Penn is Making History -- every day

Penn Alumni: Our Signature in the World

Penn alumni -- and their genius for collaborative invention -- have been making headlines recently:

Penn alumnus George E. Smith (C'55) [right] was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize for Physics, in recognition for his invention (along with Willard S. Boyle) of an integrated circuit that converts light into an electronic charge -- a technology that has improved medical diagnostics, allowed humankind to see the surface of Mars, and is found today in every digital camera and cell phone.

Aakash Mathur, a 2009 Wharton alumnus, and Jay Parekh, a 2009 Engineering alumnus, are developing the prototype of the reusable Hydros Bottle. The bottle purifies water within about 20 seconds of being filled -- helping to address the global water crisis and reduce the use of disposable water bottles.

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Young Penn Alum, Helen Lu, Receives Presidential Honor

Penn people are making history -- again.

This time, it's a young Penn alumna, Helen H. Lu, who received her BSE, MSE, and PhD from Penn and who is now an associate professor at Columbia University's Department of Biomedical Engineering.

From Columbia's website:

Helen H. Lu has received the nation’s highest honor for young scientists.

Associate Professor Helen H. Lu of the Department of Biomedical Engineering has been selected to receive the nation’s highest honor for scientists at the outset of their professional careers. She is one of 12 National Institutes of Health-nominated winners of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).

In announcing the awards, President Barack Obama said, "These extraordinarily gifted young scientists and engineers represent the best in our country. With their talent, creativity, and dedication, I am confident that they will lead their fields in new breakthroughs and discoveries and help us use science and technology to lift up our nation and our world."

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» more like this in Innovation | Knowledge | Medicine | Penn People

It Takes a Team: Adams Field Named in Honor of Former Penn Lacrosse Coach

Back in the 70s, Penn Lacrosse was put on the national map by a legendary coach: James "Ace" Adams.

Between 1970-77, he reinvigorated men's lacrosse, bringing the team to a number four national ranking and 17 of its men to All-American honors. Now, some 30 years later, Penn Lacrosse is putting Coach Adams “on the map.”

Thanks to the generosity of a team of donors — former Penn Lacrosse players and longtime lacrosse supporters — Adams Field was dedicated in James Adams’ honor at a ceremonial groundbreaking in March. Located on the easternmost portion of Penn Park — the 24-acre parcel of land that the University added to its eastern edge in 2007 — the field is the first at Penn to be named after a coach.

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Every Student Counts: Senior Gift Drive Sets Record

Amy Gutmann had an interesting challenge for the Class of 2009: she would contribute one dollar for every senior who made a gift to the Unite ONine Campaign.

That's one matching dollar for every senior, not dollar.

This week, with one month of their campaign left to go, the senior class met that challenge with record-breaking numbers: 1610 seniors donated -- a total that surpasses all previous senior classes.

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Edna Coplin Warsowe, CW'34, to Lead Penn's Alumni Parade

The theme of this year's Alumni Weekend at Penn is "Old Friends, New Ideas," and nowhere, perhaps, is that spirit more perfectly expressed than in the person selected to lead the Alumni Parade. Edna Coplin Warsowe, who graduated 75 years ago from the College of Women, remains to this day a passionate public advocate for change.

"Your dedication to improving the fabric of our society makes you the perfect choice," Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations F. Hoopes Wampler wrote, "from your work in support of literacy and public schools, to encouraging citizen participation in an honest, accountable democracy. Your life's work will benefit countless generations."

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