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Sphinx Senior Society of the University of

SUMMER 2018 SPHINX CLASSES OF 2018, 2019 AND ALUMNI AT THE 2018 ANNUAL SPRING BANQUET Newsletter

The Class of 2018 is Honored and the IN THIS ISSUE Class of 2019 is Inducted at the Annual Spring Banquet 2018 Sphnix Spring Banquet– 1 Class of 2018 Honors – 2 Nearly 65 undergraduate members and Sphinx alumni bid farewell to the Sphinx Class From BOG President – 2 of 2018, inducted the initial 23 members of the Sphinx Class of 2019, as well as two new Honorary Members, and socialized with fellow Sphinx alums at the 2018 Annual Spring Spring Banquet Photos - 3 Banquet. The Society also inducted two 2018 Honorary members: Dr. Valarie Swain- Cade McCoullum, Vice Provost for University Life, and Alumni Member, Frederick Alumni Weekend Brunch- 4 “Hoopes” Wampler, EdD’14, Associate Vice President and Head of Alumni Relations. The prestigious Paul Miller Leadership Award for 2018 was presented to Nayab Khan, C’18, Co-Chair of PRISM, Penn Programs in Religion, Interfaith, and Meet the Class of 2019 – 5 Spirituality Matters, and Vice President of the Muslim Students Association. New Sphinx Bench on Campus- 6

The Society honored Dr. Cade for her nearly 23 years of service as Sphnix Alumni News: Penn’s Vice Provost for University Life. She has been instrumental in bringing about several positive changes to student life on campus. Dau Jok, C'14 – 7 During her tenure, for example, she has led the development of the various cultural centers at Penn to make it a more welcoming place Wendy De La Rosa, W'11 - 8 for minority and multi-cultural students. The members also felt that it was an appropriate time in our nation’s history to recognize Caroline Klatt, C'11 - 8 someone like Dr.Cade who has been a champion for many years of minority groups on Pernn’s campus, as well as someone who is a Rev. Charles Howard, C'00 - 8 native with close ties both to the city and Penn. Darryl J. Powell , C'09, M'13 - 9 The Society also inducted as an Honorary Alumni Member Frederick “Hoopes” Wampler, Ed’14, for his excellent Sphinx Alumni Fund – 10 direction since 2007 of Penn’s relations with its more than 297,000 living alumni around the world. The Society cited Mentor an Undergraudate - 11 Hoopes Wampler for deepening the engagement and connection of the Penn Alumni community to the University Sphinx Archives – 11 by identifying and championing opportunities for collaboration in alumni relations programming among and Sign up for Alumni Class Directory – 11 between Penn’s four undergraduate and 12 graduate schools. (cont'd. on pg.2) Help Identify Honorary Members - 11

