Penn Engineering Launches Michael and Jennifer Ternoey Glassman Penn Scholars Program
Scholarships / February 24, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Holly Wojcik
Director of Strategic Communications
Penn Engineering
215-573-4607
hwojcik@seas.upenn.edu
Penn Engineering Launches Michael and Jennifer Ternoey Glassman Penn Scholars Program
(February 4, 2026) – Philadelphia, PA – Penn Engineering will establish the Michael and Jennifer Ternoey Glassman Penn Scholars (GPS) program, a pre-college initiative for academically gifted rising high-school seniors in the School District of Philadelphia interested in science, technology and mathematics (STEM).
The program, part of Inveniam Outreach, which provides local K-12 youth with high-quality STEM training and enrichment opportunities, is made possible through a gift from Michael A. Glassman (CHE’85), a member of Penn Engineering’s Technical Advisory Board, and Jennifer Ternoey Glassman (W’92). “We believe in the potential of Philadelphia’s students,” they say. “By providing advanced STEM preparation, we hope to open doors for young people who have the talent and drive to excel in science and engineering.”
Participants will experience a rigorous curriculum designed by Penn Engineering faculty and veteran high-school STEM educators, featuring advanced instruction in math, physics, artificial intelligence and computer science. Administered by the Cora Ingrum Center (CIC) for Community Engagement and Outreach, the program will welcome its inaugural cohort this summer.
“This generous gift will enable Penn Engineering to provide talented Philadelphia students with the academic foundation, mentorship and confidence they need to succeed in STEM,” says Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean. “By investing in these students before they start college, Penn Engineering is empowering them to see themselves as future engineers.”
“Strong preparation in math, science and AI can change the course of a young person’s life,” adds Robert Ghrist, Andrea Mitchell University Professor and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education. “We are deeply grateful for the Glassmans’ partnership.”
In addition to advanced STEM education, the program will offer a robust support system to guide students through post-secondary school decision-making, including resume building, leadership development and the college application process.
“Programs like this change what students believe is possible for themselves,” says Chanda Jefferson, Penn Engineering’s Director of Community Engagement and Outreach. “By giving Philadelphia students access to rigorous STEM instruction and a supportive academic community, we’re helping them build the skills and confidence needed to thrive in the next stage of their education.”
To learn more about the Glassman STEM Scholars, please visit the program’s webpage.
The application for the first cohort closes March 31, 2026.
About Penn Engineering The School of Engineering and Applied Science (Penn Engineering) at the University of Pennsylvania is comprised of six academic departments and numerous interdisciplinary centers, institutes, and laboratories. Penn Engineering’s goal is to prepare students for leadership roles in a technological world where creativity, critical quantitative thinking, effective communication skills and a strong commitment to humane values are essential.
An Ivy League university located in the city of Philadelphia, Penn was the first of its kind, a university created for the purpose of building knowledge that would benefit the future of our country and mankind. Established in 1852 as the School of Mines, Arts and Manufactures, Penn Engineering is among the oldest engineering programs in the United States. Today, Penn Engineering is one of the University’s twelve schools, and offers degrees at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels.
Penn Engineering students have access to all that the University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia have to offer, including hands-on research and design experience in a contiguous, urban campus. The close proximity to Penn’s other schools, including Medicine, Law, Business, and Design enables and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration. From biotechnology and nanotechnology to artificial intelligence and robotics, Penn Engineering’s research is at the forefront of scientific and technological frontiers.
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