Category Archives: Athletics

January 9, 2013 · 8:47 am

A New Year for Penn Alumni Families!

New Image gif
We’re kicking off a new year filled with Penn Alumni Family Programming!

FAMILY NIGHT at the PALESTRA
On February 22, 2013, you’re invited to join the Penn Women’s Basketball team at the Palestra for our 2nd Annual Family Night at the Palestra!  You will get to shoot hoops with the team before the game, hear from Coach McLaughlin, and then enjoy pizza or hot dog, pretzel and a soda — all for $5 person.   Last year, it was a wonderful event c0-hosted by the Association of Alumnae, and we had over 200 attendees.  Hope to see you on February 22nd when Penn takes on Cornell!

FAMILY DAY at MASK and WIG
On March 16, 2013, Alumni Relations will be hosting it’s 3rd Annual Family Day at Mask and Wig!  Bring the kids to the Mask and Wig Clubhouse, 310 S. Quince Street, Philadelphia, for a fun-filled afternoon!  Lunch begins at 11:30 followed by showtime at 12:30pm.  Penn’s Mask and Wig is an all-male comedy troupe that has entertained Philadelphians and the Penn community since 1889 with its original revues.  This year’s production, Beatuopia: A Face Odyssey, has been adapted to appeal to children ages 12 and under.  Bring the kids for lunch (hot dogs, chips, pretzels, beverage) and the show.  Ticket costs: $25/adults and $10/children 12 and under.

4O WINKS with the SPHINX and PENN ALUMNI
On Friday and Saturday, March 29 and 30, 2013, join Penn alumni and their children for an overnight adventure at Penn’s Museum for 40 Winks with the Sphinx and Penn Alumni. The night’s activities are geared to take intrepid explorers on a journey through time and across continents, with hands-on opportunities, through games and crafts, to explore ancient Egypt, the mummies and hieroglyphics, the ancient Greeks and Romans, the world of the ancient Maya, and more!  Following a scavenger hunt and an evening expedition through the galleries by flashlight, explorers roll out their sleeping bags to doze at the foot of the third largest granite Sphinx in the world. The program concludes with a light breakfast in the Museum Cafe at 8am.  The cost is $45/person (children 6-12 years old and their chaperones, 21 years or older).  One adult chaperone is required for every 1-5 children.  Absolutely no walk-in registrations are permitted.

Look for additional family programming throughout the year!  If you live outside of the 8-county Philadelphia area and wish to be included on our e-mailing list for Penn Alumni Family Events, please send an email with your request to Kristina Clark at krclark@upenn.edu.

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Filed under Alumni Programming, Association of Alumnae, Athletics, Events, Kristina C., Penn Basketball, Philadelphia, Uncategorized

November 19, 2012 · 12:43 pm

Running in Philly

Author:  Rebecca Eckart, GEd’13

Philadelphia and Penn have a lot of great places and opportunities for runners.   Running on the Schuylkill River Trail has been especially beautiful this month, as the reds and golds of the autumn leaves cascade over the trail and reflect in the river.  As many runners can probably attest, some days are harder than others to get out and go.  But right now, with the lovely fall colors and the cool, crisp autumn air, it’s easy.

My morning view of the Schuylkill River Trail.

Over the summer, as I was saying goodbye to friends and preparing to move to Philly, I really hoped I’d be able to find a good running group at Penn.  I started running about four years ago, and the reason I was able to keep running was that I had a close friend who ran and entered races with me.  Thankfully, when I got to Penn, finding a group wasn’t hard at all!

The second Saturday I was on campus, the Graduate Student Center (GSC), in response to student requests, held a casual run.  There was a good turnout, with close to twenty students attending, a mix of returning and first-year grad students.  We ran from the GSC down to the Schuylkill River Trail, and once there, split up according to distance and pace.  I met some other women with similar pacing and distance goals that day, and we’ve been running together on weekends since.

