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President's Engagement Prizes

Class of 2026 President’s Engagement and Innovation Prize winners announced
(Top left) Connie Ni, Darlene Leohansson, and Chloe Chang, Darlene Leohansson. (Top right) Justin Wang, Janine Haros, and Eric Lee. (Bottom left) Margaret Zhu; (bottom right) Nhlanhla Mavuso.

The recipients of the 2026 President’s Engagement and Innovation Prizes: (Top left) Connie Ni, Darlene Leohansson, and Chloe Chang. (Top right) Justin Wang, Janine Haros, and Eric Lee. (Bottom left) Margaret Zhu; (bottom right) Nhlanhla Mavuso.

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Class of 2026 President’s Engagement and Innovation Prize winners announced

Four prize-winning teams will design and implement post-graduation projects that make a positive, lasting difference here in Philadelphia and beyond.

4 min. read

2025 PEP, PIP, and PSP winners: Where are they now?
nirby pip prize winner working on a laptop in a field

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2025 PEP, PIP, and PSP winners: Where are they now?

Nearly a year after being awarded the 2025 President’s Engagement Prize, President’s Innovation Prize, and President’s Sustainability Prize, the recipients—now alumni—provide updates on their projects.

3 min. read

2025 President’s Engagement Prize recipient: LensBright
The two members of Lensbright looking at a camera with a student in a classroom.

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2025 President’s Engagement Prize recipient: LensBright

Spearheaded by two 2025 President’s Engagement Prize recipients, LensBright expands upon an existing Penn student-led art mentorship initiative at Sayre High School in West Philadelphia with the aim of connecting under-resourced youth with hands-on art immersion, practical learning experiences, and industry networking opportunities.

2 min. read

2025 President’s Prize recipient: Nourish to Flourish
Three members of Nourish to Flourish working on computers in a school gymnasium.

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2025 President’s Prize recipient: Nourish to Flourish

Launched by three 2025 President’s Engagement Prize recipients, Nourish to Flourish is using a data‑driven, behavioral‑economics approach to help K–6 students in West Philadelphia build lasting healthy habits with access to fresh foods, nutrition and cooking classes, and more—all with an aim to reduce food insecurity and promote nutritional equity.

2 min. read

Empowering high school youth through immersive art mentorship
Fourth-years Ejun Mary Hong and Jack Nicholas Roney were awarded a 2025 President's Engagement Prize to pursue their PIXEL project. The pair will collaborate to bring art mentorship, creative skill-building, and industry networking opportunities to under-resourced high school students in the greater Philadelphia area.

Fourth-year students Ejun Mary Hong and Jack Nicholas Roney were awarded a 2025 President’s Engagement Prize to pursue their PIXEL project. The pair will collaborate to bring art mentorship, creative skill-building, and industry networking opportunities to under-resourced high school students in the greater Philadelphia area.

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Empowering high school youth through immersive art mentorship

Penn fourth-years Ejun Mary Hong and Jack Nicholas Roney will use a President’s Engagement Prize to expand their existing initiative dedicated to connecting under-resourced high school students in Philadelphia with art mentorship, creative skill-building, and industry networking opportunities.

6 min. read

Nourish to Flourish
Inaya Zaman, Rashmi Acharya, and Imani Nkrumah Ardayfio.

Fourth-years (from left) Inaya Zaman, Rashmi Acharya, and Imani Nkrumah Ardayfio created Nourish to Flourish, winner of a 2025 President’s Engagement Prize. The trio will work with community partners at the Benjamin B. Comegys School in West Philadelphia and use behavioral economics principals to encourage healthier food choices.

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Nourish to Flourish

Fourth-years Rashmi Acharya, Imani Nkrumah Ardayfio and Inaya Zaman created Nourish to Flourish, winner of a 2025 President’s Engagement Prize. The trio will work with community partners at the Benjamin B. Comegys School in West Philadelphia to encourage healthier food choices.

Louisa Shepard

7 min. read

Class of 2025 President’s Engagement, Innovation, and Sustainability Prize winners announced
Top left: Team PIXEL: Ejun Mary Hong and Jack Roney; top right: The Nourish to Flourish team: Rashmi Acharya, Imani Nkrumah Ardayfio, and Inaya Zaman; bottom left: Sync Labs: Melanie Herbert, Nami Lindquist, and Alexandra Popescu; bottom right: Piotr Lazarek for Nirby.

(Top left) Team PIXEL: Ejun Mary Hong and Jack Roney; (top right) The Nourish to Flourish team: Inaya Zaman, Rashmi Acharya, and Imani Nkrumah Ardayfio. (Bottom left) For Sync Labs, Melanie Herbert, Nami Lindquist, and Alexandra Popescu; (bottom right) Piotr Lazarek for Nirby.

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Class of 2025 President’s Engagement, Innovation, and Sustainability Prize winners announced

Four prize-winning teams will design and undertake post-graduation projects that make a positive, lasting difference in the world.

4 min. read

2024 PEP and PIP winners: Where are they now?
penn pep pip winners

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2024 PEP and PIP winners: Where are they now?

Nearly a year after being awarded the 2024 President’s Engagement Prize and President’s Innovation Prize, the recipients—now alumni—provide updates on their projects.

5 min. read

Celebrating ‘excellence and service in combination’ at PIP/PEP luncheon
pep and pip winners at luncheon

The 2024 President’s Engagement and Innovation Prize winners are (from left to right): Simran Rajpal and Gauthami Moorkanat for Educate to Empower; Catherine Hood, Brianna Aguilar, and Anooshey Ikhlas for Presby Addiction Care Program; and Rahul Nambiar and Yash Dhir of Jochi.

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Celebrating ‘excellence and service in combination’ at PIP/PEP luncheon

Seven graduating students were recognized at an annual luncheon for the President’s Engagement and Innovation prizes.