Celebrating Diversity at Alumni Weekend

Author: Lillian Galindo Gardiner, GEd ’11

It may not be your reunion year, but there are other fun reasons to come back for Alumni Weekend this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Online registration is now closed, but you can still register on-site this weekend.

The Multicultural Outreach Team in Alumni Relations has worked with alumni leaders to plan some exciting opportunities for reconnecting with friends and celebrating the diversity of our Penn alumni.

Read on for details on events hosted by the Penn Alumni Diversity Alliance!

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SATURDAY, MAY 11

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
University of Pennsylvania Asian Alumni Network: Reception
Houston Hall, Ben Franklin Room, 3417 Spruce Street
Meet with UPAAN at our alumni weekend reception to meet fellow alumni, reunite old classmates and connect with past, current, and future members of the Asian & Asian-American community at Penn. Alumni, bring your memories, Students, bring your energy. Refreshments will be served. Following the reception, please join us in a joint panel discussion in collaboration with our fellow Diversity Alliance groups on the topic of faculty diversity and initiatives.

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Association of Native Alumni: “A Tribute to Bob Preucel”
Houston Hall, Bishop White Room, 3417 Spruce Street
“A Tribute to Bob” (Robert W. Preucel), Department Chair, Sally and Alvin V. Shoemaker Professor, Anthropology: Curator-In-Charge, American Section, University Museum; Director, Penn Center for Native American Studies. With best wishes for a continued stellar journey at Brown University, we are remembering our time with Bob at Penn by sharing an archive of videos, stories, pictures, individual and collective memories. We recognize his work to develop the Center for Native American Studies and his ongoing support. Although Bob will not be joining us at Alumni Weekend, please gather with your fellow ANA alumni and Native students to pay tribute to him.

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Association of Latino Alumni: Networking Reception
Houston Hall, Golkin Room, 3417 Spruce Street
Join ALA at our alumni networking reception, the first of two events that will focus on the evolution that is sweeping campus. While you reconnect with fellow alumni and reunite with old classmates, meet current students and Latino faculty. Refreshments will be served. Following the reception, please join us in a joint-panel discussion with our fellow Diversity Alliance groups on the very current and relevant topic of faculty diversity and initiatives.

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
PennGALA Networking Hour
Houston Hall, Brachfeld Room, 3417 Spruce Street
PennGALA and the LGBT Center welcome you to network with fellow alumni during Alumni Weekend. Learn what other alumni are up to and the paths they’ve taken since graduating. You’ll also hear about the LGBT Center and the ways students benefit from its presence on campus today.

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Black Alumni Society Reception
Houston Hall, Platt Rehearsal Room, 3417 Spruce Street
During the Alumni Weekend festivities, we welcome you to enjoy a reception hosted by the Black Alumni Society. This will be a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with friends and reminisce about your time at Penn. We will also acknowledge the 40th Anniversary of the W.E.B Du Bois College House with a few words from House Faculty Master, Rev. William Gipson, who also serves as Associate Vice Provost for Equity and Access at Penn.

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Penn Faculty Panel: Co-Sponsored by the Penn Alumni Diversity Alliance
Houston Hall, Class of ’49 Auditorium, 3417 Spruce Street
Please join us for a panel discussion featuring Penn Professors Dr. Eric J. Schelter, Dr. Emilio Parrado, Dr. Grace Kao, and Dr. Tukufu Zuberi, who will discuss what achieving diversity means to them. Following the panel, there will be time for audience Q&A.

6 PM – 10 PM
Taste of Penn Spectrum: A Celebration of Diversity
Location: Tent on College Green
Spend an evening surrounded by friends, food, and music celebrating Penn’s cultural diversity. Enjoy the company of the Penn Alumni Diversity Alliance: The Association of Latino Alumni, The Association of Native Alumni, The Black Alumni Society, The James Brister Society, PennGALA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Alumni Association), and The University of Pennsylvania Asian Alumni Network. All alumni are welcome to attend.


Special note: on Sunday, May 12 at 10:30am, join the Greenfield Intercultural Center at 3708 Chestnut Street for an alumni celebration in honor of their new Native American community garden!

