2025 Education Alumni Award Winners Announced

Each year, Penn GSE recognizes the extraordinary impact of our community with the Education Alumni Awards, which are given out at the Celebration of Educators during Alumni Weekend on campus. These awards honor the outstanding contributions our alumni make to Penn GSE and the field of education.

This year’s winners are:

• Cory Zoblin, GED’13, educator and curriculum designer at We Love Philly: Penn GSE Educator of the Year
  This award recognizes an outstanding graduate or friend of Penn GSE who demonstrates unusual involvement in and commitment to identifying and helping to resolve school problems and current issues in education. The recipient of this award must be a dedicated educator who is an inspiration, risk-taker, innovator, and role model and who demonstrates a commitment to the betterment of Penn GSE.

• Wendy Green, GR’11, associate professor at Cleveland State University: Helen C. Bailey Award
  This award recognizes an outstanding Penn GSE graduate who has brought recognition and status to School and the University of Pennsylvania. The recipient of this award must have made a distinctive contribution to the field of education and Penn GSE, including but not limited to contributions made through research, exceptional professional involvement, or publications. 

•  Kelly King, GED’19, vice president of partnerships at Prof Jim: William B. Castetter Alumni Award of Merit
  This award recognizes an outstanding graduate for significant service to Penn GSE. Service to the School may include volunteering, being an alum leader, serving on the Penn Alumni Board or in Penn Regional Clubs, or other leadership opportunities with the University of Pennsylvania. The recipient should have a longstanding relationship with the School and exemplify volunteer leadership.

•  Tony Szu-Hsien Lee, GR’99, professor of department of health promotion and education at National Taiwan Normal University: Ethel and Allen “Buddy” Carruth Sustained Leadership in Education Award
  Established in 2004 to recognize significant service to the education community by an esteemed graduate or friend of Penn GSE. The award honors the memory of Ethel Carruth, ED'43, a distinguished alumna, benefactor, and friend of Penn GSE. Mrs. Carruth and her late husband, Allen Carruth, left an extraordinary legacy, fostering enthusiastic dedication and support of numerous causes, inspiring benevolence and a lifetime of involvement. Their support of education impacted many in the field and motivated unprecedented achievement and guidance throughout the community. The recipient of this award will serve as an inspiration to others, transcending expectations and providing opportunities in service. 

• Aishwarya Manjunath Shetty, GED'23, education specialist at Education Above All Foundation: Kwame Nkrumah Distinguished Alumni Award
  Established in 2019, this award recognizes an illustrious graduate from Penn GSE or the former University of Pennsylvania School of Education who has made distinct and transformative contributions to the field of education in the nation or the world. The award honors Kwame Nkrumah, GED'43, G'44, the first president of independent Ghana. Nkrumah fought for Ghana's independence and was a founding member of the Organization of African Unity. As President, Nkrumah set up a strong system of basic education, initiating compulsory primary education in 1962. In 2000, he was voted African Man of the Millennium by the BBC World Service listeners, who described him as a "hero of independence" and an "international symbol of freedom " as the leader of the first black African country to shake off the chains of colonial rule. The recipient of this award will have made a demonstrative and uncommon impact in education through research, policy and/or service. Their contribution will have a global impact on improving circumstances for historically oppressed or marginalized communities. The recipient will reflect the values and aspirations of Penn GSE and its commitment to equity and opportunity and serve as a role model for Penn GSE students and alums.

•  Jamille Nagtalon-Ramos, GNU’03, GRD'17, assistant professor at Rutgers School of Nursing-Camden, and Barry Wilkins, GED’21, assistant principal at Feltonville School of Arts and Sciences: Penn GSE Recent Alumni/Early Career Award of Merit
  This award recognizes outstanding graduates who have shown outstanding service to Penn GSE Education before their 10th reunion year and are setting an inspirational example for future alums of Penn GSE. This includes but is not limited to significant contributions by an individual in their field of endeavor, whether through professional achievement or community service, and the devotion of significant time, energy, and enthusiasm to volunteerism and cultivation.

These exceptional graduates, along with recipients of other annual awards given by the School and all Penn GSE alum teachers celebrating at least their fifth year in the classroom, will be honored on Saturday, May 17. This year’s Celebration of Educators will also include a conversation on “Discourse and Democracy: The Classroom as a Catalyst for Bridging Differences,” followed by a reception.

All members and friends of the Penn GSE community are welcome to attend. Space is limited, so please RSVP at: penng.se/coe25