March 14, 2013 · 8:59 pm

Penn Bookstore: Books + Coffee and Comedy

Author: Aimee LaBrie

One of my favorite comedians/writers will be making an appearance at the Penn bookstore next Wednesday, March 20, at 3 PM. Demetri Martin has a dry wit and he does this funny thing in his act where he draws pictures on big sheets of paper like you would at a board meeting as part of his act. I confess that I haven’t read his book, but I’m interested to see him read. He makes slightly off jokes like this one:

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I didn’t even realize we would be in the same zip code at the same time until I walked into the bookstore this morning and saw this poster (aside: I like how the sign says “live appearance, just in case we though the might Skype in):

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Another reason (of the many–including the fact that the coffee shop upstairs gives you two stamps on your coffee card on Thursdays) to love Penn and the Penn bookstore.

 

 

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March 13, 2013 · 8:00 am

Family Night at the Palestra – A HUGE Success!

Author: Kristina Clark

On Friday evening, February 22, I once again had the pleasure of hosting over 480 Penn alumni families for an event at the Palestra.  This was the second time that Penn Alumni and the Association of Alumnae hosted a Family Night at the Palestra — it was an even bigger success than last year!  The evening began just after 5 PM with children of all ages having an opportunity to shoot hoops with Penn’s women basketball team members. The kids had a blast and so did the players. Following the shoot-around, and prior to the basketball team taking the court for warm-ups, families were greeted by women’s head basketball coach, Mike McLaughlin.  Food vouchers were distributed for each attendee so they could go to the concession stand at their convenience for a hot dog or pizza, soft pretzel, and beverage.  Penn Alumni families were treated to an amazing night and the game was the icing on the cake.  For the second straight game, the Quakers dominated an Ivy opponent at The Palestra.  Penn posted its largest win over Cornell since 1981 and claimed its fourth straight victory!

The cost to participate in this Palestra Family Night event was $5 person.  The event was sponsored by Penn Alumni and the Association of Alumnae.  We look forward to offering this event again next year and hope you can join us!

In the meantime, mark your calendars now for upcoming Penn Alumni Family Events:

Family Day at Mask & Wig – 3/16/13 — Click to REGISTER
40 Winks with the Sphinx – 3/29-30/13 — SOLD OUT

Contact Penn Alumni Relations at 215-898-7811 for more information.
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Filed under Alumni Programming, Association of Alumnae, Athletics, Campus Life, Events, Kristina C., Penn Basketball, Traditions, Uncategorized

March 12, 2013 · 7:13 pm

What’s Going on at Penn…and Why Do I Never Know About It?!

Author: Lillian Gardiner, GEd’11

Does it ever feel like all this cool stuff is happening on campus and you don’t know about it until after the fact? I hate opening up the DP only to discover that my favorite actor, writer, or well-known politician was on campus the night before. All the while I had been sitting at home playing Words with Friends…

In case you have not yet felt left out, let me tell you about some cool people on campus this year that you may not have known about:

Bill Clinton. Photo credit: Justin Cohen, from the DP.

Bill Clinton. Photo credit: Justin Cohen, from the DP.

John Legend. Photo credit: Sam Sherman.

John Legend. Photo credit: Sam Sherman from the DP.

Malcolm Gladwell. Photo credit: Kathryn Landsman from the DP.

Malcolm Gladwell. Photo credit: Kathryn Landsman from the DP.

Junot Diaz. Photo credit: Imran Cronk from the DP.

Junot Diaz. Photo credit: Imran Cronk from the DP.

The author of Black Hawk Down

Richard Gay, W’90 Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations for MTV & VH1

While I was unaware of some of these people being on campus, rest assured not everyone slipped by me. I heard Barry Scheck, Executive Director of the Innocence Project, speak as part of the Year of Proof  series. At the Kelly Writers House,  I listened to George Anastasia, a 38-year veteran writer for the Inquirer and Pulitzer-nominated mob reporter, talk about crime writing. I have tickets to SPEC Connaissance’s  “A Conversation with Jason Sudeikis” on the 19thand plan to hear my friend Jessica Ho, doctoral candidate in demography and sociology, discuss her research on the role that deaths at younger ages play in explaining the low life expectancy rate in the United States through the Lightbulb Café Series.