Help Us Identify Missing Honorary

Member - 14 SPHINX NEWSLETTER – SUMMER 2018 2

BANQUET (cont.d) FROM THE BOG PRESIDENT… Greg Suss, C'75 The Sphinx Senior Society, entering its 119th year, continues to work through its 17 member Board of Governors (BOG) and members of the Sphinx Class of 2019 to implement our five goals: 1. Strengthen alumni outreach; 2. Support the undergraduate program; 3. Update our online Sphinx Class Alumni Directory as part of our ever improving web site, www.sphinxseniorsociety.com ; 4. Expand the Sphinx Links mentoring program; and 5. Raise $10,000 or more to support the Society’s activities. Nayab Khan won the 2018 Paul Miller Leadership I am proud to report on the generosity of two of our distinguished alums, Mitchell Blutt, C'78, Award for her outstanding campus and public M'82, WG'86 and L. Howard Adams, C'76, Gr'76, L'78 (Columbia), LLM '88 (NYU), who underwrote service leadership in elevating the importance of the placement of a new Sphinx bench, dedicated to the Society, located at the NE corner of 36th Street and Locust Walk (see article on page 6 ). respect for all faiths as Co-Chair of PRISM, Penn Programs in Religion, Interfaith and Spirituality In addition, Sphinx has returned to the venerable Penn Museum where we held our Annual Alumni Matters, Vice President of the Muslim Students Weekend Brunch in the Lower Egypt Gallery under the Sphinx (see article on page 4). Association, Facilitator of the Asian Pacific American Leadership Initiative and Vice President Regarding enhanced alumni outreach, we are refining our Class Directory Sphinx Class Alumni Directory, where you can sign up, enter your profile, and contact other members of your Sphinx of International Affairs for the Penn Pakistan class or any signed up alumnus. Society. The Society cited Ms. Khan as a “committed citizen”working to advance religious The quality and accomplishments of the undergraduate members of the society continue to instill a tolerance in the face of current xenophobia and tremendous sense of pride. In support of their pursuits, we are matching Sphinx Class of 2019 Islamaphobia, all “in the spirit of Paul Miler, mentees with Sphinx alumni mentors in various professional fields through our “Sphinx Links” mentoring program, now in its eighth year. We will be holding our first alumni/undergraduate dedicated to the highest standards of public retreat early this fall to discuss the institutionalization of public service activities and elevating service.” Sphinx's presence on campus as a major service organization. We also look forward to expanding the annual Speaker Series to which all Sphinx undergraduates and alumni are invited. Sphinx Class of 2018 Honors You will soon be hearing from us as we embark on a fund-raising campaign to generate additional operating funds to support the undergraduate programs as well as capital funds to support Sphinx- Association of Latino Alumni Award - sponsored on-campus enhancements (see page 10). Alumni have noted the dramatic increase in Ramon Garcia Gomez Sphinx-related activities over the past few years which have greatly enhanced the undergraduate LGBT Alumni Association Student Leadership experience as well as alumni fellowship. Sphinx alumni gatherings in , , Washington, DC and New York were held over the past year and plans are in the works to Award - expand these mini-reunions to and Boston. We heartily encourage all Sphinx alums Sean Collins to get involved and participate in on and off-campus events. For further information, please Stephen Wise Award - contact me at my email address below. Nayab Khan Fulbright Award - Please note below the change in our annual Homecoming Reception. For 2018, we will be joining the rest of the campus at the Penn Palooza on College Hall Green in a special Farah Otero-Ahmed reserved section. We'll be going back to our usual gathering in Bodek Lounge in 2019. More Phi Beta Kappa - info to follow on that. Sarah Cornelius Penn Engineering Outstanding Teaching I'd like to thank the 2018-2019 Board of Governors for their continued support: Award - Officers: Elizabeth Katz MIller, W'87, Vice President; John K. Fiorillo, W’86, Louis "Tripp" Hornick, C'02,Treasurers; Anita Saggurti, C'12, Secretary; Steve Klitzman, C'66, President-Emeritus and Jacob Kahn Newsletter Editor; Dhruv Agarwal, SEAS,'18, Chief-Emeritus; Board Members: Eric Apple, C’91, Jaros Baum and Bolles Award for Advancing Counsel; Joshua Chilcote, C'15, On-Campus Coordinator; Luis Ernesto DelValle,C'12, W'12, Women In Engineering - Sphinx Links Mentoring Coordinator; Urja Mittal, C'14 W'14, Jeremy Pincus, C'14, Alumni Meghavi Talati Regional Program Coordinators; Kiera Reilly, C’93, Alumni Outreach Coordinator (re-elected to Thomas C. Cochran Prize for the Best Honors the Board in 2018; David Scollan, C'17, Undergraduate Liaison (elected to the Board in 2018), and ex-officio, Class of 2019 Officers, Jay Shah, Chief; Anea Moore, Pharisee; and David Thesis in American History - Akst, Scribe. Caitlin Doolittle Undergraduate Student Award, Women of Looking forward to seeing y0u at the Homecoming gathering on College Hall Green after the game. Color at Penn Award - Greg Suss, C'75 (re-elected to the Board in 2018) Kai Kornegay President, Sphinx Board of Governors [email protected] The 2018 Sphinx undergrads that were nominees for the traditional Women and Men’s Notice: Change from our usual Sphinx/Friars Homecoming Reception: Senior Awards were: Sphinx/Friars Homecoming Meet-Up 1. Kai Kornegay 2. Krisna Maddy Saturday, November 10, 2018 3. Meghavi Talati 3:30 -5:30 PM 4. Michelle Xu 5. Nayab Khan At the Penn Palooza event on College Hall Green, celebrating 6. Sola Park the Power of Penn 7. Sydney Rodriguez 8. Dhruv Agarwal Greet your fellow Sphinges at a reserved section (look for the 9. Ramon Garcia Gomez black balloons) - food, drink and entertainment - 10. Sean Collins Included in your Homecoming Pass - more info to follow SPHINX NEWSLETTER – SUMMER 2018 3 SPHINX HONORS THE CLASS OF 2018 Abico eum, ille et, conventio obruo duis Sphinx Alumni and Undergraduates Attend 2018 Spring Banquet