We’ve also entered races together at Penn and in Philly.  In October, we ran in the Penn Park Homecoming 5k.  The race was a lot of fun and we got official Homecoming 5K shirts.  For me, half the fun of running in races is collecting shirts!

With me friends…That’s me as #43.

Just yesterday, several of us ran in the Philadelphia half-marathon.  My running group and I are all first year grad students, so it was a real challenge to train for a half-marathon while trying to balance our academic, work, and personal schedules.  Some of my friends had time goals for this race, but my goal was just to finish (which I did!).

Running has been an important part of my life at Penn.  It has encouraged me to set new goals and enabled me to make friends outside of my graduate school. After our big race this Sunday, my group is planning to go out for Philly cheesesteaks, and I’m sure we will look for more events in the area to join.

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Filed under Athletics, Campus Life, Homecoming Weekend featuring arts and culture, Philadelphia, Rebecca E., Student Perspective

November 15, 2012 · 10:05 am

The Battle of 33rd Street

Author: Kelly O’Connor

Get ready for the Battle of 33rd Street this Saturday 11/17 at 4pm when our Penn Quakers take on our neighbors, the Drexel Dragons, at the Palestra.

See what has been happening this week between the Penn Quaker and the Drexel Dragon as they prepare for the showdown this Saturday.

http://youtu.be/vN58RZq5_80

Go Quakers!

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Filed under Athletics, Campus Life, Kelly P.

November 13, 2012 · 2:46 pm

Back at The Palestra, and It Feels So Good

Author: Stephanie Yee, C’08

The Penn Men’s Basketball season opener was last Friday night at The Palestra. After a rough first half, the Quakers pulled through to beat UMBC 80-75. Here is a photo recap of the evening.

View of The Palestra from the new Shoemaker Green.

The Penn Men’s Basketball team warming up before the season opener.

The giant video board advertises the upcoming game during the warm-ups.

The Penn Cheerleaders and the team huddle moments before the game began.

Fast forward 40 minutes of game time (I was too nervous during the game to take photos)…

Penn students celebrate the big win by showering the Quaker with red and blue streamers.

See you on Saturday, November 17 at 4 PM at The Palestra for The Battle of 33rd Street (aka Penn vs. Drexel).

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Athletics, Campus Life, Penn Basketball, Stephanie Y.

November 9, 2012 · 8:47 am

Exercising in Winter, or “How to Not Gain 20 Pounds Because It’s Cold Outside”

Author: Lillian Gardiner, GeD’11

Just as it seemed I was back on the exercise wagon…it got really stinkin’ cold.

Now, I realize one’s definition of “cold” depends upon where you grew up, how extensive your winter wardrobe is, and whether or not you are a man. But I think it’s COLD! And more relevant to this blog post, I think it’s too cold to exercise outside after dark.

Rather than do what I did the last two winters (hibernate, eat sweets, and gain weight) ,I committed to finding ways to be healthy that work with my budget and lifestyle. Thus I immediately crossed off “run at 6 AM” and “join a gym for $65 a month.”

I have found a few things that help to keep me headed to the gym, even on winter days like we’ve had recently.

TIP 1: Set a long term exercise goal. To keep me motivated, I set a goal to run the Broad Street 10 miler or a half-marathon in the spring. I’m goal-oriented so this helps me stay motivated on days when I’d rather go straight to bed after work (every day).

TIP 2:  Commit to manageable, realistic exercise goals. I know that if I promise myself I’ll exercise every single day, I will soon run out of steam. I do know that I can swing three days a week; even if that means walking to work once, doing a short exercise video at home, or biking on the weekends. If I keep the exercise goals within limits, chances are that I won’t burn out or disappoint myself, and I might even exercise more than four times a week.

