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President's Engagement Prizes
Going plastic neutral
The winners of a 2018 Penn President’s Engagement Prize are launching a new venture to address the global problem of plastic waste.
Building a circular economy movement in India and beyond
A shift in environmental policy in India prompted a new operational model for rePurpose, the social enterprise started by the President’s Engagement Prize-winners.
‘Healthy Pequeños’ teaches young children about hygiene, germs, and food safety
Alaina Hall’s project, a 2018 Penn President’s Engagement Prize winner, is already making a difference for a residential childcare home in Miacatlán, Mexico.
Chicago Furniture Bank is up and running, serving the community
Thanks to a President’s Engagement Prize, Andrew Witherspoon, James McPhail, and Griffin Amdur wasted no time after graduation getting their nonprofit off the ground.
2018 Ivy Day ceremony
In a 145-year old tradition, 28 seniors were honored, as well as one junior, a sophomore, and two class of 2017 alumni.
President’s Engagement and Innovation Prize winners honored at awards luncheon
Nine Penn seniors have given their families even more reason to be proud. As soon as they graduate this month, they will start working full-time on innovative projects they designed to make a positive, lasting change for the “betterment of humankind.”
Simple solutions help children in Mexican orphanage fight infectious disease
With the President’s Engagement Prize, senior Alaina Hall, is building a project she calls “Healthy Pequeños,” or “Healthy Little Ones,” which aims to help children in a Mexican orphanage fight infectious disease.
Empowering workers while reducing waste in Mumbai
In Mumbai, waste sorters represent a crucial yet marginalized labor pool, diverting would-be trash from landfills by sorting and selling recyclables. President’s Engagement Prize recipients Svanika Balasubramanian and Peter Wang Hjemdahl will connect these workers to larger recycling operations through a digital marketplace.
A ‘furniture bundle’ for those who need it most
Three seniors—Andrew Witherspoon, James McPhail, and Griffin Amdur—received the President’s Engagement Prize to get the Chicago Furniture Bank off the ground.
Class of 2018 President’s Engagement and Innovation Prize winners announced
Nine seniors received the annual awards for their post-graduate projects, designed to make a meaningful global impact.
In the News
A Philly exoneree works to free other wrongly convicted people. First up: His codefendant
Penn students and alumni, including the President’s Engagement Prize winning team behind Project Hope, have been working with the Terrance Lewis Liberation Foundation to support wrongly convicted people.
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Penn hoops star Princess Aghayere is using her passion for teamwork to save girls’ lives in Liberia
The senior leader of Penn’s 2019 regular season Ivy Champions left Philadelphia after graduation, and traveled 4,600-mile to Liberia. With Penn friends Summer Kollie and Oladunni Alomaja, Aghayere started Rebound Liberia, a youth program whose goal is to use basketball to empower girls in the small West African country.
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9 Penn students win big prizes to fund projects to promote social change
Penn has awarded nine graduating seniors with the annual President’s Engagement and Innovation prizes. President Amy Gutmann said, “Each of the prize recipients has demonstrated a purpose-driven desire to get out and make a difference in their community, across the country, and around the world.”
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