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Outgoing 2018 Chief, Dhruv Agarwal with incoming 2019 Chief Jay Chief Dhruv Agarwal, 2018 Honorary Member Vice-Provost Val Cade, Shah celebrating at the Orpheus Club, site of the Spring Banquet and Sphinx Board of Governors President, Gregory Suss, C'75

Sphinx BOG Officers Steve Klitzman, C'66-President Emeritus, Members of the Sphinx Class of 2018 John Fiorillo, W'86-Treasurer, Liz Miller, W'87-Vice President, Greg Suss, C'75-President

Proud 2018 Honorary Alumni Inductee, Hoopes Wampler, Ed'14

Sphinx Classes of 2018 and 2019 and alumni celebrating another great year for the Society SPHINX NEWSLETTER – SUMMER 2018 4 SPHINX HONORS THE CLASS OF 2018 Alumni Weekend Brunch Celebrates Graduates Under the Sphinx Members of the graduating Class of 2018, their families and friends, members of the Sphinx Board of Governors, and fellow Sphinx alumni from several Penn reunion years kicked off Alumni Weekend at our annual brunch on Saturday, May 12, 2018, in the Lower Egypt Gallery of the Penn Museum of Anthropology and Archeology. Charles "Chaz" Howard, Class of 2000 Chief and University Chaplin greeted the graduates and their families and spoke warmly of his undergraduate experiences. He also extolled the "soon-to-be-alumni" to return to the University often and give back in honor of their outstanding tenure at Penn.

Sphinx Board of Governors President Greg Suss, C'75 and President-Emeritus Steve Klitzman, C'66 saluted the outgoing officers - Dhruv Agarwal, Chief; Rogelio Caro, Pharisee; Ross Wilson, Scribe - and presented each the Sphinx rosette and replica Sphinx.

The brunch at the Penn Museum marked the beginning of a new partnership with the Society, and in addition to the Annual Alumni Weekend Brunch and Fall Induction, we look forward to additional programs created specifically for Sphinx undergraduates and alumni. Regarded as the finest museum of anthropology and archeology in the country, the Penn Museum will become an integral focal point for Sphinx activities.

Headed to a wide variety of industries, fellowships and graduate faculties, the Sphinx Class of 2018 looks forward to continuing their record of public service, outstanding performance and leadership. The grand setting of the Lower Egypt Gallery was a fitting venue in which to say farewell to this extraordinary group of men and women who will be making significant contributions to their fields, communities and Penn.

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University Chaplin and Sphinx Chief of the Class of 2000 Charles Howard Members of the Board of Governors with L. Howard Adams, C'76, Gr'76, and Mitchell Blutt, C'78, M'82, WG'86 (left), whose generosity underwrote the Below: Members of the Class of 2018 new Sphinx bench located at 36th Street and Locust Walk. Below: Alec Miller, Quratul-Ann Malik and 2013 Chief Adrienne Edwards kicking off their 5th Reunion at the Sphinx Brunch. Below right, BOG President Greg Suss and Pres. Emeritus Steve Klitzman

Outgoing officers, Chief Dhruv Agarwal, Scribe Ross Wilson and Pharisee Rogelio Caro

committed to successfully conducting the business of the Society; for representing the University of Pennsylvania and the Sphinx Senior Society to all constituent organizations both inside and outside around the University, as the model of service above and beyond the demands of his position; and for being a devoted friend and mentor to the entire Sphinx membership. SPHINX NEWSLETTER – SUMMER 2018 5 MEET THE CLASS OF 2019

Happy Members of the Sphinx Class of 2019 at the Annual Spring Banquet Jay Shah, C’19, Chief, Vice President, Undergraduate Assembly Anea Moore, C’19, Pharisee, Penn First David Akst, C’19, Scribe, President, Daily Pennsylvanian 1. David Akst, C'19, Scribe, Daily Pennsylvanian 13. Susanna Jaramillo, SEAS’19, Theatre Arts Council 2. Natasha Allen, C’19, Social Planning and Events and Penn Glee Club Committee (SPEC) 14. Jessica Lim, C’19, Class Board 3. Evanie Anglade, C’19, United Minorities Council 15. Zahraa Mohammed , C’19, Muslim Students Association (MSA) 4. Maya Campbell, W'19, Black Wharton Undergraduate Association 16. Kevin Monogue, W’19, Varsity Track and Field 5. Neeraj Chandrasekar, W’19, International 17. Anea Moore, C’19, Penn First, Pharisee Students 18. Megha Nagaswami, C’19, Active Minds and 6. Osiris Childs, C’19, Phi Alpha Delta and Men’s Club Reach-a-Peer Helpline Volleyball 19. Julia Pan, C’19, Lambda Alliance 7. Celeste Diaz, C’19, Latino Ivy League Conference 20. Hannah Sanders, C’19, Student Sustainability 8. Alba Disla, C’19, Sigma Lambda Upsilon Association of Penn (SSAP) 9. Aliya Farmanali, C’19, Penn Programs in Religion, 21. Jay Shah, C’19, Undergraduate Assembly (UA), Interfaith, and Spirituality Matters (PRISM) Chief 10.Kara Hardie, C’19, Abuse and Sexual Assault 22. Soomin Shin, C’19, Asian Pacific Student Coalition Prevention (ASAP) (APSC) 11.Michael Hratko, SEAS’19, Engineering Student 23. Ceciila Wang, N’19, Student Nurses at Penn Activities Council (ESAC) (SNAP) 12.Nancy Hu, C’19, Women’s Varsity Swimming and Diving SPHINX NEWSLETTER – SUMMER 2018 6 Two Sphinx Alumni Donate Sphinx Bench in Heart of Campus

