a summer spent talking with taxi drivers and U.S. ambassadors on the ground in Tashkent.
    Two fourth-year students chosen as 2025 Marshall Scholars
    Headshots of Tej Patel and Sridatta Teerdhala

    Fourth-years (from left) Tej Patel and Sridatta Teerdhala have been chosen as 2025 Marshall Scholars.

    (Image: Courtesy of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships) 

    Two fourth-year students chosen as 2025 Marshall Scholars

    Fourth-years Tej Patel and Sridatta Teerdhala, both in the Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management, a dual degree in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Wharton School, have been chosen as 2025 Marshall Scholars.