Awards, Fontaine Society 2022-23 Graduate Leadership Awards

Congratulations to the recipients of Penn’s 2022-23 graduate student leadership awards!  Each year, the University honors student leaders who are graduating from Penn with two awards: President & Provost's Honor for Developing New Initiatives in Graduate & Professional Student Life and the Dr. Andy Binns Award for Outstanding Service to Graduate and Professional Student Life.

This year thirteen graduating students are being recognized for their service and lasting contributions to graduate student life at Penn:

Dawn Adrian (MSEd, Education); Kelly Diaz (PhD, Communication), Elizabeth Dunens (PhD, Education); Rina Kim (PhD in Immunology, BGS, Medicine); Alison Knasin (PhD in Chemistry, Arts & Sciences); Jorge (Jay) Ortiz-Carpena (PhD in Immunology, BGS, Medicine); Hoang Anh Phan (PhD in Chemistry, Arts & Sciences); Christine Quattro (PhD in City and Regional Planning, Design), Deepa Ramadurai (MSHP, Medicine); Shreyas Ramesh (MSE, Engineering); Keshara Senanayake (JD, Law); Aalok Thakkar (PhD in Computer and Information Science, Engineering); and Blake Tobias, Jr. (MHCI, Medicine). 

Each of these honorees has volunteered their time to improve life at Penn for their fellow grad students, and our campus is a better place for their efforts.  Read more about these students' contributions and the awards they received below.

President & Provost's Honor for Developing New Initiatives in Graduate & Professional Student Life 

This award is presented to students who have initiated lasting new developments that have enhanced graduate and professional student life at Penn. This year, a record six students are being recognized with this award: 

• Jorge (Jay) Ortiz-Carpena, PhD in Immunology, Biomedical Graduate Studies, Perelman School of Medicine
  for founding the Penn Interdisciplinary Network for Scientists Promoting Inclusion, Retention, and Equity (Penn INSPIRE), as well as ongoing leadership and advocacy within the School of Medicine and Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA) to build a more inclusive and supportive community for graduate and professional students at Penn.
   

• Deepa Ramadurai, Master of Science Health Policy Research, Perelman School of Medicine &
  Blake Tobias, Jr., Master of Health Care Innovation, Perelman School of Medicine
  for their efforts, together with continuing student Mario Gallardo, to establish new practices and institutions for student representation at the school and University-level and to foster greater engagement and community for master’s students within the Perelman School of Medicine. 
   

• Shreyas Ramesh, Master’s of Science in Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science &  
  Aalok Thakkar, PhD in Computer and Information Science, School of Engineering and Applied Science
  for their efforts to implement a series of reforms and to rebrand, revive, and expand the scope of Rangoli - the South Asian Student Association, as well as for their  ongoing leadership and engagement in graduate life through roles in GAPSA, GSEG, and Rangoli. 
   

• Keshara Senanayake, JD, Penn Carey Law School 
  for efforts to expand the scope and branding of the Pan Asian Graduate Student Association (PAGSA) and leadership in drafting and securing a number of funded initiatives which will have a long-term impact on graduate student life at Penn.
   

Dr. Andy Binns Impact Award for Outstanding Service to Graduate and Professional Student Life 

This award is presented to graduate or professional students, upon their graduation from Penn, who have significantly impacted graduate and professional student life through service involvement in student life initiatives or organizations. Seven students received the Andy Binns Award this year:

• Dawn Adrian, Master of Science in Education, Graduate School of Education
  for service and leadership with the Graduate School of Education Student Government (GSESG) and International Student Advisory Board (ISAB), including advocacy on behalf of students with financial need.
   

• Kelly Diaz, PhD in Communication, Annenberg School for Communication
  for outstanding leadership and service with GAPSA, GAPSA IDEAL Council, and Lambda Grads, including during periods of institutional uncertainty and organizational transition, as well as ongoing advocacy and engagement related to fostering a more inclusive graduate student community at Penn.
   

• Elizabeth Dunens, PhD in Education, Graduate School of Education
  for service and leadership with the Graduate School of Education Student Government (GSESG), including advocacy and community-building for doctoral students within and beyond the Graduate School of Education.  
   

• Rina Kim, PhD in Immunology, Biomedical Graduate Studies, Perelman School of Medicine
  for outstanding service and leadership with BGSA, including advocacy and fostering student engagement during a period of transitioning back to campus, as well as in co-founding and leading the Immunology Graduate Student Association (IGA). 
   

• Alison Knasin, PhD in Chemistry, School of Arts & Sciences
  for extensive leadership and service with Women in Chemistry (WiC) and the Penn Science Policy Diplomacy Group, in addition to broader contributions and engagement within and beyond the Chemistry Graduate Group. 
   

• Hoang Anh Phan, PhD in Chemistry, School of Arts & Sciences
  for extensive service and leadership with GAPSA, including advocacy and contributions through roles in the Advocacy Division and as EVP, as well as ongoing service and advocacy for international students through roles in ISAB and with ISSS.
   

• Christine Quattro, PhD in City and Regional Planning, Weitzman School of Design
  for outstanding leadership and service with the Weitzman Student Council (StuCo), GAPSA, and the Fontaine Coordinating Committee, including contributions to GAPSA’s Research Council, and in helping define and engage students through the role of FCC Community Outreach Chair.