Announcements

Dear Penn undergraduates, I am devastated to write you again so soon about the loss of another classmate and friend. I am the mother of two Penn alumni, a grandmother, and your Vice Provost, and I long to share positive, uplifting news about the remarkable Penn community. Yet I regret that I must confirm what you may already have heard via social media: We learned today that the body of Blaze N. Bernstein, a College sophomore, was found Tuesday in California by authorities investigating his disappearance.

Dear Penn undergraduates, I regret that I must begin this New Year by writing to you with extremely sad news. William Steinberg, a first-year Penn undergraduate, died suddenly with his parents and two brothers in Costa Rica on Sunday. All of us, as Penn family members, are thinking of William’s family members and friends as they move through this terrible loss. Our hearts are full, and we give them our deepest sympathy.

Dear members of the Penn Law community: It is with sadness we write that Justin Hamano, L’18, passed away over the weekend at his residence off campus. We deeply regret and are saddened by this difficult news and we want each of you to know that the Penn Law family, and indeed, the entire campus community, stands with you in support. Justin, 31, completed his undergraduate studies at New York University. He worked as a paralegal and labor organizer before starting Penn Law. He also held a master’s certificate in Labor Studies from CUNY.

Dear Penn undergraduates, I am so very sorry that my first correspondence with you after Fall Break is to share sad news, but I am writing today to tell you that your classmate, Henry W. Rogers, W’18, died this morning in his residence off campus.   Henry, 22, was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, and he was a former captain of the heavyweight rowing team. He was from St. Louis and concentrated in Finance and Marketing. Within Wharton, Henry was part of Shekel Cohort.

Dear PennVet community, We write with heavy hearts after learning of the loss of Brett Cooper, V18, who died today in his off-campus residence. Brett was 30 and from New Jersey. Brett graduated the University of Delaware, where he majored in animal science. He was deeply committed to completing his clinical year and a member of Alpha Psi, the veterinary fraternity. Any student death is difficult, but a loss in a small school community can be especially painful. We urge PennVet students, faculty, and staff to comfort each other.

With sadness I write to share the sudden death of your classmate, Nicholas A. Moya, a senior majoring in Math and Economics. He died last night off campus. 

Dear students,   I write to share the sad news of the passing of one of your classmates. Johnathan Christian Smith, a member of the Class of 2019 who had been on medical leave from the university following a cancer diagnosis, died July 14th while in the hospital undergoing treatment. Johnathan was 21 and from Trinidad and Tobago.  

Dear students, I write to share the sad news of the passing of one of your classmates. Johnathan Christian Smith, a member of the Class of 2019 who had been on medical leave from the university following a cancer diagnosis, died July 14th while in the hospital undergoing treatment. Johnathan was 21 and from Trinidad and Tobago.

I am so very sad to share the news of the passing of your classmate, Aran Rana, who died Monday at home in Hong Kong. Aran was 19 and on a leave of absence from the university. Aran is survived by his parents, Aditya and Naomi Rana, and a brother, Makia. Aran’s “friendliness, his kindness, and his vivaciousness is what stands out,” Aditya Rana shared. “That’s really what touched most people.” Aran entered Penn in 2015 as a member of the Class of 2019 in the College. He lived in Riepe College House as a first-year undergraduate.

We write in response to the several inquiries and petitions that we have received regarding the University’s support for our Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and undocumented students.  We are grateful that so many members of the Penn community have spoken out and communicated their support for our undocumented students.  Let us be unequivocally clear: We are and remain resolute in our commitment to Penn’s undocumented students, and will do all that we can to ensure their continued safety and success here at Penn.