TIP 3: Join a gym.  For budget-conscious Penn students and staff (like me) consider joining the Fox Fitness Center. For staff, it’s $180 for the year (versus $378 for Pottruck); this prices out to be about $15 a month–a huge steal!  Though Fox Fitness Center does not  have a pool or locker rooms, it does offer exercise machines and free weights. Best of all, it’s never crowded. Check it out here.

TIP 4: Look for fitness deals. I started scouring the daily coupons sites LivingSocial.com and Groupon.com for discounted gym or yoga classes. I love yoga, but $18 per class is above my budget level. With coupons, I’ve taken excellent yoga classes for as low as $10. And that allows me to do things like…

…Purchasing these new work-out shoes, shown here against the backdrop of the autumnal view of Locust Walk.

I will not be posting before and after photos of my physique, but let’s just say,  I’m cautiously optimistic about my chances of exercising three days a week this winter.   You should join me!

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Athletics, Lillian G.

November 1, 2012 · 1:35 pm

Ode to the Penn Quaker

Author: Amanda D’Amico

Walkers, Banes, and Kantisses took the world by storm this Halloween. While these costumes — and each corresponding show or movie — represent today’s pop culture, I thought Halloween was the perfect time to highlight a costume that never goes out of style: the Penn Quaker.

Despite widespread belief among students, the Quaker has nothing to do with the University’s founder or its early administration. According to an article in the Daily Pennsylvanian from February 2010, the “Penn Quakers” came into being during the late 19th century.

Sportscasters referred to many teams in Pennsylvania as Quakers—as the Commonwealth was founded by a Quaker, William Penn, and guaranteed Quakers the freedom to practice their religion. Because of the University of Pennsylvania’s outstanding athletic prowess during this time (and into the mid-20th century) the nickname “Quakers” stuck to the University.

So no, Benjamin Franklin was not a Quaker. And no, “the Fighting Quaker” isn’t the mascot’s real name. But despite these common misconceptions and the fact that Penn has no historical ties to the Religious Society of Friends, the Quaker remains an icon on campus —through multiple iterations.

Old Quaker

New Quaker

Read more about the history of the Penn Quaker in the Daily Pennsylvanian or view images of the beloved mascot on the University’s Flickr stream.

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Filed under Amanda D., Athletics, Ben Franklin, Historical

October 25, 2012 · 12:59 pm

Discs of Glory: My Experience on an Intramural Frisbee Team

Author: Jonathan Cousins, SEAS’14

Being on an intramural sports team at Penn is a unique experience. Last semester, I played intramural basketball, and while it was fun, we lost most of our games. It was also stressful to be the captain, and be responsible for a $100 performance bond if your team decided to not show up one day (this almost happened).  But this fall I found a new group and a new sport – Ultimate Frisbee.

Ultimate Frisbee is interesting in its own right. There are no referees, and the game is completely self-policed by the two teams. The only outside intervention is from a Penn Rec employee calling out the end of each half. The objective is simple – catch the Frisbee in the end zone. But as the game plays out the intricacies present themselves – making a quick step to get open, diving to knock away a Frisbee and defending one side of the person throwing the Frisbee all become clear.

But this is not professional Frisbee, in fact far from it. We are a group of friends trying to have some fun. This attitude produces some memorable moments. Like the time we were winning by five points, and my roommate Surya called a time-out to set up a victory celebration. When we next scored, our team lined up like bowling pins and I “bowled” the Frisbee and knocked everyone down. Even the other team thought it was funny. We also have a pre-game chant involving group circle and much loud chanting of the word “WORK!” and our team name’s acronym (Discs of Glory – so DOG).

While much of the game is fun, there is a lot of intensity also. We have had multiple last-second catches to end either a half or the game, lots of diving, and even some more serious collisions.  Last week, Surya and another teammate slid to the ground in the corner where there was dirt and came up bloody. A few weeks prior, Surya was hit with a shoulder the head on a contested catch that looked like a football highlight hit (he was ok).

