Biz Journal: New Penn grads can receive up to $150K for special engagement projects

This story originally appeared in the Philadelphia Business Journal

The University of Pennsylvania recently launched the President’s Engagement Prizes, which will allow students to obtain up to $150,000 to take on local, national or global engagement projects the first year after they graduate.

An eligible project, for example, could be one that creates an institutional food recovery program to aid local food banks or even instating an initiative that empowers youth in a different country.

Penn will award as many as three students every year, who can each obtain up to $100,000 for project-implementation expenses and $50,000 for living expenses.

Beginning this fall, any graduating Penn senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Nursing or Wharton School, who will receive an undergraduate degree in December, next May or next August, will be eligible for a President’s Engagement Prize. A proposal process is administered by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.

The President’s Engagement Prizes are part of the Penn Compact 2020 presidential initiatives.

“The President’s Engagement Prizes are unique in higher education,” Penn President Amy Gutmann said. “These prizes invite students to think creatively, on a large scale, about the meaning of engagement. In doing so, our graduates will have the opportunity to do well by doing good and make a profound difference in people’s lives locally, nationally and around the globe.”

Photo via University of Pennsylvania