A. James Clark never forgot that his business successes began with an engineering scholarship. That is why the Clark family has long supported engineering students, partnering with some of the nation’s leading engineering institutions to financially support students who exhibit strong academic and leadership potential. The Clark Scholars Program aligns the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation and Penn Engineering with the shared goal of fostering engineering leadership at the highest level to benefit society, now and for the future. Each component of the Program mirrors Mr. Clark’s values in business, leadership and in service to his community. It also reflects the University’s guiding philosophy, based on the principles of inclusion, innovation, and impact.
INCLUSION
Penn stands firm in its commitment to making an outstanding education possible for the most talented students, regardless of their financial circumstances.
INNOVATION
The Clark Scholars Program will nurture original thinking, cultivate broad perspectives, and encourage the development of practical applications of new technologies. During their years at Penn, Clark Scholars will be urged to explore a variety of disciplines through coursework available across the University’s 12 Schools.
IMPACT
Penn students and faculty share ideas, learn from experience, and work together to develop and apply solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. Beginning their freshman year, Clark Scholars will engage in meaningful public service.
ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS
The Clark Scholars Program is designed to prepare future engineering and business leaders, with an emphasis on students who have a demonstrated financial need. From their arrival on campus as freshmen, through their senior year, Clark Scholars will participate in a comprehensive, multi-faceted educational experience that includes programming targeted at each specific stage of their academic and career journeys. Students will receive personalized mentoring and innovation training, leadership and business development opportunities, and will participate in service learning and research projects. These students will form a unique cohort within Penn Engineering with access to myriad exceptional opportunities. An overarching goal of the Clark Scholars Program will be to create a supportive and stimulating academic community, customized for—and responsive to—the unique and evolving needs of the cohort.
Candidates are identified for the Clark Scholars program through the university’s admissions process. No additional application is required.
Clark Scholars will make certain commitments. They will agree to remain enrolled at Penn Engineering; select a major within the School; maintain high academic standards and a minimum GPA of 2.7; participate fully in all Clark Scholars programming. In return, each Clark Scholar will be privileged to be part of a growing community of talented students being carefully groomed—through world-class education, personalized mentoring, service learning, research opportunities, innovation training, and leadership development—to benefit society throughout their professional and personal lives.