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Filed under Alumni Profile, Alumni Weekend, Lillian G., Multicultural Outreach

Memories of Penn: Guest Blogger

Author: Jay Hansen, W’85

I met Craig during our freshman year at Penn. I lived at Hill House and Craig felt “exiled” to live at Kings Court English House. Craig had a friend, Diane, from high school who lived near me in Hill House. Diane introduced all of us. As I recall, Craig had a difficult roommate situation his freshman year. He used to complain about it all the time. Luckily for Craig and us, Craig has mellowed since those days in the early 1980s as the world was starting to change.

We are very excited to have Craig come to speak to the Penn and Wharton Alumni Association of Michigan on May 21, 2013. In his role as the chief financial and administrative officer of Penn (reporting to President Gutmann), Craig will have some unique insights into what is happening at Penn now and what has changed since we graduated or last visited campus, a glimpse into some of the challenges and complexities involved in running one of the world’s premier institutions of higher learning, as well as a preview of some of master plans for the future of the campus. In addition, Craig will talk about ties between the ground-breaking community revitalization work that Penn did with West Philly and the direct ties it has with similar work being done here in the Midtown area of Detroit.

It is truly an honor to have Craig take the time to come speak to us and we are really looking forward to it.

A photo drawing of the new plans for Hill Field starting in  2014, courtesy of Penn Facilities and Real Estate services.

A photo drawing of the new plans for Hill Field starting in 2014, courtesy of Penn Facilities and Real Estate services.

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Campus Life, Clubs, Guest blogger, Memories of Penn, Penn Clubs

Congratulations to the Class of 2013!

Authors:  Nicole Svonavec, GEd’09 and Marvin Rocha, C ’06

After a great Final Toast event on Wednesday, April 24, the Class of 2013, led by Class President Jon Youshaei, has officially passed the senior torch to the Class of 2014.  Pending the passing of final exams (fingers crossed!), we ecstatically welcome 2013 as our newest yPenn cohort!  Here’s a small taste of the fun, but click on the photos to link to all Final Toast pics:

Final Toast Tree Planting 2013

final toast 2013

We had a BLAST at the event, and we’re pumped that it’s only the first of many Senior Week festivities!   More information about Senior Week (including tickets to all ticketed events) will be available outside Sweeten Alumni House Monday-Wednesday (May 6-8) from 11AM – 3PM.

In the meantime, here’s the information about a few other Senior Week events we’re hosting:

yPenn Senior Leadership Reception
Monday, May 6
Hall of Flags
5:00 – 6:30 PM

Senior Resource Fair
Monday, May 6
Hall of Flags
6:30 – 8:00 PM

Association of Alumnae Wine & Cheese Reception
Tuesday, May 7
College Green
7:30 – 8:30 PM

We’ll close out Senior Week with an exclusive event on Friday, May 10.  What better way to welcome the Class of 2013 into the alumni realm than by throwing them a party!  We’re so excited to invite 2013 to their first official alumni event – the yPenn Highball!

yPenn Highball
Friday, May 10
Hall of Flags
9:00 PM – 12:00 AM

And to think we knew them when:

cohort

Some of our nearest and dearest members of the Class of 2013 at the end of their freshman year – my how far they’ve come!

We look forward to celebrating Senior Week and welcoming the Class of 2013 into our alumni family!

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Campus Life, Commencement, Marvin R., Nicole S., y-Penn, yPenn

Party Like It’s 1993!

By Kiera Reilly, C’93  @KieraReilly

In just over a week, the Penn Class of 1993 will celebrate our 20th reunion with a full schedule of events (see the full line-up here). But, let’s remind ourselves why we’re so excited to return – to reconnect and remember all the good times we had while on campus (click on images to see them full sized).

In the spirit of these party invites from long ago, here’s one last invite – come back to Penn and help us party like it’s 1993!

Quad after party

Penn 1993 – it’s less than two weeks until our 20th reunion – and advance registration closes on Friday! Don’t forget to:

We can’t wait to see you on campus May 10-11, 2013!

