Senior gymnast Carly Oniki is making an impact in the gym, in the classroom, and in the many student groups that she's a part of. Carly holds leadership positions in both the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Women's Athletic Association (WAA) and is an active member of the Penn Athletics Wharton Leadership Academy (PAWLA). Her influence within Penn Athletics and the broader Philadelphia community will be missed once Carly dons her cap and gown in May. 
 
For Carly Oniki, a senior gymnast, leadership begins with leading by example. Whether it's bringing positive energy to practice or welcoming new teammates on day one, she believes the smallest actions can set the tone for a team's culture.
 
"As you move through your time at Penn, you realize how influential even your smallest actions can be," Carly said. "Leaders have the privilege and responsibility to drive positive change."
 
As a member of SAAC, she's focused on increasing student-athlete engagement in community service. Volunteering has been one of the most enriching parts of her Penn experience, and she hopes to encourage others to discover that same connection. "It benefits both the surrounding community and the student-athlete experience," she shared.
 
Her involvement with the Women's Athletics Association (WAA) has also been a defining part of her Penn journey. WAA has given her a space to build friendships and connect with fellow female athletes across teams. This year, she helped expand WAA's community partnerships, including a new collaboration with Young Quakers that brought middle and high school girls from Philadelphia to campus for a day of sports, conversation, and mentorship.
 
"It was so fulfilling to know our work made a positive impact," she said.
 
Looking back, Carly is most proud of the mark she has made—on the mat, in the community, and within the relationships she's built. "I feel confident that I will leave Penn having created meaningful, positive change," she said.
 
Carly's time as a student-athlete has also prepared her for life beyond gymnastics. She points to resilience, teamwork, and staying calm under pressure as the core lessons that she'll carry forward. Those strengths have shaped her excitement for a career in technology consulting, where she hopes to continue solving problems, supporting others, and creating community impact.
 
Before a competition, Carly sticks to her favorite ritual: a steak dinner the night before and a pump-up playlist in the training room. When it comes to her passions outside sport, she's driven by gender equity and youth empowerment—values reflected in her work with WAA and her commitment to uplifting the next generation.
 
If you're a member of the Penn Athletics community, chances are that you have crossed paths with Carly or been touched by the work that she is a part of. Her impact will be felt long beyond her time as a Penn student-athlete leader.