Mitchell Blutt, C’78, M’82, WG’86 L.Howard Adams, C’76 , Gr’76 Next time you’re walking on the Penn campus and want to take a break check out this bench at the central heart of the campus; it’s the new “Sphinx Senior Society Bench” at the northeast corner of 36th Street and Locust Walk right across the street from Penn’s Arts, Research and Culture House, the “ARCH” Building.

Dr. Mitchell J. Blutt, C’78, M’82, WG’86, is an American physician-businessman, and one of the first physicians to play a prominent role on Wall Street by drawing on his medical training to identify investment potential in healthcare companies. He is the founder and CEO of the New York-based healthcare investment firm Consonance Capital, currently managing $1 billion,and a former Executive Partner of J.P.Morgan Partners. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and the Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell.

From 1987 to 1999, Mitchell spent four days at his investment office and one day a week at Cornell University Medical Center to teach and tend to patients. He cites his access to a network of medical professionals whose judgment he trusts as an advantage and that companies are often reassured when a physician is involved in negotiations for healthcare related investments. While initially Mitchell had focused almost exclusively on healthcare, his investment interests have expanded to include everything from Israeli high-technology to real estate and show business.

Mitchell is a former Trustee of the University of Pennsylvania and of Penn Medicine, the medical school and health system of Penn. He currently serves on the Dean's Council at Weill Cornell School of Medicine as well as on the Board of The Commonwealth Fund, a health policy research foundation. Mitchell’s philanthropy includes multimillion-dollar contributions to Penn; in 2007 his support was recognized with the School of Medicine’s Alumni Service Award. Mitchell has also supported music at Penn through endowing the band competition every Homecoming as well as the Blutt Singer Songwriter Symposium, which has brought such music legends to Penn as Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Graham Nash, Rufus Wainwright,,and Questlove.

This November at the Homecoming Gala, Dr. Blutt will receive the Alumni Award of Merit in recognition of his consistent devotion to the University of Pennsylvania.

L. Howard Adams, C’76 , Gr’76, is a member of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP's tax practice group. Howard has extensive experience in structuring and negotiating tax aspects of mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, spin-offs, joint ventures, leveraged finance, and high-yield debt transactions, as well as in general tax planning and tax litigation. Howard has represented JPMorgan in connection with acquisitions and a split-off from its Paymentech joint venture, AIG, in connection with its disposition of American Life Insurance Company, the WebMD Health Corp. Special Committee in connection with WebMD's merger with HLTH Corporation, and General Electric Company in connection with the combination of NBC with Universal Studios and NBC's acquisition of Bravo. Other clients include Bank of America, Barclays, and UBS.Earlier in his career, Howard was a Trial Attorney in the Tax Division of the Department of Justice, where he won an Outstanding Attorney Award in 1983.

Howard is a member of the Tax Forum, the Tax Section of the New York State Bar Association, and the Section of Taxation of the American Bar Association. He is the author of “What Role for Equity in Applying Factors for Distinguishing Debt?”, 138 Tax Notes 1095 (2013); "Reinsurance and Section 845", Tax Forum No. 618 (2009); and "Tax Aspects of SEC Investigations and Settlements", Tax Forum No. 593 (2006).

