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First Generation Students

New Student Orientation for the Class of 2028
An image of Franklin Field with 2028 spelled out in red and blue.

The Class of 2028 photo on Franklin Field. 

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New Student Orientation for the Class of 2028

The New Student Orientation for the Class of 2028 includes a roster of events ranging from a primer on Penn traditions to dinner and dancing at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to walking tours and introductions.

Kristina Linnea García

Celebrating family firsts and resourcefulness in the Class of 2024
Lynn Larabi, Crystal Marshall, and Jason Chu.

Lynn Larabi, Crystal Marshall, and Jason Chu are among the first-generation college students graduating in the Class of 2024.

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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.
A Class like no other
Forthcoming

Forthcoming

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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.

Louisa Shepard

Sherry Gao pushes the boundaries of genetic engineering
Sherry Gao.

Sherry (Xue) Gao, Presidental Penn Compact Associate Professor in Bioengineering.

(Image: Courtesy of Penn Engineering Today)

Sherry Gao pushes the boundaries of genetic engineering

The Presidential Penn Compact Associate Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering aims to make gene editing tools like CRISPR more accurate, and encourage first generation students along the way.

From Penn Engineering Today

Nine honored at Alumni Award of Merit Gala
Top row, left to right: Camilla Z. Charles, Ali Shapiro Cudby, and Judith Browne Dianis. Bottom row, left to right: Richard David Feintuch, Stanley H. Greene, and Brett Andrew Perlmutter.

Top row: Camille Z. Charles, Ali Shapiro Cudby, and Judith Browne Dianis. Middle: Richard David Feintuch, Stanley H. Greene, and Brett Andrew Perlmutter. Bottom: Ann Nolan Reese, Katherine Sachs, and Victor Anthony Scotti Jr. 

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Nine honored at Alumni Award of Merit Gala

At the 2023 Alumni Award of Merit Gala, eight distinguished alumni will receive Awards of Merit, the Creative Spirit Award, and the inaugural Penn Alumni Social Impact Award, and Camille Z. Charles will receive the Faculty Award of Merit.
Making a home away from home at Penn
Penn President Liz Magill greets a student and their family on Locust Walk.

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Making a home away from home at Penn

Friends and family from near and far helped the Class of 2027 move onto campus this week.

Lauren Hertzler

Presidential Ph.D. Fellows are making their mark
President Magill meets with PhD Fellows

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Presidential Ph.D. Fellows are making their mark

Penn Today catches up with doctoral candidates from the $30 million initiative’s inaugural cohort. This upcoming academic year, the program will welcome its third class of fellows.

Lauren Hertzler

Who, What, Why: Kelly Garcia-Ramos, advocate for students with speech impediments
Kelly Garcia-Ramos outside under a tree.

Kelly Garcia-Ramos, a rising fourth-year neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences, has founded a support group, SpeechFluency@Penn, for students who stutter.

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Who, What, Why: Kelly Garcia-Ramos, advocate for students with speech impediments

Kelly Garcia-Ramos made the choice to no longer try to hide their stutter and last semester founded a support group, SpeechFluency@Penn, for students who stutter. 

Louisa Shepard