1/24
Kristina García
News Officer
klg@upenn.edu
First Generation Students
Mentor support for the first-generation college experience
Mentor support for the first-generation college experience
Three decades apart, senior Rachel Swym and alumna Leanne Huebner found a common bond in their rural backgrounds and first-generation, highly aided college experience.
Penn receives pivotal gift to expand support for first-generation to college and modest-income undergraduates
Penn receives pivotal gift to expand support for first-generation to college and modest-income undergraduates
The gift, from Scott and Elena Shleifer, will increase its support and critical resources for students who are in the first generation of their family to attend college and/or from households of modest or limited income.
As The Power of Penn concludes, a look into its big impact
As The Power of Penn concludes, a look into its big impact
Penn Today chatted with Development and Alumni Relations’ John Zeller, who shared highlights of the University’s most recent fundraising campaign, and much more.
Penn concludes landmark fundraising and engagement campaign with extraordinary results
Penn concludes landmark fundraising and engagement campaign with extraordinary results
The Campaign exceeded its initial goal, making this fundraising and engagement effort the most successful in Penn’s history.
Support and inspiration for undergrads pursuing careers in health care
Support and inspiration for undergrads pursuing careers in health care
The three-day-long National Pre-Health Conference, the brainchild of rising senior Alejandra Bahena, begins Aug. 4.
Counselors at Student Financial Services help find success, not stress
Counselors at Student Financial Services help find success, not stress
As grant-based aid packages—bolstered by named scholarships—have helped Penn welcome more students who come from lower-income households, Student Financial Services (SFS) has ramped up its ability to assist their academic journeys, especially during the pandemic when students needed more support than ever. That includes having two counselors—Silvia Hanks and Jodi Wagner—who specialize in serving highly aided students at Penn.
Systemic barriers to college for low-income and nontraditional students
Systemic barriers to college for low-income and nontraditional students
The release of a higher education report reveals that nontraditional students have many risk factors and financial barriers to navigate to successfully complete their educational goals.
Celebrating the ‘incomparable’ Class of 2021
Celebrating the ‘incomparable’ Class of 2021
Penn’s 265th Commencement honored students who are defined by their inspiring growth, unrivaled resilience, gracious appreciation, and undoubted ability to create a better future for us all.
Increasing access for students on ‘Faculty Fridays’
Increasing access for students on ‘Faculty Fridays’
For the past few years, PennCAP has hosted “Faculty Fridays” as a means to better connect first generation, lower-income students with the University’s professors. These efforts have continued virtually during COVID-19.
COVID communications and first generation students
COVID communications and first generation students
Marcus Wright, undergraduate program manager and academic coordinator in the Department of Sociology and doctoral student at the Graduate School of Education, analyzes academic messaging to expose blind spots.
Media Contact
In the News
Philadelphia Inquirer
Penn alum gives $18 million to support first-generation college students
Wharton alumnus Scott Shleifer and his wife, Elena Shleifer, have given Penn $18 million to support first-generation and “modest” or “limited-income” students. “This gift will enable our university to foster an ever more welcoming and inclusive learning environment to prepare all Penn students for successful lives,” said President Amy Gutmann.
FULL STORY →
Philadelphia Inquirer
Penn student who aged out of foster care wins prestigious Rhodes Scholarship
May graduate Mackenzie Fierceton has been named a Rhodes Scholar, which will allow her to study at Oxford University in England.
FULL STORY →
The Washington Post
Bloomberg gift to Hopkins to help middle-income families as well as the poor
Vice President of Finance and Treasurer MaryFrances McCourt spoke about Penn’s endowment for undergraduate financial aid and its support for low-income students.
FULL STORY →
CBS News
Bay Area 1st generation college student’s background helping him excel
School of Arts and Sciences senior Victor Arellano was profiled for his summer interning with Motive Power, a San Francisco management consulting firm.
FULL STORY →
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education
UPenn provides support services for first-generation and low-income students
Admissions Dean Eric J. Furda and Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum, vice provost for university life, discussed Penn’s support system for first-generation and low-income students.
FULL STORY →
“Good Morning America,” ABC News
Student debt crisis: This 28-year-old mom is ‘drowning’ in $80,000 of debt
Penn’s loan-free, grant-based financial aid program was highlighted in a discussion of the burden of student debt. President Amy Gutmann was cited as a first-generation college graduate.
FULL STORY →