93.Graphic

See our previous reunion posts here:

Hey Day 1993 – 21 Years Later – April 24, 2013

Meet Me at the Button – March 30, 2013

Drink a Highball…at Nightfall – March 15, 2013

Celebrating Feb Club – 20 Years Later – February 26, 2013

 

 

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Filed under 20th Reunion, Alumni Weekend, Class of 1993, Kiera R., Memories of Penn, Photos, Reunions

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words… or a Kindle

Author: Janell Wiseley

The Third Annual Penn Alumni Photo Contest has just concluded and we have some fantastic winners.

The photo contest is open to all participants who have taken a Penn Alumni Travel trip. They may enter one photo in the following four categories: people, places, culture and nature.  Each photo is judged by its creativity and relevance to the specific category.

Grand Prize Winner and First Place, Places Category: “Reed House-Uros Islands,” by Amy Converse

Places-Reed Houses Uros Islands-Amy Converse

First Place People Category: “Father at Monastery of St. John,” by Robin Love

People-Father at Monastery of St  John Patmos Greece-Robin Love

First Place Culture Category: “Street Musician-Havana,” by Arthur Brown

Culture-Street Musicians-Arthur Brown

First Place Nature Category: “Orchids of Machu Picchu,” by Alex Converse

Nature-Orchids on Machu Picchu-Alex Converse

For more information about the photo contest visit our website. To enter the Fourth Annual Penn Alumni Travel photo contest, you can email your submission directly to me at jwiseley@upenn.edu.

Deadline for photo entries is February 28, 2014.

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5th Reunion Preview

Author: Stephanie Yee, C’08

My 5th Reunion is in 10 days, and I am bursting with excitement! The Reunion Outreach Committee has been working tirelessly for many months to make sure that the Class of 2008 has an incredible and unforgettable reunion. Here are a few events that 08ers can look forward to next weekend.

CELEBR(08) AT CITY TAP HOUSE
Friday, May 10th, 10 PM – 2 AM
3925 Walnut Street

Two bars (complete with drink specials) will be reserved for the Class of 2008 in the restaurant’s lower terrace.

Celebr(08) on Friday night at City Tap House.

Celebr(08) on Friday night at City Tap House.

 

CLASS OF 2008 PEER PANEL: ENTREPRENEUERSHIP AND START-UPS
Saturday, May 11th, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, 3620 Locust Walk, Room 1206
Fellow alums will talk about their start-ups in various fields – including business, social, tech, and non-profit. 08ers have accomplished so much since graduation, and this panel highlights how several alums are carving their own path to success.

Panelists:

Jason Gurwin, Co-Founder and CEO of Pushpins

Raymond John, Co-Founder and President of 12+

Abe Kwon, Founder and Chairman of 12+

Rachit Shukla, Founder, Partner, and CEO of Two Toasters

Brian Wang, Co-Founder and CEO of Fitocracy

Michael Young, Co-Founder and Director, Technology Development of Innova Dynamics

The founders of these companies are all Penn 2008 alumni. Come hear them talk about entrepreneurship and start-ups.

The founders of these companies are all Penn 2008 alumni. Come hear them talk about entrepreneurship and start-ups.

ALUMNI PARADE OF CLASSES

Saturday, May 11th

Parade line-up will be at 11:45 AM (on Locust Walk between 36th and 37th, complete with drinks and snacks to get the party started) and the parade is from 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM.

Relive Hey Day by marching down Locust Walk with other 08ers.

Relive Hey Day by marching down Locust Walk with other 08ers.

 

ALUMNI DAY PICNIC

Saturday, May 11th, 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM, Hill Field

2008 classmates, families and guests are invited to enjoy “One Last Fling,” a throwback to Spring Fling. This picnic buffet includes performing student groups, live music, entertainment – and most importantly –  fried Oreos!

Remember fried oreos at Fling? There will be fried Oreos at the Saturday picnic!

Remember fried Oreos at Fling? There will be fried Oreos at the Saturday picnic!