Through all of this, we have had a great time and have grown closer as friends. We have out last regular season game on Tuesday, and then it is off to the playoffs. The season has been full of ups and downs so far, and I am sure that will continue. The game on Monday is a rematch against the only team we have lost to so far, and it is sure to be another close one. The first time we played this particular team, they won on a last-second catch in the end zone, and neither of us has lost since.

It seems only fitting that I end this piece the same way we end our pre-game chants. No matter what happens, at the end of the day, DOGS WORK!

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Filed under Athletics, Jonathan C., Student Perspective

October 24, 2012 · 1:51 pm

The Red & Blue

Author: Liz Pinnie

I’m not a particularly big fan of khakis.  It might have to do with the fact that from the ages of seven to seventeen my only “casual wear” pants were khakis.  Yes, I dressed like a mom.  No, it did not help my social status.  When I (read: my friends) finally forced myself to put on a pair of jeans in an attempt at social rectification, I discovered that jeans were 1. not nearly as tragically uncomfortable as previously assumed and 2. The Best Thing Ever.  Since these discoveries, I have been a practicing Non-Khaki-Wearer.

However, Penn’s Homecoming Weekend featuring arts & culture might just change all of this.

With Homecoming on the horizon, I can’t help but get a little Penn-giddy.  I’m excited for the heart thumping beats of the Penn Band, the shouts of the cheerleaders, and the vibrant crowds of alumni and their families. At the risk of sounding a bit shallow, I’m also terribly excited for the outfits.  At every Penn event I’ve attended, I’ve become more and more impressed with the massively creative Red & Blue wardrobes that our alumni pull out.

As someone who loves colors, looking up Locust Walk and seeing the rich reds and bright blues, the boaters, the madras, all surrounded by the yellows from the leaves on the trees, is a real treat.  However, it isn’t just my love of outfits, or color, or fashion blogs that makes this vision so enjoyable to me.  Rather it’s what these sometimes over the top outfits mean: our Penn Alumni are proud of Penn, and they want to show their pride in any and all ways possible.

So I’ve decided that this is my year to join in.  After work today, I’m headed on a quest for the most ridiculously vibrant red or blue pants to couple with a nice Penn rugby, which I plan on topping off with a classic Penn scarf.  Too much?  Never!  When there’s Penn Pride, you might as well show it.

Hope to see you all this weekend, for some serious Red & Blue.

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Filed under Alumni Programming, Athletics, Campus Life, Homecoming Weekend featuring arts and culture, Liz P.

October 16, 2012 · 4:59 pm

My Top Penn List: Looking forward to Homecoming 2012

Author: Casey Ryan, C’95

We only have a few more days to register for Homecoming, and here is a list of the top 10 things I’m looking forward to, whether or not I actually have the time to get to all of them.  (I’ll be at the last three in my list with bells on! And I have a personal plug for my event that I’m organizing too.)

10. Regional Club Member Meet Up: Saturday 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Class of 1953 Lounge
E. Craig Sweeten Alumni House
3533 Locust Walk

The Global Alumni Network staff invites alumni club presidents, leaders, members, Second School Committee Chairs, and volunteers to stop in to meet each other before the great festivities during the weekend. At the meet up, we will celebrate the Alumni Club Award of Merit winner, Penn Club of San Antonio, and achievement winner, the Penn Club of San Diego. For questions, please e-mail Casey Ryan, C’95, at cjryan@upenn.edu.

9.  California Impressionism: Masters of Light: Friday 10 AM – 5 PM & Saturday 12 PM – 5 PM

Arthur Ross Gallery
Fisher Fine Arts Library
220 South 34th Street

California Impressionism: Masters of Light presents thirty-five paintings that illuminate the exceptional natural beauty of California and its rugged coastline. While some of these late 19th and early 20th century artists are renowned, other California artists remain unknown east of the Mississippi.

