Congratulations to the Class of 2026!
Thanks to all who joined us at the
Join us at the
Student Performing Arts Awards Celebration
and Alumni Reception
Friday, May 15th @ 3pm – 5pm,
Platt House Lobby
RSVP
Guests may RSVP on the Alumni Weekend page: tinyurl.com/PH-Awards. If you are a student award winner, RSVP via the link contained in your email.
Accessibility
Platt House’s main entrance uses a staircase. An ADA accessible entry pathway is available through the Stouffer Commons entrance, located nearby. Please reach out to our staff at platthouse@pobox.upenn.edu for help with these or any other accommodations!
Meet the 2026 Award Winners...
Announcing the winner of the Stephen Goff Award:
Jane Kinney, C’26
ASAP, PAC-Exec, Penny Loafers
The Stephen Goff Award for Student Performing Arts, presented by the Mask and Wig Club, is awarded to a graduating senior demonstrating commitment and leadership in the student performing arts. The 2025 Award goes to Jane Kinney for enthusiastic involvement, leadership, and service, across performing arts at Penn.
Holding multiple leadership positions on the PAC Executive Board (Community Service Chair, ACK Chair) and within her a cappella group The Penny Loafers, Jane’s path through Penn has been marked by a deep commitment to her peers. Offering her time to serve on committees, host events, meet prospective students, and volunteering her stunning vocal talents at last-minute gigs, Jane’s signature approachable and generous leadership style has grounded her work in fruitful collaboration and service.
We congratulate and thank Jane for her deep impact on the student performing arts community and beyond!
Announcing the winner of the Möller Fresnel Award:
Molly McCaffrey, C’26
Penn Players, Penn Singers, TAC-e, PAC Exec (TAC-e Chair)
The Möller Fresnel Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Tech Community is awarded to highlight and elevate the contributions of a technician in the senior class who selflessly supports, builds, and elevates the tech community. The 2026 Award goes to Molly McCaffrey, whose committed effort has supported Penn theatre productions across the spectrum of student clubs and academic productions.
Molly’s presence, knowledge, and involvement in PAC has been instrumental to the successes of multiple performances. Whether it was encouraging new techs, stepping up when someone had to step down from a production role, helping to direct traffic at strikes/load-ins, or just sharing her costuming knowledge, Molly’s impact is often greater than she realizes. Like the Fresnel light, which originated to cast light from lighthouses, Molly’s leadership has been a beacon through the sometimes tumultuous waters that are tech weeks.In the words of her peers, “She is genuinely the most dedicated tech person, who is not only knowledgeable but also organized and dedicated”… “ the definition of a team player who is always stepping up to help. When a lighting designer the week of tech is unable to run the board— she calls the show as SM while operating the board. She has expanded institutional knowledge within tac-e and has worked to encourage younger techs blossoming.”
Announcing this year's Impact Award:
Aidan Moon, C’26
Quadramics, Singers, TAC-e, Platt House Student Assistant
The Platt House Impact Award is presented by Platt Student Performing Arts House to a student who goes above and beyond the scope of their campus responsibilities to positively represent the mission of Platt House and the student performing arts community. This student voluntarily builds bridges between Platt House, the PAC Shop, the Performing Arts Council, and the wider community through continual service, model leadership, and general goodwill.
A familiar face around Platt House, we recognize Aidan for his exceptional generosity and deep investment in community. Aidan has held formal roles as a Platt House Student Assistant and with Quadramics and PAC Exec, and informally has been adopted as a member to many groups because of his care and dedication to their show. Whether acting as a sound or light technician, stage manager, set builder, shop assistant, U-Haul driver, load in/load out helper, tour guide, or event staff, his willingness to help lightens the load for staff and fellow students across all the performing arts genres. Among all these contributions, Aidan has also dedicated time to help train and empower his peers and support the growth and development of Penn’s tech community.
Announcing the winner of the Francis Johnson Baton Award:
CityStep Penn
The Francis Johnson Baton Award recognizes a student performing arts group demonstrating meaningful and consistent community service. The 2026 Award goes to CityStep Penn, whose work was “rooted in consistency, relationship-building, and a deep commitment to truly showing up— not just as volunteers, but as partners in education.” This team’s work to develop inclusive, creative spaces for children in the Philadelphia area to learn, both through large events and through repeated and consistent classroom work, has clearly made a worthwhile impact on them, as well as on the culture of community care and civic engagement at Penn.
Announcing the winners of the Wallace and Whinnery Summer Internship Awards:
Robert Zhang, C’27
Internship: United Music Group
The George & Jane Wallace Summer Performing Arts Internship Award provides Penn undergraduates with funds to support a summer internship in a professional performing arts or related entertainment organization. The 2026 Award goes to Junior Robert Zhang, whose summer work supports artists and art-making through strategic implementation of data analytics.
Patrick Miller, C’27
Internship: WXPN Radio
The George & Jane Wallace Summer Performing Arts Internship Award provides Penn undergraduates with funds to support a summer internship in a professional performing arts or related entertainment organization. The 2026 Award goes to Junior Patrick Miller, whose summer plans pursue the intersections of the arts, media, marketing, and communications.
Congratulations to our graduating seniors!
The Senior Spotlight Awards
These Seniors are awarded a Spotlight Award by their peers, in gratitude for their vision, creative excellence, and impact on the performing arts community. You inspire us. We can’t wait to see you shining your light out in the world beyond Penn!
Click on each image below to read testimonies from the peers who nominated these seniors.
