“I met a lot of wonderful people, and the exercises in which we’ve engaged really broadened my perspective, even within my own Asian community. We share experiences…and recognize each other on our respective journeys.” – Winni Zhang, W’23

In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Wharton Stories is showcasing three undergraduate students who found their footing in community here at the School and at Penn; while also sharing some of the resources that Wharton students can utilize in order to help them create, connect, and build on the robust community which currently exists at Wharton and at the University. 

Meet Winni Zhang, W’23


Hometown: Deltona, Florida
Activities: Co-Vice President, Wharton Undergraduate Finance Club; Marketing Committee member and Vice President of the Design Committee, Penn Common Cents; Facilitator, Asian Pacific American Leadership Initiative (APALI); co-President, Oracle Senior Honor Society
Post-Wharton plans: first, to travel through Asia with friends; after she returns, Winni is joining Bain Capital as an Analyst.

Like Sahiba and Thomas, Winni is an accomplished Wharton senior who is preparing for that iconic stride down Penn’s Locust Walk in May, when she graduates from Wharton in a few short weeks. And, like Sahiba and Thomas, Winni found ways to build both community and an impressive Wharton resume during her four years at the School. Winni is a PhelpsForward Scholar, spent time as a Teaching Assistant for Business Communication for Impact (WH201), is a leader in both the Oracle Senior Honor Society and the Wharton Undergraduate Finance Club, and also interned for Penn Common Cents. 

Winni is also a proud member of the Pan-Asian American Community House (PAACH) at Penn; and, within PAACH, serves on the Asian Pacific American Leadership Initiative (APALI), which is comprised of a smaller subset of leaders who develop tangible leadership skills and build further cultural enrichment amongst themselves through retreats, workshops, and other opportunities for fellowship. 

“I met a lot of wonderful people, and the exercises in which we’ve engaged really broadened my perspective, even within my own Asian community,” Winni said. “We share experiences, see each other’s accomplishments and hardships, and recognize each other on our respective journeys.”

Through Oracle, APALI, and PAACH, Winni developed a comfortability in reaching out to people who share similar backgrounds to her own, and who she found were happy to share tips and tricks for jump-starting her career in the finance industry.

“I was able to reach out to people who had similar experiences to my own, who were able to mentor me throughout the recruitment process and help me prepare for interviews,” Winni said. “This was all done by people in their free time, who happened to relate to me and I to them.” 

Winni stands at the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is just ten minutes from campus and the annual site of the Oracle Senior Honor Society’s gala.

Meet Thomas Kyong, W’23

Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Activities: Chief, Sphinx Senior Honor Society; Coordinator, PENNacle’s Pre-Orientation Program; Vice Chair, the Student Activities Council; co-Founder, Queer Climbing
Post-Wharton plans: Product Analysis & Strategy Analyst, American Express

Thomas Kyong pursued an abundance of leadership roles and opportunities over the course of his four years at the University of Pennsylvania. A Wharton Research Scholar, Thomas is also a member of Penn’s Oracle Senior Honor Society and Carriage Senior Honor Society, in addition to his status as the SNF Paideia Inaugural Fellow and Scholar. 

Thomas identifies the support he received from both his peers and from Wharton faculty as one of the key factors in the successful exploration of his identity, both as an Asian American and as a gay man. In addition to his other accomplishments, Thomas acted as a Teaching Assistant for both Analytics in the Digital Economy with Professor Sonny Tambe, and People Analytics with Professor Tiantian Yang.

In addition to his other advisors through the Wharton Research Scholars and the Paideia program, the support of both Professors Tambe and Yang enabled Thomas to travel to Japan and South Korea, where he embarked in groundbreaking research that explored the origins of homophobia in East Asia. 

“To do something that not only leverages my data science skills, but incorporates both of my identities in being both queer and Asian means so much to me,” said Thomas. “My project, and the honor that comes with being a Wharton Research Scholar, has made my time here at the School such a meaningful and fulfilling experience.”

Front and center, Thomas stands with his fellow officers of Penn’s Student Activities Council.

Meet Sahiba Baveja, W’23


Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL
Activities: President, South Asia Society; member, Kite & Key Society; Advisor, Wharton Peer Advisor; member, the Wharton Undergrad Finance Club; Research Assistant, Penn Healthcare Review
Post-Wharton plans: Investment Banking Analyst, Morgan Stanley

As she prepares to graduate from Wharton, Sahiba is reflecting upon her four years at the School – she kept herself busy. Among other activities, Sahiba pursued involvement in the Kite & Key Society, the Wharton Undergrad Finance Club, and the Penn Healthcare Review; but some of her greatest impact came from the time she served as the President of Penn’s South Asia Society (SAS). 

Sahiba joined the South Asia Society as a freshman, where the beginning of her experience within the club quickly became impacted by the encroachment of COVID-19 on their activities. And yet, despite the Zoom meetings and flurrying of group chats, Sahiba still found that the organization strove to build social connection. As an underclassman, Sahiba quickly identified mentorship opportunities in her older peers and fellow members of the South Asia Society, and when she stepped into her presidency, found new value in the leadership opportunity that she now had in her hands.