In 1874, when the First Impressionist exhibition was held in Paris, French critics derided it as radical art. By 1886 an exhibition of 300 French Impressionist paintings was held at the Durand-Ruel Gallery in New York. American audiences were enthralled and embraced the artists’ use of light, color and optics. Many American artists subsequently traveled to Paris to study the style and work “en plein air”, taking their easels outside, working directly after nature.

On loan from the Irvine Museum, works by Franz Bischoff, Colin Campbell Cooper, Anna Hills, Granville Redmond, and Guy Rose are included in the exhibition among others. A series of related programs and events is planned.

8. Student Film Shorts, Presented by the Penn Alumni Film Festival: Friday 5 PM – 6 PM

Claudia Cohen Hall, Terrace Room
249 South 36th Street

Whether you believe life imitates art or vice versa, there may be no better insight into the Penn experience of today than through these selected film shorts, each written, directed and produced by current Penn students. Join fellow alumni and students for a screening of five short films, ranging in genre from drama and documentary to animation and experimental. Space is limited; advance registration is encouraged.

7.  Du Bois College House Celebrates 40 Years: Saturday 4 PM – 6 PM

Du Bois College House
3900 Walnut Street

Please join us for a kick-off reception in recognition of the 40th Anniversary of the W.E.B. Du Bois College House. This gathering, co-sponsored with the Black Alumni Society, is the place to be immediately after the game if you lived in, attended events in, or visited friends in Du Bois during your time at Penn. Live music , refreshments, memories, and conversation are all on the agenda.  Award winning poet, spoken word artist, actor, and Penn alumnus Carlos Andres Gomez, C’04 will open the event. Please share photos from your time in Du Bois for an anniversary slideshow by e-mailing them to pcw2@upenn.edu.

6. Classes without Quizzes: Frank Furness and the Evolution of the Modern Library: Saturday 9:30 AM – 11 AM

Reading Room
Anne & Jerome Fisher Fine Arts Library
220 South 34th Street

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to spend 90 minutes in the Reading Room of the Frank Furness designed Anne & Jerome Fisher Fine Arts Library with three architectural historians and one practicing architect, all closely associated with Furness’s work. The discussion will focus on the ways that Furness’s design for the Fine Arts Library profoundly influenced modern library design. Participants include Dr. James F. O’Gorman, a leading architectural historian and author of The Architecture of Frank Furness; George E. Thomas, Gr’75, noted cultural historian and author of Building America’s First University: An Historical and Architectural Guide to the University of Pennsylvania; Henry Myerberg, C’76, founder of HMA2 architects with a specialty in library design; and William Whitaker, GAr’96, curator of the University of Pennsylvania’s Architectural Archives and the Kroiz Gallery. A continental breakfast will be provided starting at 9:00 AM and an optional tour of the Library will be available following the program. Space is limited; advance registration is encouraged.

This event is co-sponsored by Penn Alumni, PennDesign and Penn Libraries

5. The Philadelphia Film Festival presents FLIGHT, presented in collaboration with the Penn Alumni Film Festival: Saturday 7 PM – 10 PM

Zellerbach Theater
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
3680 Walnut Street

Join fellow Penn alumni and the Philadelphia film community for a sneak preview of the film FLIGHT, starring Denzel Washington, John Goodman, and Don Cheadle. Presented on the closing night of the 21st Philadelphia Film Festival, this pre-release screening will be attended by the film’s director, Robert Zemeckis, the Academy Award-winning director of Forrest Gump and Cast Away. For more information about FLIGHT, visit http://www.paramount.com/flight. An additional $15 fee applies to this event. Advance registration is required.

4. The Blutt Band Slam: Saturday 4 PM – 6 PM

College Green
(Please note: in the case of inclement weather, this event will be cancelled.)

Following the football game, make your way back to College Green to cheer on Penn student and alumni musicians as they compete for cash prizes in the Blutt Band Slam. Channel your inner rockstar with kid-friendly activities while you enjoy performances by members of the Penn community. This event is made possible by the generosity of Mitchell Blutt, C’78, M’82, WG’87. For more information about the competition, visit www.alumni.upenn.edu/bluttbandslam.

