Graduation Reception  

Undergraduate Winner: Rina Nagatani (CAS’23) 

Graduate Winner: Hoang Anh Phan (CAS’23) 

From Nagoya, Japan, Rina Nagatani (College; BA, Neuroscience) was part of the Penn Swim and Dive team and served as the Undergraduate Chair of the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) in 2022. Through her role in ISAB, she provided exceptional mentorship and guidance, whilst advocating for a unified voice that represents all international students at Penn. 

As the Executive Vice President of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA), Hoang Anh Phan (School of Arts & Sciences, PhD in Chemistry) collaborated with other international students to promote an inclusive, supportive environment that welcomed the international student community. She was also a recipient of the 2022-2023 Graduate Student Leadership Award as she was recognized for her advocacy and contributions through roles in the ISAB and ISSS. 

Undergraduate Winner: Hugo Leo (W’22) 

Graduate Winner: Yao Qi (D’22) 

During his tenure as president of the Assembly of International Students, Hugo Leo was a tireless advocate for international undergraduates, working diligently with a large portfolio of student groups and University administrators to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 on campus life. Originally from Jakarta, Indonesia, he has been described as an “exceptional leader” and an “impassioned ambassador” who “delivered a range of valuable programming that connected Penn’s global student and alumni community through one of the most challenging times” in the University’s history. 

As Graduate Chair of the International Student Advisory Board, Yao Qi served as a bridge between the international graduate student community and key Penn administrative offices. But her global impact has not been limited to the confines of Penn’s campus – Yao is committed to using her skills as a dental care professional to improve the health of the communities to which she belongs, both at Penn and in the wider world. 

Undergraduate Honorable Mention: Sarthak Jain (SEAS’22) 

Graduate Honorable Mention: Amisha Shahra (LPS’22) 

Hailing from Jaipur, India, Sarthak Jain promoted global citizenship through his work in Penn Student Government, the Undergraduate Assembly, the Greenfield Intercultural Center and various other centers on campus. He was a founding member of two organizations for first-generation, low-income (FGLI) students on campus. He has been described as an “outstanding student activist,” a “thoughtful Penn citizen,” and a “role model” with a dedication to the wellbeing of others. 

During her time at Penn, Amisha Shahra lived out her passion for community impact and global development by designing green infrastructure solutions for the West Philadelphia community, becoming a founding member of Penn’s first student water club, and representing the University at the World Water Forum in Senegal. Her work at Sayre High School in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She came to Penn with an extensive background in global development, having spearheaded global leadership initiatives around the world. 

Undergraduate Winner: Maher Abdel Samad (W’21, SEAS’21) 

Graduate Winner: Vivien Yiu (GSE’21)

Maher Abdel Samad dedicated his entire Penn experience to international student advocacy and peer mentorship, serving on the Undergraduate Assembly (UA) and leading a variety of cultural and professional organizations on campus. Maher built bridges to integrate the efforts of different student organizations and offices at Penn and acted as a voice for Penn’s international student community. 

As the Graduate Chair of the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) and through her work at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Vivien Yiu used her storytelling and data visualization skills to advocate for international students’ mental health and for a more inclusive campus climate. 

Undergraduate Honorable Mention: Nyasha Zimunhu (SEAS’21)

Graduate Honorable Mention: Sasidharan Ravikumar (SEAS’21)

Nyasha Zimunhu’s passions for innovation and community service have inspired her to make impacts on Penn’s campus, in her home country of Zimbabwe, and beyond. As a Penn student, she participated in a variety of service-learning projects while also serving as a Weingarten Learning Ambassador and Vice President of the Society of African Internationals at Penn (SAIP). 

Through his leadership in the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA) and Rangoli – The Indian Association at Penn, Sasidharan Ravikumar was deeply involved in local and national efforts to create a welcoming environment for the graduate international student community. 

Undergraduate Winner: Melisande McLaughlin 

Graduate Winner: Anthony Gokianluy

A Canadian citizen who grew up in Thailand, Melisande McLaughlin (College; BA, Cinema and Media Studies) is passionate about using film as a medium for generating social impact. She has played a key role in executing a number of film projects that have had tangible impact on communities worldwide, including a documentary about life at Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp that has been used by the UN to educate thousands of new arrivals to the camp. 

A native of the Philippines, Anthony Gokianluy (Wharton) has been a tireless advocate for cultural diversity and international student integration on Penn’s campus. During his time at Penn, he served as the Vice President for International of the Wharton Graduate Association and a leader of Wharton’s Southeast Asia Club. He is also the founder and CEO of a startup that helps international students achieve their academic and professional goals. 

Undergraduate Honorable Mention: Arya Akal 

Graduate Honorable Mention: Handerson Mwandembo 

Arya Akal graduates with a BA in Economics from the School of Arts and Sciences. Arya developed a drive for creating social impact during her childhood in Trinidad and Tobago. At Penn, she was heavily involved in Penn Engineers Without Borders as the organization’s Vice President of International Projects and as the leader of service trips to Guatemala in 2018 and 2019. She also volunteered as a tennis coach for autistic children, held fundraisers to benefit refugee communities, and interned with the Robin Hood Foundation in New York City. 

As a Wharton MBA candidate, Handerson Mwandembo served as the Graduate Chair of the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB), acting as a liaison between Penn’s international graduate student community and University administrators. A member of the Wharton Africa Students Association (WASA), he helped organize the 27th-annual Wharton Africa Business Forum, and in Spring 2019, he led a group of 40 MBA students to Ethiopia and his home country of Kenya as part of the Global Immersion Program.