In my effort to overcome the lack of a single event calendar at Penn, I’ve accumulated a long list of event pages from sources around Penn’s campus. Enjoy!

1. Penn Institute for Urban Research

2. Penn Museum Great Battles (see Emilie Kretschmar’s post for more details)

3. Annenberg

4. Penn Alumni Education

5. The Veritas Forum

6. Institute for Law and Economics

7. Penn Women’s Center

8. Population Studies Center

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Filed under Academics, Alumni Perspective, Lillian G.

March 11, 2013 · 6:08 pm

326,952 Thank You Notes

Author: Dan Bernick, C’14

Penn made history. Five years and $4,302,890,707 later, Penn has accomplished and surpassed the Making History Campaign goals. Faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and Penn family and friends are rightly overjoyed by our collective accomplishment.

But what does the Campaign mean for students?

In a word, everything.

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$366.3 million was raised for undergraduate financial aid. That means more of my friends can take advantage of a Penn education for years to come. It means Penn will continue attracting the best and brightest students in the world, no matter their background.

$752.7 million was raised for buildings and facilities. This money goes to create new collaborative spaces for students, like the Education Commons; it goes towards improving dining and living facilities, so students can make Penn their home; and it goes towards building the world class facilities where students are learning and building and curing and discovering the future.

In total 326, 952 donors gave to Penn. That means my friends and I are graduating into a great big Penn family – thousands of individuals we can turn to for advice, support, friendship, (and a job!).

Ben Franklin would be proud.

Penn President Amy Gutmann wrote, “At Penn, we know that history does not just happen; it is made.” Well, we made it. Now, It’s Time to Shine.

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Filed under Campaign, Daniel B., Student Perspective, The Penn Fund

March 8, 2013 · 4:09 pm

Good Fortunes: Interview Program Edition

Author: Liz Pinnie

Well folks, interviewing season for the Penn Alumni Interview Program has wrapped up, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with our inaugural year in Sweeten.  With the help of our fabulous volunteers and supportive co-workers (and lots and lots of coffee), we have managed to have a red letter year: over 22,100 applicants were offered interviews in all fifty states, as well as 123 countries.  We have over 2,440 new members, as well as ten new Virtual Interview Committees.  Interviewers have spent over 5,600 hours in Starbucks across the world and our longest participating interviewer just hit the 50 year mark! There is now a new Portal, our fancy new website is in the works, and trips are being planned to all corners of the earth to spread the interviewing word and provide training.

 

What does this mean?  This year, all over the world, Penn graduates and talented teenagers met to talk about Penn, and along the way had fascinating conversations about everything from Kafka to Cambodia, Fruit flies to Freakonomics, baking classes to Engineers without Boarders.  These conversations mean that more alumni are being engaged than ever before, more applicants have the chance to speak with an ambassador from Penn, and unique ideas and thoughts are being shared across generations and boarders.

 

One of our awesome chairs sent us the most giant fortune cookie ever- thanks Felix!

One of our awesome chairs sent us the most giant fortune cookie ever- thanks Felix!

While this has been a wildly successful year, we here in Interview Program Headquarters are not ready to rest (yet).  There is still (a lot!) of work to be done both on our end, and yours.  If you would like to help spread the word about Penn as an ambassador and member of the Penn Alumni Interview Program, please just sign up here.  If you are already a member, spread the word- we want to keep this momentum going to make this experience, for our alumni and prospective students, the best it can possibly be.

 

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Filed under Alumni Benefits, Interview Program, Liz P., Patrick B., Sweeten Alumni House, Volunteering

March 8, 2013 · 2:21 am

Registration Open for Penn Alumni Weekend

Author: Aimee LaBrieaw2013header

Registration is now officially open for Alumni Weekend, May 10-13, 2013. Don’t miss this opportunity to rediscover Penn, your passion, your pride, your people! Only 63 days left and counting…

Go here to learn more about all of the amazing programming available over the weekend. And don’t forget to use our hash tag over the weekend on your Twitter and Instagram updates: PennAW.

