Penn Today

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Penn Today • 8th July 2026

Philly Anthems: WXPN commemorates America 250 through local music

WXPN—the public radio service of the University of Pennsylvania—is threading past and present through Philly Anthems. The timely project commissions original, freedom-themed songs from a Philadelphia-based cohort of established and emerging musicians.

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Penn Today • 18th May 2026

Celebrating Penn’s 270th Commencement at a historic moment

Clear, sunny skies greeted an eager Class of 2026 and cheerful audience of supporters for Penn’s 270th Commencement at Franklin Field. Ahead of the ceremony, nearly 6,000 graduates wearing regalia gathered at Penn Park to rejoice in their achievements.

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Penn Today • 17th May 2026

Class of 2026 Ivy Day Ceremony

For more than 150 years, Penn’s annual Ivy Day has involved each graduating class unveiling their unique Ivy Stone in a distinctive location on campus and has celebrated outstanding fourth-year students for their dedication to leadership and service.

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Penn Today • 4th May 2026

Empowering unhoused patients through comprehensive eye care

Penn fourth-years Eric Lee, Janine Haros, and Justin Wang will use a President’s Engagement Prize to elevate vision health in unhoused individuals across Philadelphia through free eye screenings, tailored care coordination, and interactive patient education.

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Penn Today • 30th April 2026

Class of 2027 sparks traditional spirit on Hey Day

Crisp spring weather and partly cloudy skies met a spirited crowd of Penn third-years sporting bamboo canes, red T-shirts, and mock skimmer hats as the Class of 2027 marked the University’s 110th annual Hey Day, a campus tradition dating to 1916.

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Penn Today • 29th April 2026

Penn’s community engagement progress at the turn of the century

The third piece in the ‘Chapters of Change’ series explores how Penn has led community engagement efforts in public education, economic development, and neighborhood prosperity during a time of widespread change in the nation’s cities.

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Penn Today • 26th April 2026

Quakers post numerous milestones during 130th Penn Relays

Marking its 130th year, the Penn Relays is the nation’s oldest and largest track and field meet, inviting nearly 20,000 athletes to compete at Franklin Field. Starter pistols, sport cleats, team rapport, and motivational coaching gave character to the global event.

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Penn Today • 16th April 2026

The performing arts at Penn: Process, practice, and purpose

This photo essay highlights the vivid tapestry of performing arts at Penn, highlighting various students in dance, theater, and vocal groups as they prepare for performances while simultaneously enriching their college experience.

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Penn Today • 27th March 2026

The art of retelling ancient stories: Q&A with a Penn scholar

Amid contemporary challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and war, the biblical story of the 10 plagues has resonated across generations through today—a phenomenon that Steven Weitzman explores in his new book.

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Penn Today • 24th March 2026

First-gen perspectives on nursing, health equity, and what’s next

When first-generation student and Penn fourth-year Mikhaidia Miller’s family emigrated from Jamaica in the 2000s, they empowered her to embrace the “beauty of education,” a core value that would motivate her to attend Penn and study nursing.

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Penn Today • 18th March 2026

2025 President’s Engagement Prize recipient: LensBright

Since graduating from Penn last May, Ejun Mary Hong and Jack Nicholas Roney launched LensBright—providing West Philadelphia youth with access to art mentorship, skill-building workshops, and professional networking opportunities.

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Penn Today • 5th March 2026

Improving surgical procedures and keeping health care human-first

When Katelyn Candido came to Penn as a first-generation undergraduate, her plan was to become a physician focused on making health care more equitable—a career goal partially informed by her family’s experiences with the medical system.

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Penn Today • 27th February 2026

How can people boost resilience? Penn expert shares key insights

Many people may be experiencing emotional overload, making resilience more essential than ever. In a four-part series this spring, Karen Reivich of Penn’s Positive Psychology Center will guide staff, faculty, and postdocs toward building resilience.

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Penn Today • 13th February 2026

Leveraging AI to help stroke survivors recover speech abilities

During clinical rotations in neurocritical care, Shreya Parchure’s interactions with patients solidified her desire to advance research for those with post-stroke aphasia. She evaluated an AI tool for personalizing speech therapy for stroke survivors.

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Penn Today • 4th February 2026

An innovative AI tool to improve eye care delivery in rural India

At a rural hospital in India, Penn fourth-year and neuroscience major Prithvi Parthasarathy led a AI-driven project that was more than just a research endeavor: It was a culturally meaningful experience that connected him with his family’s roots.

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Penn Today • 10th December 2025

Startup recognized for milestones in cancer care

When hematologist Marco Ruella came to Penn from Italy as a postdoc in 2012, one of his dreams was to help drive the development of new treatments and cures for lymphoma patients. Over a decade later, his startup was recognized for progress in lymphoma care.

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Penn Today • 3rd November 2025

New fellowship at Penn amplifies study of antisemitism

Mendel Kranz, the inaugural recipient of the Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism, elevates awareness and critical inquiry into antisemitism through research projects, classroom dialogue, and educational events.

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Penn Today • 22nd October 2025

Through Penn First Plus, students unlock potential and purpose

Providing first-generation and limited-income students with a comprehensive array of programming, academic advising, and professional development opportunities, Penn First Plus equips undergraduates for success during and after their time at Penn.

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Penn Today • 13th October 2025

Fueling growth locally, together

The eighth annual Penn Local Business Exchange brought together entrepreneurs, Penn vendors, city officials, and University buyers to swap insights, build relationships, and discuss opportunities to drive economic growth in the Philadelphia region.

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Penn Today • 9th October 2025

Craig Roncace puts his green thumb to work

Long before Craig Roncace became Penn’s urban park manager, he cultivated a green thumb and a knack for outdoor work. Now, he leads a versatile team in charge of outdoor maintenance, waste management, and sustainability across campus.

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Penn Today • 29th September 2025

Students test one way to combat extreme heat in Philadelphia

Third-year students Nafisa Bangura and Angelica Dadda expanded upon a multidisciplinary research endeavor to evaluate a reflective pavement coating as a tool to mitigate extreme heat. Their work may inform policy efforts to improve urban heat resilience.

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Penn Today • 5th September 2025

Mapping smarter tree placement in Philly and beyond

Weitzman School of Design graduate student Frank Chen provides insight into his research project to find the best spots to plant street trees and help optimize shade coverage for pedestrians in Philadelphia.

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Penn Today • 25th August 2025

Students use machine learning to track and protect whales

As whales face harm from ship strikes, fishing net entanglements, and redistribution of prey due to changes in sea temperature, it’s increasingly vital to track their populations across the globe. To accelerate these efforts, Chinmay Govind and Nihar Ballamudi leveraged AI to locate and census whales. Their study may inform policy measures that help to improve protections for whale populations worldwide.

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Penn Today • 19th August 2025

Penn campus in high spirits for Move-In 2025

Hundreds of red and blue moving carts, a vast sea of Penn gear, and dozens of spirited volunteers are enlivening the University of Pennsylvania campus this week as nearly 6,000 undergraduates—along with Penn parents, families, and guests—arrive for Move-In.