Howard is also a member of the Columbia Law School Board of Visitors. SPHINX NEWSLETTER – SUMMER 2018 7 ALUMNI NEWS Dau Jok, C’14, Participates in Silfen Forum on Global Refugee Crisis Dau Jok, Sphinx C’14, joined a distinguished panel of experts on February 15, 2018 at the annual David and Lyn Silfen University Forum. to examine current U.S. refugee and immigration policy. Moderated by Penn President Amy Gutmann, the panel, in addition to Dau Jok, included former Vice-President Joe Biden, Penn’s Benjamin Franklin Presidential Practice Professor and founder of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, Jeb Bush, former Florida Gov. and GOP Presidential Candidate, Michael Doyle, Professor, Columbia University, and Director, Columbia Global Policy Initiative, and Anne Richard, former Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration.

Dau Jok, Sphinx Class of 2014 and winner of the Paul Miller Leadership Award, is founder of the Dut Jok Youth Foundation named after his late father, an officer in the Sudanese military. The foundation has reached more than 2,100 youth in the United States, Uganda, and South Sudan through recreational sports, education, and leadership training.

The foundation received a $35,000 grant from the National Endowment for Democracy in 2016 to carry out a leadership program in South Sudan entitled the “South Sudanese Leadership Initiative.” It’s a program that educates youth on leadership, governance, reconciliation and professional development.

Dau Jok also graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London in 2016 with an MSc in Global Leadership. He played professional basketball in the English Basketball League while pursuing his Master’s degree. He is also currently pursuing a PhD in Education at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Dau Jok is an innovative philanthropist, optimistic leader, strategist, and non-profit director. Mr. Jok currently serves as the OST (Out of School Time) Enrichment Coach for the State Public Policy Group (SPPG) in Des Moines, IA. He assists programs like the Boys and Girls Club to improve the quality of activities, programming, and incorporating STEM. Dau Jok is also Engineer Platoon Leader and First Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserves. Since its inception, the David and Lyn Silfen University Forum has aimed to take on important contemporary issues. It has fostered conversations—as well as debates—on varying topics, including the economic downturn, the future of higher education, and cancer, a disease that touches so many.

As the world witnesses its highest levels of refugee displacement on record, the 2018 Silfen Forum was entitled People and Policy Adrift: A 21st Century Framework for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Immigration Policy. David and Lyn Silfen have been among Penn’s most generous supporters. In addition to the Silfen University Forum, they’ve funded two Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professorships, the Silfen Student Study Center, a term professorship and the David and Lyn Silfen Fund to support educational innovation in the School of Arts and Sciences. David Silfen, who graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1966, was a Penn Trustee from 1998 until his passing in 2015 (Almanac December 8, 2015). The chairman of Mayfair Management/Silfen Investment Partners LP, and a senior director of The Goldman Sachs Group, he was vice chair of Penn’s Trustees, and served on its executive, budget and finance, nominating and development committees. He also was a member of the Penn Investment Board, and served as chair for the Board of Overseers of the School of Arts and Sciences

Dau Jok, Sphinx ‘14, second from right, and other panelists at the Feb. 2018 annual Silfen Forum on U.SA. refugee and immigration policy. SPHINX NEWSLETTER - SUMMER 2018 8 ALUMNI NEWS Two Class of 2011 Sphinges, Wendy De La Rosa and Caroline Stern Klatt, Make Forbes 2018 Listing of “30 Under 30” Top Performers in Finance and Retail & Commerce

Left - Wendy De La Rosa, Sphinx Class of 2011 Pharisee, Co-founder, Common Cents Lab

Right - Caroline Stern Klatt, Sphinx Class of 2011, Co-founder, Headliner Labs

Together with famed behavioral economist Dan Ariely, Wendy De La Rosa, Sphinx’11, created a Duke research lab that works with fintech companies to incentivize smarter financial decisions. Backed by MetLife Foundation. De La Rosa now 28, started working for Goldman Sachs in high school. Wendy lives in Palo Alto, CA. Since getting a BA from Wharton in 2011, Wendy has also obtained a Ph.D from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. For more details on the Forbes 2018 “30 under 30” in Finance, see https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2017/11/14/30-under-30- finance-2018-the-top-young-traders-dealmakers-and-big-money-innovators/#7b104fdc41cf Caroline Klatt cofounded an end-to-end chatbot platform for intelligent ecommerce bots. Headliner Labs' proprietary platform enables retail companies like Cole Haan shoes and Ouai haircare to launch chatbots instantly, powered by artificial intelligence and natural language processing, to deliver personalized experiences to every customer. Now 29, Klatt also has one child and lives in . For more details on the Forbes 2018 “30 Under 30” in Retail and Commerce, see https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2017/11/14/30- under-30-2018-retail-and-e-commerce-these-young-entrepreneurs-are-changing-the-way-we-shop/#24bc43ee2bb8

