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For GFS faculty, Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia isn’t just for the students: it’s transformed them, too.

GFS was honored to welcome Kristen Welker ‘94, distinguished journalist and moderator of NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” as the speaker at this year’s Christopher Allen ’09 Lecture. The lecture was presented as a conversation between Welker and her longtime mentor, Chris Blackman.

All throughout January, Samuel Kelly '26 interned at Philly Goat Project in Awbury Arboretum, learning to care for and train its herd of 13 therapy goats.

For his Junior Project, Gabriel Baah ’26 interned with an independent film production company, Younger Brother Pictures, LLC, learning to use video and audio equipment, as well as editing software.

Brooke Williams '26 and Graciela Preetam '26 did their Junior Project this January at UPenn Athletics, learning the ins and outs of a busy training room that serves dozens of college athletes every day.

This January, Alex Goldsleger '26 interned in the kitchen of Zahav, a fine dining Israeli restaurant in Philadelphia's Society Hill neighborhood, for his Junior Project. 

Zahara Brown '26 split her Junior Project between shadowing a primary care and family medicine doctor Penn Medicine and supporting the hospital's Perinatal Resources for Opioid Use Disorder team.  

Hear from Linus Chen-Plotkin '26 about the scientific research project he worked on at a lab at UPenn this January during his Junior Project.

Reina Yagawara '26 shares reflections on her Junior Project at PennVet Working Dog Center (PVWDC), a part of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.