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March 6, 2013 · 8:50 am

Campus Shadows

Author: Emilie Kretschmar

Yesterday was a beautiful day on campus. A bit chilly, yes, but the sun was out in full-force and the wind didn’t seem quite so brutal. As you well know, Penn’s campus photographs beautifully. The buildings are historic and grand, and works of art appear around every corner. Our green spaces are neatly manicured, and you can’t beat the view of Center City, Philadelphia. So when I went out to take some pictures of campus, I wasn’t sure what I could add to this oeuvre of already well documented campus views.  But, thanks to the brilliance of yesterday’s sun and the saturated colors of stone, brick, and grass, I found some unexpected beauty in campus shadows. Enjoy the tour of Penn’s shadows!

Walking up to the Caster Building.

Walking up to the Caster Building.

Huntsman Hall

Huntsman Hall

A shadow tree on the wall of the Steinberg Conference Center.

A shadow tree on the wall of the Steinberg Conference Center.

Bikes cast lovely shadows too.

Bikes cast lovely shadows too.

Behind Steinberg-Dietrich Hall.

Behind Steinberg-Dietrich Hall.

The LOVE statue makes its own great shadows.

The LOVE statue makes its own great shadows.

Self Shadow Portrait

Self Shadow Portrait

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March 5, 2013 · 9:08 am

Class of 2008 – 5th Reunion Tasting

Author: Stephanie Yee, C’08

My 5th reunion is 66 days away. Venue is booked. Theme is finalized. Registration is open. Now for the best part – the tasting! Choosing a caterer wasn’t very hard. As soon as we saw Garces Catering’s proposed menu, we were sold! Iron Chef Jose Garces is catering our 5th Reunion Masquer(08) Party on Saturday, May 11th, 9pm-1am. You may have heard of Garces’ famed restaurants Amada, Distrito, and Garces Trading Company. Just to name a few. Here are some photos from the tasting at Garces Catering’s home in the Kimmel Center. Also, don’t forget to register for reunion and Alumni Weekend 2013 here.

Are you hungry yet?

Are you hungry yet?

Jose Garces' famous "crunchy things" which are featured in his newest cookbook! Includes canguil (spicy popcorn), chifles (plantain chips), and toastaditos (toasted corn nuts). Salty deliciousness!

Jose Garces’ famous “crunchy things” which are featured in his newest cookbook! Includes canguil (spicy popcorn), chifles (plantain chips), and toastaditos (toasted corn nuts). Salty deliciousness!

Flatbread Station from Amada & Garces Trading Company! This is the Artichofas Y Setas Coca (artichokes, wild mushrooms, truffle & Manchego cheese).

Flatbread Station from Amada & Garces Trading Company! This is the Artichofas Y Setas Coca (artichokes, wild mushrooms, truffle & Manchego cheese).

Deconstructed Paella Station - paella rice, grilled organic chicken, shrimp, chorizo, and grilled spring vegetable salad, sliced French bread.

Deconstructed Paella Station – paella rice, grilled organic chicken, shrimp, chorizo, and grilled spring vegetable salad, sliced French bread.

Who doesn't love sliders? This slider station has something for everyone! Short Rib Bocadillo (braised short rib, bacon, asparagus, celery root aioli), Bonito Del Norte (Spanish tuna in olive oil, tomato fresco, roasted pepper & black olive escabeche), and Grilled Vegetable Bocadillo (zucchini, tomato fresco, asparagus, cremini mushroom). Why not try all three. Seriously, do it.

Who doesn’t love sliders? This slider station has something for everyone! Short Rib Bocadillo (braised short rib, bacon, asparagus, celery root aioli), Bonito Del Norte (Spanish tuna in olive oil, tomato fresco, roasted pepper & black olive escabeche), and Grilled Vegetable Bocadillo (zucchini, tomato fresco, asparagus, cremini mushroom). Why not try all three. Seriously, do it.
Patatas Bravas (spicy potatoes, remoulade). Bite-size perfection.

Patatas Bravas (spicy potatoes, remoulade). Bite-size perfection.

Chocolate brownie, blondie, and assorted cookies. The chocolate cherry cookie is INCREDIBLE. Another favorite was the salted chocolate chip cookie. YUM!!!

Chocolate brownie, blondie, and assorted cookies. The chocolate cherry cookie is INCREDIBLE. Another favorite was the salted chocolate chip cookie. YUM!!!

French 77 Verrine (Elderflower Panna Cotta). Fresh, light, and creamy. Absolutely delicious!