Penn Chaplain Chaz Howard, Sphinx Chief, 2000, Featured in Penn Gazette Profile

The Reverend Charles L. “Chaz” Howard, C’00, and Chief of the Sphinx Class of 2000, was featured in a 7-page profile in the May/June 2018 issue of the Penn Gazette. Written by Dave Zeitlin, C’03, the profile, entitled “The Idea of Love,” described Chaz Howard “on the job” as Penn’s “eloquently soft-spoken, relentlessly positive, powerfully empathetic, turtle-admiring, Penn basketball-obsessed chaplain” since 2008. Click here. http:// thepenngazette.com/the-idea-of-love/ The mostly highly flattering profile acknowledged that Chaplain Howard almost flunked out of Penn in 1999 the year he became Sphinx Chief of the Class of 2000 because of low grades brought on by being “over extended” and drinking and depression over the earlier deaths of his parents. But with the help of Penn’s then Chaplain William Gipson, Sphinx classmate Andrew Exum, C’00, and others Howard bounced back so that within nine years he had graduated from Penn, got a Master of Divinity and PhD degree, served as a hospice minister at the University Hospital, and as Penn’s Associate Chaplain, and then was appointed Chaplain in 2008. The article describes how Chaplain Howard counsels students as well as faculty and administrators, consoles families of deceased students, leads the Penn Religious Communities Council, teaches two Penn courses, “Cross Cultural Education” and “Black History at Penn.” and overall, tries “to help people hurting find the good rather drowning in the bad.” Throughout it all, Chaplain Chaz Howard remains one of the most popular officials on the Penn campus. “If you try to walk up Locust Walk with Chaz,” says his Associate Chaplain, Steve Kocher, “it’s gonna take twice as long…Everyone stops to talk to him.”

Please join our Facebook and LinkedIn groups. These groups are closed groups and only open to members of Sphinx. If you need assistance joining these groups, please email Kiera Reilly, member Sphinx Board of Governors, at [email protected]. As the Penn database is not 100% accurate, we also ask you to share this newsletter with your Sphinx classmates. If they did not receive this newsletter, they should email Kiera Reilly. Kiera can code alumni in the Penn database and add Sphinx members to our email list for all future newsletters and other Sphinx information.

. SPHINX NEWSLETTER – SUMMER 2018 9 Please Contribute to Memorial Fund for the late Dr. Darryl J. Powell, Sphinx Class of 2009

Family, friends and the Sphinx Class of 2009 have created a memorial fund to honor the late Dr. Darryl J,. Powell who died suddenly in April 2017. See http://www.philly.com/philly/obituaries/Darryl-J-Powell-Jr-30-doctor-who-helped-children-and-minorities.html To contribute to the Darryl J. Powell Memorial Fund, click here: http://www.darrylpowellmemoriql fund.com

Bobak Parang, Chief, Sphinx 2009, sent us the following email about Darryl and the Memorial fund: Dear Sphinx Family, If you have not heard, Darryl J. Powell, Sphinx and Penn Class of 2009, passed away in April of this year. Darryl possessed a deep warmth and sincerity of character that was only matched by his immense talents. He was a rising star in medicine: he graduated from Penn Medicine and was serving as the Chief Resident of the Internal Medicine-Pediatrics combined program at Brigham and Women's hospital. He had been accepted to Penn's Pediatric Hematology-Oncology fellowship and was planning on returning to Philadelphia this summer. He was set to dedicate his career to championing those that are often voiceless in healthcare, from patients with sickle cell disease to underrepresented minorities. To his family, friends, and the Sphinx Class of 2009, Darryl was a boundless source of humor, kindness, and wisdom. We are grateful for having had the opportunity of knowing such a wonderful and gifted man. His passing is a loss beyond measure for those who knew him and for those who had yet to meet him. Darryl's family, friends, and several members of the Sphinx 2009 class have helped created a memorial fund in his name to preserve his legacy and advocate the causes to which he brought his passion and energies. Please visit the website for more information about donating, including tax identification. They have raised 25% of their current fundraising goal, and there is plenty of room to help meet their goal. http://www.darrylpowellmemorialfund.com/ Darryl J. Powell, Jr., Sincerely, Sphinx 2009 1987-2017 Bobak Parang Chief, Sphinx 2009 Darryl was also a posthumous recipient of the 2018 Penn Young Alumni Award bestowed during Alumni Weekend on May 11, 2018. Here’s Penn’s description of Darryl’s Penn life and subsequent short career for which he was honored in May:

As a Penn student, the late Darryl J. Powell, C’09, M’13, was involved with the Student National Medical Association’s recruitment efforts and the Cut Hypertension Program. He visited West Philadelphia barber shops to speak with African American men about the risks of high blood pressure. He was also a vocal advocate for underrepresented minorities in medicine, being recognized as a student with the Helen O. Dickens Prize, and later volunteering with the Alumni Office to help raise additional funds to continue the tradition of presenting this meaningful award. At Harvard 's Brigham and Women’s Hospital, he was chief resident and helped launch a track focused on health disparities research.

