PROJECTS FOR PROGRESS
This prize offers a broader cross section of the Penn campus a special opportunity to propose meaningful initiatives, to receive funding, and to make an immediate—and sustained—community impact.
About
Penn has been making the world a better place since the days of our founder, Benjamin Franklin. The President’s Engagement Prizes are a new way to build on that legacy. This is an unprecedented program that enables exceptional Penn students to put their knowledge to work for the betterment of humankind — starting as soon as they graduate.
At Penn, we engage our students. In turn, we expect our graduates to engage with the world. These prizes are a measure of how seriously Penn takes public service. Franklin was often fond of saying that well done is better than well said. The President’s Engagement Prizes provide a tangible opportunity for our graduates to “do well.” Penn’s tradition of using knowledge as a force for good in the world is as firmly established as the University itself. These prizes take this long-held tradition one step further by rewarding students who demonstrate a purpose-driven desire to get out and make a difference — in their community, across the country, and around the world.
President's Prizes
Engagement is just one piece of the Penn vision.
PRESIDENT'S INNOVATION PRIZE
Unique at both Penn and across higher education, the President's Innovation Prize underscores the University’s considerable commitment to encouraging students to put their knowledge to work for the betterment of humankind.
PRESIDENT'S ENGAGEMENT PRIZES
Competitively awarded on an annual basis, the President’s Engagement Prizes empower Penn seniors to design and undertake local, national or global engagement projects during the first year after they graduate.
The 2022 cohort of PEP, PIP, and PSP winners smile for a photo with Interim President Wendell Pritchett and Interim Provost Beth Winkelstein.
About the Prizes
The President’s Engagement Prizes are competitively awarded annually to academically excellent and civically engaged Penn seniors to design and undertake fully-funded local, national, or global engagement projects during the first year after they graduate from Penn.
Each project winner will receive up to $100,000 in project implementation expenses, as well as $50,000 in living expenses. These prizes are one-of-a-kind in higher education. They exemplify Penn’s commitment, under the Penn Compact 2020, to engaging locally, nationally, and globally for the benefit of society.
The Prizes would not be possible without the generous support of Trustee Emerita Judith Bollinger, WG’81, and William G. Bollinger, in honor of Ed Resovsky, C’65; Trustee Emerita Lee Spelman Doty, W’76, and George E. Doty, Jr., WG’76; Trustee Emeritus James S. Riepe, W’65, WG’67, HON’10, and Gail Petty Riepe, CW’68; Trustee David Ertel, W’87, WG’88, and Beth Seidenberg Ertel, W’88, WG’92; Wallis Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation; Trustee Ramanan Raghavendran, EAS’89, W’89, LPS’15; and an Anonymous donor.