Grants & Awards 2026 Graduate Leadership Awards
Congratulations to the recipients of Penn’s 2026 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 four graduating students are being recognized for their service and lasting contributions to graduate student life at Penn:
Mhea Chauhan (MSSP, SP2); Rong Tang (MSOD, SAS); Jasleen Kaur Virk (MSP, SP2); and Ludwig Zhao (PhD, Bioengineering, SEAS)
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.
Members of the Penn Community are invited to join us in celebrating these students contributions at the Graduate Leadership Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 14 at 4pm.
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, the following student is recognized with this award:
- Ludwig Zhao (PhD in Bioengineering, SEAS) in recognition of extensive service and leadership through multiple roles within GAPSA and on University committees, as well as for sustained and impactful advocacy for research students 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. Three students received the Andy Binns Award this year:
- Meha Chauhan (Master of Social Policy and Data Analytics, SP2) for service and leadership in advancing cultural programming and community building through roles in GAPSA and Rangoli.
- Rong Tang (Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics, SAS-LPS) for service and leadership to the graduate community through leadership roles in CSSAP and LPS-Gov, as well as through engagement with ISSS and PAACH.
- Jasleen Kaur Virk (Master of Social Work, SP2) for leadership and service to the graduate student community through roles in Rangoli, as well as broader service activities.