Tragically, Dr. Powell died after a brief illness in April 2017. He is remembered for his joyful spirit, the exceptional care he provided to patients, the relationships he formed with his colleagues, and his devotion to improving care for underserved populations. The Darryl J. Powell Memorial Fund, established in his memory by his friends and family, provides financial support for scholarly projects by students in the University of Pennsylvania community that address one or many of the causes that Dr. Powell championed. Through this fund, focused on service and the pursuit of social justice, students will continue to learn about his life and live the legacy he left behind for many years to come.

Obituaries Tom Lang, Sr., Chief, Sphinx Class of 1966, President, Men’s Student Government, and Spoon Man, Class of 1966, and J. Mark Busenkell, Undergraduate Chairman, Mask & Wig, 1966

One of the most beloved and respected members of the Sphinx Class of 1966, Tom Lang died at 74 on April 22, 2018 of unknown causes in Orlando, FL. He grew up in Pass-A-Grille Beach, Florida and graduated from Boca Ciega High School. At the University of Pennsylvania where he earned a B.S. in Economics and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School, he served as President of the Men's Student Government, President of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, was selected "Spoon Man" by his class, Penn’s highest male Senior Class Award, and served as Sphinx Chief, Class of 1966.

Mark Busenkell died at 75 on March 3, 2018 from colon cancer in Pughtown, PA. At Penn, he became extremely active in theater, starring in a number of Penn Player productions including a world premiere of a folk opera, “Spindrift,” the Philadelphia premiere of “The Days Between”, and the role of Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman.” He was also the Undergraduate Chairman of the Club, the oldest all-male collegiate musical comedy troupe in the United States. Somehow he also found time to play a Member of the Board of the electric piano for the ICBM, described in as “one of the most popular rock 'n' roll groups on campus.” After Penn, Mark joined the First City Troop and was awarded a Boyer Memorial Scholarship, allowing him to study overseas for a year. Throughout his life, Mark continued his love of theater and music by being active in a number of amateur theater groups including Philadelphia’s Savoy Company, the Rose Valley Chorus and Orchestra, and the Ardensingers. SPHINX NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2018 10 SPHINX CONTINUES TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT UNDERGRADS,THEIR PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS ON THE PENN CAMPUS The Sphinx Board of Governors (BOG) is very pleased to announce that Sphinx alumni helped us strengthen our support of the undergraduate Sphinx membership and the entire Society by donating over $15000 in the 2017-2018 Sphinx Alumni Fund Campaign. $10,000 was specifically earmarked for the new Sphinx bench which has been installed on the NE corner of 36th Street off Locust Walk (see page 6).

They responded well to the following “pitch” to which we encourage any of you who’ve yet to contribute to do so as well:

Why: To build a stronger connection between Sphinx alumni and undergraduate members, it’s important to strengthen the current community and a future leadership legacy that extends beyond the Senior year at Penn.

What: Our specific campaign goals are two: first, to reduce the amount of Sphinx dues for the next Sphinx Class, and second, to add to the Sphinx Alumni Endowment Fund we’ve created to support current and future Society programs, projects and activities.

Current undergraduate dues are $250 per the 30- member class. These dues support programming, events, and get-togethers of the current Sphinx class.

The Ask: We seek to raise funds to build our Sphinx Alumni Endowment Fund and to offset undergraduate dues by $4000 annually (which we have been able to do in 2016 and 2017). These funds will reduce the dues of each undergraduate to $100 per member.

We intend to use further endowment contributions to keep future undergraduate dues to an affordable level, or even eliminate such dues, as well as to support ongoing activities of the Society such as the Fall and Spring undergraduate smokers and inductions, the Fall Sphinx-Friars Homecoming Reception, the Spring Banquet, the Alumni Weekend Brunch, the “Sphinx Links” mentoring program, the Fall, Spring and Summer Newsletters, our Sphinx alumni Class Directory and our ever improving web site, www.sphinxseniorsociety.com. We are also looking to raise funds to have a special site on campus named for the Society.