French 77 Verrine (Elderflower Panna Cotta). Fresh, light, and creamy. Absolutely delicious!

I cannot wait! Keep in mind, you don’t have to be in a reunion year to enjoy all the festivities at Alumni Weekend, May 10-13, 2013. Go online to see what’s happening over the weekend and to register now.

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Filed under 5th Reunion, Alumni Weekend, Reunions

March 4, 2013 · 2:33 pm

A Roller Coaster Season

Author: Jonathan Cousins, SEAS’14

As I left the Palestra on Friday night, I was upset.  Penn had played a terrible game and lost to Dartmouth.  I had seen games like this before: a rough road loss to Columbia, a road game against Harvard, and home losses against Cornell and Yale.  But it has been a season of Ivy splits for Penn, as paired with each bad Ivy loss this season there has been a win.  If there was going to be a split this weekend, the money would have been on a victory over Dartmouth and a loss to Harvard.  So, as I left the Cathedral of College Basketball Friday night, I was dejected.

I had put off going home for spring break in order to see two more basketball games, but of course, when I bought the plane tickets, I hoped we might be in Ivy contention. As of Friday night, we were mathematically eliminated from the Ivy race. Friday’s crowd had been lackluster at best, and I knew that fewer students would show for Saturday than for Frid

ay, due to travel during the break.

As Chair of the Red and Blue Crew,  I had met with Penn Traditions to discuss possible collaborations a few days before any of this happened, At that meeting, I learned about the Volunteer Thank You event happening right before the Saturday game.  I volunteered to help, and had a great time hanging out with alumni and their families.  With that event, each person received two tickets to the basketball game, and because of this, the Palestra was packed; as full of Penn fans as I have ever seen it. And, as Penn opened the game against Harvard with tough defense and effective offense, the crowd got into it!

Penn led by 12 entering the half, and held on down the stretch to win by 3, 75-72.  It was exciting, as always, to throw streamers, but especially in a game nobody expected us to win.  And just like that, it was another Ivy split.

On Tuesday, Penn plays Princeton in the final Ivy game of the season.  We lost badly at Princeton in January, but we have a large group of students that we hope will turn out in force at the Palestra tomorrow.  And, if these past few months have given us any indication of patterns, we will probably beat them and continue the season of splits

Junior guard Miles Cartwright (left) and freshman guard Tony Hicks walk off victorious after combining for 36 points in a 75-72 upset over Harvard Saturday. From the DP. Photo credit: Andrew Dierkes

Junior guard Miles Cartwright (left) and freshman guard Tony Hicks walk off victorious after combining for 36 points in a 75-72 upset over Harvard Saturday. From the DP. Photo credit: Andrew Dierkes

It has been an up and down ride, and one that will hopefully give the team the necessary experience and confidence to compete for the Ivy title next season.

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Filed under Athletics, Jonathan C., Penn Basketball, Student Perspective

March 1, 2013 · 9:18 am

Drink a Highball at Nightfall…

Author: Marvin Rocha C’06 and Nicole Svonavec GEd’09

The yPenn Highball event has become a tradition – the Penn party of the year for young alumni 0-10 years since graduation.  There’s no better way to celebrate Penn than this huge party, complete with drinks, dancing, and PLENTY of red and blue spirit.  Over the past three years, we’ve hosted this party in Philadelphia and New York, and can’t wait to bring Highball to other cities in the future.

To celebrate Penn’s hometown (and the city with the second highest alumni base), our next two Highballs will be in Philadelphia! On Saturday, April 6 from 9 PM to 1 AM, we will host our 2nd Annual Philly (Center City) Highball at Stotesbury Mansion near Rittenhouse Square.

Check out our Facebook page and register here today.

To help tempt you to attend, here are two of our favorite photos from last year’s event:

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Christian with complimentary glow sticks.

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An enthusiastic and vibrant crowd of young Penn alumni dancing the night away.

During Alumni Weekend, we’ll host a second Highball on Friday, May 10 from 9 PM to midnight to bring the Classes of 2002-2012 together and welcome our newest alumni, the Class of 2013.  Check your emails over the next couple of weeks for more information on registering to come back to campus.  We’ll be ready for you (with glow sticks)!

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