5TH REUNION MASQUER(08) PARTY

Saturday, May 11th, 9 PM – 1 AM

Perelman Quadrangle, Wynn Commons Tent, 3417 Spruce Street

Celebr(08) your return to Penn by going back to where it all started. Join us for an exciting evening with good food, great friends, an open bar, and a killer dance floor. Share your personal updates and amazing memories with classmates, and make this party the highlight of our Alumni Weekend. Dress to impress!

The Saturday night party is the big event! Iron Chef Jose Garces is catering the party, so come hungry!

The Saturday night party is the big event! Iron Chef Jose Garces is catering the party, so come hungry!

 

Don’t forget to register! Advance registration ends this Friday. 5th reunion classmates can register here. But you don’t have to be celebrating a reunion to attend. All alumni are welcome and can still register online here.

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Filed under 5th Reunion, Alumni Perspective, Alumni Weekend, Reunions

A Lifetime of Learning

Author: Lisa Ellen Niver, CAS ’89

berger.rI did not realize when I picked Penn (after being admitted early decision in December 1984), that class would still be in session in 2013 while traveling on a local bus in Nepal! During this trip, I read Contagious, Why Things Catch On, because as a traveler, teacher, and writer it sounded extremely compelling. I too wanted to learn how to “create contagious content!”

As Wharton marketing professor, Jonah Berger, explains in the book, “putting up a Facebook page or tweeting doesn’t mean anyone will notice or spread the word. 50% of YouTube videos have fewer than five hundred views. Only one-third of 1 percent get more than 1 million.” We actually have several videos over five hundred views and our We Said Go Travel YouTube channel, so that was good to learn. It is incredible to me that while on sabbatical in Asia, I can study with the award-winning Wharton “Iron Prof” and learn exactly the lessons I need next for my personal and professional life!

I also recently read  Made to Stick, by Chip and Dan Heath. Chip Heath was Berger’s graduate school mentor and while that book was helpful–Contagious’ “six key STEPPS” gave me new tools to propel my professional site to higher numbers and more views by using “the six principles of contagiousness: products or ideas that contain Social Currency and are Triggered, Emotional, Public, Practically Valued and wrapped into Stories.”

As a writer, the final emphasis on stories is of particular interest to me. Berger says: “Stories are an important source of cultural learning that help us make sense of the world. Information travels under the guise of what seems like idle chatter.” I hope that sharing our journeys will inspire others and soon be more and more contagious encouraging all to participate in our global community of travelers and writers.

I recommend getting a copy of Professor Berger’s book so you can “build a Social currency-laden, Triggered, Emotional, Public, Practically Valuable Trojan Horse, but don’t forget to hide your message inside. Make sure your desired information is so embedded into the plot that people cannot tell the story without it.”

Reading this book, I realized that our recent Inspiration Travel Writing Contest had so much traction as we used triggers (the contest ended on Valentine’s Day), emotions, and financial incentives. I will put my learning to work and hope that our Independence Travel Writing Contest (running from May 11 to July 4, no entry fee, and an even more valuable prizes).

Thank you to the Penn community for my past and continuing education! It is phenomenal that nearly twenty-five years after graduation I can still learn from Penn Profs and in a new digital way. As our Penn motto states, “We will find a way or we will make one.” Thank you, Professor Berger, for new tools for building a contagious community.

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Lisa Ellen Niver

Tradition

“To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.”

~Benjamin Franklin

Author: Patrick Bredehoft

Future Interviewers

As we look ahead a mere few weeks to the graduation of Penn’s Class of 2013, those of us at the Penn Alumni Interview Program are taking Ben Franklin’s thoughts about opportunity to heart.  With the Interview Program now under the umbrella of Alumni Relations, we’ve found a host of opportunities to engage these alumni-to-be in our global efforts to offer an interview to every Penn applicant.

Yesterday was Hey Day, where current Penn juniors mark a collective rite-of-passage in becoming seniors. It was also Final Toast, where current seniors look ahead to their lives beyond Penn, and to their new roles as university alumni. Final Toast prompts no shortage of nostalgia for the hundreds of students who attend, but it’s also a venue to discuss what it means to be an alumnus or an alumna of America’s first university—these young alumni will have opportunities to serve, to join new communities, and to make profound contributions wherever they go.

