PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania has announced this year's recipients for the prestigious President's Engagement Prize and President's Innovation Prize, and a pair of student-athletes were among the nine overall recipients named Tuesday by University President Dr. Amy Gutmann. Senior Princess Aghayere (women's basketball) was one of six recipients of the President's Engagement Prize, while Katherine Sizov (women's fencing) was one of three recipients of the President's Innovation Prize.

Awarded annually, the Prizes empower Penn students to design and undertake post-graduation projects that make a positive, lasting difference in the world. Each Prize-winning project will receive $100,000, as well as a $50,000 living stipend per team member. Student recipients will spend the next year implementing their projects.

"Each of the Prize recipients has demonstrated a purpose-driven desire to get out and make a difference—in their community, across the country, and around the world," said Gutmann. "From our backyard in Philadelphia to the basketball court in Liberia, Rebound Liberia, Cultivando Juntos, Host Homes for LGBTQ Youth in Philadelphia, Strella Biotechnology, and InstaHub represent a most remarkable range of Penn-educated talent, determination, and public-spirited enterprise."

The President's Engagement Prizes are generously supported by Judith Bollinger and William G. Bollinger, in honor of Ed Resovsky; Trustee Lee Spelman Doty and George E. Doty, Jr.; and Emeritus Trustee James S. Riepe and Gail Petty Riepe.

PRINCESS AGHAYERE
Aghayere was chosen for her work with Rebound Liberia, along with fellow seniors Summer Kollie and Oladunni Alomaja,. The trio plan to use basketball as a tool to bridge the literacy gap between men and women and as a mechanism for youth to cope with the trauma and stress of daily life in post-conflict Liberia. Rebound Liberia will build an indoor basketball court in conjunction with a community resource center, and its annual three-month summer program will combine basketball clinics with daily reading and writing sessions and personal development workshops. Aghayere, Kollie and Alomaja are being mentored by Ocek Eke, director of global and local service-learning programs in the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Aghayere, set to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in health and societies with a concentration in public and a minor in political science, has spent several of her summers while at Penn visiting and working in Africa for various projects, including a trip to Liberia last year to teach and empower girls through the sport of basketball.

This University-wide recognition for Aghayere comes on the heels of a landmark senior season for her on the basketball court. She was a starter for the first time in her career with the Quakers, earning second-team All-Ivy and All-Big 5 status as well as being named the Big 5's Most Improved Player of the Year. Aghayere has been a part of three Ivy League regular-season championships with Penn, including a title this year.

"As the Head Women's Basketball Coach at the University of Pennsylvania, I have had the distinct honor to watch Princess grow and develop both on and off the basketball court for the past four years," said Mike McLaughlin. "She has valued and made the most of every single experience and opportunity that Penn has offered to her since the first day she stepped foot on campus. When our student-athletes get to Penn, one of the first things we talk to them about is the word "impact". Through perseverance, commitment and hard work, Princess has had a positive impact not only with Penn Women's Basketball but also the entire Penn community. I am so proud of her and excited to follow her journey as she has the same positive impact around the globe."

KATHERINE SIZOV
Sizov was selected for her work with Strella Biotechnology, along with classmate Malika Shukurova.  Strella is developing a bio-sensor that can predict the maturity of virtually any fresh fruit. Strella's sensors are installed in controlled atmosphere storage rooms, monitoring apples as they ripen. This enables packers and distributors to identify the ripest apples and fruit for their customers, thus minimizing spoilage and food waste and promoting sustainability. Strella's current market is U.S apple packers and distributors, which represent a $4 billion produce industry. The startup is looking to expand to other markets, such as bananas and pears, in the future. Malika and Katherine are being mentored by Jeffrey Babin, Practice Professor and Associate Director of the Engineering Entrepreneurship Program.

Sizov has played an integral role in the women's fencing program throughout her four years at Penn. Prior to the season she was named the captain of the epee squad. Sizov has tallied 182 total wins in her career and this past season she helped the Quakers to a top-3 finish at the Ivy League Championships, their best result since 2015.

 "Katherine has always shown the abilities that make every student athlete special to their respective sports," said head coach Andy Ma. "This award only demonstrates the type of achievement that every Penn fencer and athlete can obtain. Surviving an Ivy League academic rigor, and competing at the highest level of her sport are quite impressive. Katherine's ability to take on all of that, and develop and bring a superior idea to market only shows what can be achieved in the right environment. Needles to say that myself, and my coaching staff, are extremely proud of Katherine and the commitment and leadership she has always brought to our program."