Wharton Stories: Undergrad

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

A row of four smiling students in professional dress pictured in front of a graphic pattern.
“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

A group of hikers with backpacks and trekking poles climbs a steep, rocky mountainside, with a rugged valley landscape stretching out below.
“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

Two side-by-side headshot portraits show smiling students dressed in professional attire.
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

Silhouettes of several people walking along a brick-paved street at sunset, backlit by warm golden light that casts long shadows.
Three Wharton alumni previously profiled as undergraduates reflect on life and work after graduation.

Their Stories Then, Their Careers Now

Several people standing in front of a large scientific poster display at an exhibition or conference.
“Research is often a nondeterministic path, but receiving this award is a meaningful signal to myself and my family that I’m on the right track,” says Sophia Tang, ENG’27, W’27.

Wharton Student Wins CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award

A small group of people dressed in formal attire posing on a staircase.
CarboWells is the recipient of this year’s Y-Prize competition, cosponsored by the Mack Institute for Innovation Management and Venture Lab in partnership with Penn Engineering and the Penn Center for Innovation. The team includes Wharton undergraduates Yash Iyer, W’29, and Bhuranyu Mahajan W’29.

CarboWells Wins 2026 Y-Prize

Vice Dean Lamberton and two students walk together on Locust Walk in the autumn, smiling and talking
Marketing Professor Cait Lamberton discusses becoming Vice Dean of the Wharton Undergraduate Division.

New Vice Dean on Fearless Students and Undergrad Business Education