For more than fifty years, Penn alumni have been offering interviews to prospective students, in ever-increasing numbers. This past year, Penn alumni interviewed more than 22,000 students, hailing from all 50 states and from 127 countries. No matter where a young alumna is headed (and many are still trying to figure that out!), she will have the opportunity to meet with other alumni interviewers, as well as to offer something of her time at Penn to applicants who are eager to learn more.

We’re ecstatic to have registered so many Penn ’13 grads as alumni interviewers; we hope that by the time these students don their caps and gowns, more than 500 of them will have joined the Interview Program.

As we’ve spoken with these seniors, we’ve been amazed by the profound and lasting impact that this particular tradition has had on Penn’s students. Many of the seniors who sought us out had a similar refrain: “When I applied to Penn, my alumni interviewer made me even more interested in the university.  I swore that if I went to Penn, I would conduct interviews myself after I graduated.” Equally exciting for us is the second-most common comment we hear from seniors: “When I applied to Penn, I was never offered an interview.  I promised myself that if I went to Penn, I would make sure that I conducted interviews after I graduated.”

Whether young alumni join in this effort because they benefited from the experience directly, or because they want to offer future students an opportunity they never had themselves, we’re glad to be a part of a decades-old Penn tradition that provides a wonderful opportunity for applicants and alumni alike.

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My Top Penn List: Time to Shine

Author: Casey Ryan, C’95

Last Friday, Penn continued to make history with one of the biggest celebrations in the University: unveiling the Time to Shine multimedia show and showering appreciation on our donors, supports, alumni and friends with the festivities on Penn Park.

By now, you may have seen some of the thousands of images that capture the excitement of our spectacular, especially since all alumni and friends were invited to join in the extravaganza by tweeting or instagramming with the hashtag, #PennTimeToShine. The reaction was amazing and I wanted to share with you my favorite 10 tweeted or instagrammed moments from last Friday.  (Also feel free to check out our Proud Penn twitter users by clicking their handles – The opinions and views expressed through these twitter accounts are the opinions of those individuals and do not reflect the opinions or views of the University or myself.)

chalk

10. @wharton: New York City artist Hani Shihada created a sidewalk chalk mural in celebration of #penntimetoshine: http://ow.ly/i/1VDV7

giveaway

9. @shivkapoor21: Proud Penn Alum! #penntimetoshine #upenn #epic http://t.co/UP70L3lZ2b

tent

8. @xulucy: #penntimetoshine @Penn #penncommence2013 #penn #quaker love #schoolspirit @ Penn Park http://t.co/Aaue7CNqwJ

meta

7. @emilieckl: My photo on the big screen!!! Best day ever!!! #penntimetoshine http://t.co/qC81toSjlB

sightline

6. @jacob_henner: #PennTimeToShine Penn Park sight line @Penn http://t.co/8h0tKy1Oji

stage1

5. @jornthal: Pre-train and john legend concert at #penntimetoshine http://t.co/keYSQln8Tf

view

4.  @enikaselby: #penntimetoshine #train #johnlegend http://t.co/XWUoeTLX3m

nails

3. @daniellololol: Nothing says Penn pride like glitter!!! #naildesign #nails #nailart #nailpolish #PennTimeToShine http://t.co/tyTSaOp7Cp

greenlight

2. @xandriajames: Give me the green light @johnlegend #penn #johnlegend #penntimetoshine #perfection #iloveyou http://t.co/slKRkseWze

crowd

1. @momofink: amazing moment, amazing show @Penn! #penntimetoshine RT @train: Philadelphia Angels in a tribute to Boston! http://t.co/LkpEooy8fC

For additional social media accounts of Time To Shine, please visit our Penn Athletics’ You Tube page for a time-lapse video of our Penn Park event, taken from the very top of Franklin Field and visit our Storify page, Making History — It’s Time to Shine, highlighting many of the tweets and pictures sent during the night at sfy.co/cHQh.