3. 78th Annual Alumni Award of Merit Gala: Friday 6 PM – 10 PM

Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
3680 Walnut Street

Join fellow alumni, friends and guests for the 78th Annual Alumni Award of Merit Gala, honoring alumni who have demonstrated a deep commitment and undying passion to make Penn a leader in the academic community. Hosted by Penn Alumni President, Lee Spelman Doty, W’76, the event will recognize the outstanding achievements of the chosen alumni honorees, as well as the class and club award recipients. Board of Trustees Chair, David L. Cohen, L’81 and President Amy Gutmann invite all alumni to participate in this splendid occasion.

Alumni Award of Merit
Dale B. Bell, MT’81
Harve D. Hnatiuk, EE’74
Paul K. Kelly, C’62, WG’64
James J. Kim, W’59, G’61, Gr’63

Young Alumni Award
Brett E. Weinheimer, W’00
Melissa Wu, C’98

Creative Spirit Award
Jennifer C. Egan, C’85

Class Award of Merit
Class of 1992

David N. Tyre Award for Excellence in Class Communication
Class of 1967

Club Award of Merit
Penn Alumni Club of San Antonio

Additional Fee: $75 General Admission, $55 Young Alumni (2002-2012)

2. Penn Football: Homecoming Game vs. Brown: Saturday 1 PM

Franklin Field
235 South 33rd Street

Cheer on the Penn Quakers as they challenge the Brown Bears in this Homecoming match-up on Franklin Field! General admission tickets are $15, or free with the purchase of a Blue Quaker Pass. Alumni in the class of 1962 and earlier will receive chairback tickets; all other seats are general admission.

1. QuakerFest:  Saturday 11 AM – 1 PM

College Green

Join fellow alumni to raise a toast to dear old Penn during this pre-game tailgate picnic. Enjoy kid-friendly activities and entertainment. Get Pennergized with performances by the band and other student groups!

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Filed under Alumni Programming, Alumnni Education, Athletics, Casey R., Homecoming Weekend featuring arts and culture, Multicultural Outreach, The Arts at Penn

August 8, 2012 · 3:54 pm

Penn Olympic Athletes – Photo Essay

Author: Lisa Marie Patzer

Penn Alumni have a long history of Olympic success.  Pictured here are some of the University’s past and present Olympic Athletes.

George Washington Orton (1873-1958), winning his Olympic gold medal, July 1900

George Washington Orton (1873-1958), winning his Olympic gold medal, July 1900

Donald Fithian "Don" Lippincott (November 16, 1893 – January 9, 1963)

Donald Fithian “Don” Lippincott (November 16, 1893 – January 9, 1963)

William Arthur Carr (1909-1966), B.S. in Economics 1933, at the starting line

William Arthur Carr (1909-1966), B.S. in Economics 1933, at the starting line

Anita Luceete DeFrantz (born 1952), J.D. 1977, yearbook photograph

Anita Luceete DeFrantz (born 1952), J.D. 1977, yearbook photograph

Gold medal winner Susan Francia C'04 G'04, and Koko Archibong C'03, stopped to pose together in the Olympic Village earlier this week

Gold medal winner Susan Francia C’04 G’04, and Koko Archibong C’03, stopped to pose together in the Olympic Village earlier this week!

This photo is today’s competitor in the Ivy+ Alumnipics competition.  Show your Penn Pride by “liking” the photo on Facebook here before 11EST tomorrow.  The more “likes” we receive, the greater our chances of winning the gold medal!

(Archival images courtesy of the University Archives Digital Image Collection, http://dla.library.upenn.edu/dla/archives/index.html)

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Filed under Alumni Profile, Athletics, Historical, Lisa Marie Patzer, Notable Alumni, Photos, Uncategorized