“When it came time to make decisions on behalf of the club, I made strong enough connections with those who came before that I knew I could reach out to them for help, but they still empowered me to make the choices that ultimately benefited the community here at Penn,” said Sahiba. 

This large and yet tight-knit community continued to support Sahiba as graduation approached in her final spring semester as a Wharton undergraduate student: when the time came to job-hunt and make moves in preparation for her plans post-Wharton, many of those same students offered Sahiba professional advice that helped guide her to her current opportunity, which will see Sahiba head west to San Francisco. She is joining Morgan Stanley as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Bay Area. 

Billed with a dress code of South Asian attire, held at the historical Strawberry Mansion in Fairmount Park, the South Asia Society’s 2023 sold-out formal featured unbridled good times.

– Grace Meredith

Posted: May 8, 2023

Undergraduate Program

Here, learn more about the many resources that exist here at both Wharton and Penn for students to plug into the School’s AAPI community: 

Penn Asian American Community House (PAACH) 

The Pan-Asian American Community House is a hub of academic, personal, and professional growth for University of Pennsylvania students interested in Asian American culture and the Asian American Diaspora. Through advising, leadership development, advocacy, social and cultural programming, PAACH expands student access to the University’s resources.

Winni attended PAACH’s mural dedication ceremony in April 2023. Here, she is placing a stickable flower on the surface of the artwork; on the front of the flower, Winni wrote a few lines about how she defines community.

PAACH is a reliable hubbub of inclusive campus events; including a recent mural dedication in April, which featured a myriad of different flowers, each representing countries throughout Asia and Pacific Islands. Wharton Stories spoke with PAACH’s Associate Director, Vicky Aquino, about the value Wharton students bring to the AAPI community within the larger University of Pennsylvania ecosystem. 

“Wharton students are driven, passionate, and well-rounded,” said Vicky. “They are future pioneers who will make significant impact to any field they choose, and they make valuable contributions to the community. Wharton provides students the valuable skills and knowledge to excel, the same way PAACH provides the resources and support to succeed. We both guide and encourage students to challenge themselves, make important decisions, and create meaningful connections.”

PAACH’s Associate Director, Vicky Aquino, speaks to students at the April mural dedication event.

Wharton Penn Asian Exchange

The Wharton Asia Exchange (WAX) is a professional student-run organization of the Wharton School. It was founded to serve two purposes: providing a community where Asian students can develop their professional skills, and bridging the gap between the University community and the Asian business environment.

WAX aims to fulfill the aspirations of students interested in connecting through Asian culture, markets, and professional opportunities. This bond will allow the exchange of knowledge, the development of trust, and the foundation of a more fully integrated global business environment.

Awarded Best Large Club at the 2020 Wharton Council Awards for their programs in member development, community engagement, and collaboration, WAX boasts 150+ active members, hosted 45 events this past school year, and created meetings with intention to engage the entirety of its student body.

WAX members pose for a group photo.

University of Pennsylvania South Asia Society

The South Asia Society (SAS) is a student organization dedicated to promoting cultural unity and awareness among its members and the University of Pennsylvania community. Penn has always fostered a thriving and enterprising South Asian community, and along with other campus South Asian organizations, SAS has many opportunities to reach out to Penn students and faculty.

Specifically, the goals of SAS are:
1) To increase awareness of and educate the Penn community about South Asian culture and  heritage.
2) To create an environment in which students are encouraged to explore and experience South Asian culture.
3) To increase awareness among, educate, and mobilize students in order to address pertinent issues that face the entire South Asian community, the South Asian collegiate community in America and the Penn South Asian community.
4) To encourage social interaction between South Asian students.
5) To facilitate the adjustment process for incoming South Asian students at Penn.
6) To enhance student-faculty relations.

Dancers whirl on stage at the South Asia Society’s Fall Show, 2022.

University of Pennsylvania Asian Pacific Student Coalition

Founded in the fall of 1995, the Asian Pacific Student Coalition (APSC) exists as an alliance of Asian Pacific American (APA) student groups at the University of Pennsylvania. The primary purpose of APSC is to represent the interests and causes of the APIA community to the University administration. APSC also functions to promote and celebrate the richness of APIA culture, facilitate communication between student groups, and provide a forum for discussion on issues of student concern.

APSC activities include coordinating the Asian Pacific American Heritage Week (APAHW), the Resource Guide for incoming freshmen, and various events such as potlucks and socials. APSC also participates in the development of the Asian American (ASAM) Studies Program and efforts to increase funding and resources at the Greenfield Intercultural Center (GIC) and the Pan-Asian American Community House (PAACH).

Members of the Asia Pacific Student Coalition celebrate with Penn’s President Liz Magill at the reopening of Locust Walk’s ARCH Building, which also houses PAACH.

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