Wharton Stories: Undergrad

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An unforgettable internship led one Wharton undergraduate to realize how business and science can change lives — including her own.

What a Summer in India Taught Me About Healthcare Innovation

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“We’re not giving students a participation trophy,” says Mind the Gap founder Seth Kessler, WG’99. “We’re giving them candid, real feedback, and pushing them a little bit outside their comfort zone.”

Mind the Gap: A Mentoring Program Pairing Undergraduates With Alumni

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Leaving behind close-knit hometowns, three Wharton students recount how they made Penn’s bustling city campus feel personal.

From Rural Roads to Locust Walk

Pageant winner in red gown and crown smiles, holds flowers, and points on stage with “Miss Teen USA New York” screen behind.
“Saying ‘no’ in that moment wasn’t turning away from a dream — it was a powerful ‘yes’ to everything I’ve built, everything I believe in, and everything I’m still becoming,” says Stephanie Skinner, W’26, reflecting on her life-changing decision to decline the title of Miss Teen USA.

Principles in Practice

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“We’ve used [AI] for writing grants, writing code, brainstorming, and thinking through how to design hardware and incorporate legal and privacy ethics into our platform.” — Crystal Yang, EAS’29, W’29, Founder of Audemy

OpenAI and ChatGPT Honor Wharton Undergrad AI Leaders

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“Being a venture fellow means allowing mistakes to happen. … Our training stresses that we learn the most when we try and fail.” — Alan Li, W’28

Venture Fellows: Guiding by Letting Go

Margaret Zhu smiles and wears professional attire, standing outside Huntsman Hall.
“Margaret [Zhu] aims to increase safety in one of the most dangerous jobs in our country,” says Penn President J. Larry Jameson. “Her use of cutting edge-technology together with human insight is quintessentially Penn and will help protect arborists while improving the industry.”

Wharton Undergrad Margaret Zhu Receives 2026 President’s Innovation Prize

Kampton Kam wearing reflective sunglasses and a red-and-blue ‘PENN’ uniform shouts while gripping the front of his jersey, standing in Franklin Field
Wharton opened every door. Now, high-jump champion Kampton Kam, W’26, must decide which one to walk through.

A Wharton Athlete Already Won, Now He Has to Choose

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As Thouron Scholars, Andrew Schmidt and Sriya Teerdhala — both Wharton undergraduates in the Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management (LSM) — will receive graduate support for study in the U.K.

Wharton LSM Undergraduates Named 2026 Thouron Scholars

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Three Wharton alumni previously profiled as undergraduates reflect on life and work after graduation.

Their Stories Then, Their Careers Now