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Campaign, Casey R., Top Ten

Hey Day 1993 – 21 Years Later

By Kiera Reilly, C’93  @KieraReilly

As the Junior Class celebrates Hey Day today, the Class of 1993 is busy preparing for our 20th reunion in just a few short weeks. But it’s also a good time to think back and remember our time as students. It’s hard to believe that twenty-one years ago, on April 24, 1992, we were strutting down Locust Walk about to become Seniors and officially begin our last year at Penn.

Remember the bookstore wall? Huntsman Hall now stands where this wall was. Hey Day is coming - buy your hat, canes and shirts!

Remember the bookstore wall? Huntsman Hall now stands where this wall was. Hey Day is coming – buy your hat, canes and shirts!

I asked my classmates to share their memories of Hey Day, but no one was willing to fess up and share anything on the record. So, here is Hey Day 1993…names withheld to protect the innocent.

Anonymous Classmate #1

OMG, Hey Day! I had 3 job offers and was deciding between them. Completely forgot that a rep from one of the 3 firms was coming to meet me that day to talk about his company. After many, many cocktails, I stumbled back to off-campus housing midday in my red t-shirt and broken hat to find him sitting on my front steps. I could hardly put 2 words together. Cheers to my housemates who saved the day and invited him into our filthy stinking apartment and got him completely wasted. Needless to say, I accepted the offer and stayed at that job for 12 years. It was so awesome. He was my first boss — we just had drinks together this past Tuesday!!

Everyone gathered in off-campus apartments and houses to start the celebration.

Everyone gathered in off-campus apartments and houses to start the celebration.

Hey Day Kiera Lisa

Hey Day Regan 2

Anonymous Classmate #2

First of all it was one of my best days at Penn – being with all my best friends on the Junior Balcony, hugging each other and laughing, while at the same time seeing – in one place – so many of our classmates that I had met during the 3 years before.

I remember after all the festivities started to die down, standing buzzed in the lightly falling rain in the middle of College Green listening to Jerry Brown give a campaign speech for President. I remember thinking, “Boy did his campaign staff really pick the wrong day to come to campus!” Everyone in the audience was a drunk junior – barely standing, cheering and not listening to him. It was a surreal experience for sure!

We made our way from Super Block, over the 38th Street Bridge.

We made our way from Super Block, over the 38th Street Bridge.

And then we headed to the Quad.

And then we headed to the Quad.

Hey Day Quad

Hey Day Lincoln

Hey Day Karen Jamie Deanna

Hey Day 2 friends

Hey Day girls college green

Anonymous Classmate #3

I remember I had a blast that day…smooched a couple people amid the hustle and bustle and had a great excuse to act silly and irresponsible all day. What I remember most though is how I ended the day…meeting class of ’92 friends on Locust Walk. One friend (Name withheld), W’92, took a bite out of my styrofoam hat and then drenched me in beer head to toe. He told me it was part of the Hey Day tradition and to this day I am not sure if his claim was true or just a sneaky opportunity to soak me 🙂

And our class board led us down Locust Walk to College Green. L-R: Ed Miller, Elissa Laitin, Lisa Luther, Julie Berliner, Chrissy Bass, Mike Rosenband, Laurie Bieber, Brooke Hayes.  Not pictured Jennifer Spadano and Doug Rosenberg.

And our class board led us down Locust Walk to College Green.
L-R: Ed Miller, Elissa Laitin, Lisa Luther, Julie Berliner, Chrissy Bass, Mike Rosenband, Laurie Bieber, Brooke Hayes. Not pictured Jennifer Spadano and Doug Rosenberg.

Hey Day Regan

Hey Day Kathleen P Scoops

Hey Day crowd

Hey Day classmates

Congratulations to the Class of 2014 – we hope you have wonderful memories of today to share twenty-one years from now!

The Penn Archives shared the history of Hey Day.

See photos from today’s Hey Day on campus by following @UofPenn on Instragram or @Penn on Twitter. Hashtag is #HeyDay.

1993 Classmates – it’s only a few weeks until our 20th reunion

We can’t wait to see you on campus May 10-11, 2013!

93.Graphic

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Filed under 20th Reunion, Alumni Perspective, Campus Life, Class of 1993, Historical, Kiera R., Memories of Penn, Photos, Reunions, Traditions