How: Be part of this important initiative by: * Donating via our website at: http://www.sphinxseniorsociety.com/donate/ * Mailing your check made out to the Sphinx Senior Society to John K. Fiorillo, Esq. W'86, Treasurer, 1634 Wildlife Drive, Chester Springs, PA 19425

The Bonus: - Donate $1000 or more- receive an attractive Sphinx hooded sweat shirt with the Sphinx logo, a Sphinx pin and hat. · Donate $500-$999- receive a Sphinx pin and hat; - Donate $250-$499- receive a Sphinx pin; - Donate $100-$249- receive a Sphinx hat.

Whatever you donate, the Sphinx BOG thanks you for your support as will the Sphinx Class of 2019 and future Sphinx classes.

The Sphinx Senior Society is a 501(c)(3) Corporation. All donations are tax deductible. SPHINX NEWSLETTER - SUMMER 2018 11 MENTOR A SPHINX UNDERGRADUATE The Sphinx Society Board of Governors created “Sphinx Links” in 2010 as a new mentoring project to offer the career and life advice of experienced Sphinx alumni to current Sphinx seniors. Since 2010 we've made mentoring matches for nearly 70 Sphinx undergraduates with alumni mentors in dozens of professional fields. These have ranged from the arts, business, entertainment, finance, journalism, law, media and medicine, to biotechnology, global development, and public health.

For the Sphinx Class of 2018, the Sphinx Links mentoring program matched 10 undergraduate mentees with 10 alumni mentors. Mentors and mentees are connecting over job searches, sharing networks and career counseling.

Urja Mittal, C’14, W’14, Yale Law School, JD’17, was an undergraduate mentee in 2014. She says of her mentor, Congressman Josh Gottheimer, C'97: “His thoughts on careers in law were really insightful, and I'm looking forward to talking to him again in the future to learn more about his diverse background and experiences. It's wonderful how Sphinx makes the Penn connection more meaningful and interesting.”

Sam Pasternak, C'13, a former writer on NBC's Meredith Viera Show, said the media and entertainment mentoring he received via the Sphinx Links mentoring program was "invaluable" and taught him the importance of networking with and learning from younger alumni in the media industry as well as more experienced alumni.

Sam further noted that "as you're about to take your first step into a post-grad world, it's nice to be able to talk to those who have been there before. The conversations I had as part of Sphinx Links were always reaffirming and encouraging. Sphinx is filled with ambitious, passionate people who thrive when surrounded by like-minded individuals, and Sphinx Links is a natural extension of what can be accomplished in that undergraduate experience. What I'm saying is that Sphinx Links is a good idea, it's helpful in practice, and it's got a catchy name. What more could you want?" We are always looking for dedicated Sphinx alumni to serve as mentors for our Sphinx undergraduates. If you are interested in serving as a mentor, please send your name, location of work, professional field, and a brief career description and/or resume to: Ernesto Del Valle ([email protected]), Sphinx Board Member and Sphinx Links Coordinator.

If you’re a member of the Sphinx Class of 2019, please also feel free to email Ernesto to indicate your interest in having a mentor. Please include: 1. Your resume 2. Your preferred locale(s), e.g., New York, Phila., San Francisco, etc. after graduation 3. Your career interest(s). Contribute to a New Sphinx Historical Archives Page Please check out our Sphinx Archives page. Click: http://www.sphinxseniorsociety.com/archives/ You’ll find interesting items like two lengthy news stories in the New York Times reporting on Sphinx’s election of its first two African-American student members in 1952 and its first female members in 1971. You’ll also find picture and items on recent Sphinx Penn reunion classes , the video from our 100th anniversary dinner in 1999, and other Sphinx memorabilia.

To contribute your own Sphinx archival material, please send it to our Sphinx gmail account at [email protected] .

Sign Up for Online Sph inx Class Help Us Identify Missing Alumni Directory Honorary Sphinx Members

Please log onto Sphinx’s latest website Sphinx members - we need your help. We feature: our Class Directory. are trying to complete our list of http://www.sphinxseniorsociety.com/community honorary Sphinx members (See www.sphinxseniorsociety.com/alumni/ Join your 225 to date fellow Sphinx alumni honorary ). and create your own user name, password and profile. Then, start contacting your Sphinx On our website we have good records for classmates or other Sphinx alumni in the Class the very early days of Sphinx, a few listings in Directory. Rekindle old Sphinx connections the 1930s, and then the list picks up again in and kindle new ones -- it's a great resource! 1989. We also have a list of people who were made honorary members but not the year that they were inducted. If you have any recollection of the honorary Sphinx from your or other missing classes on the list class, or old photos that might help solve the mystery, please let us know at: [email protected]

Thanks for your help.