You Walk Past Friars Daily!
One school, three buildings, four athletic venues and more are named for Friars: including (Walter) Annenberg School of Communication and Public Policy Center, Claudia Cohen Hall, George A. Weiss Pavillion, John R. Rockwell Gymnasium, Robert P. Levy Tennis Courts and Ellen Vagelos Field
The Quaker Is a Friar? Yes …
Penn’s school mascot was created in the fall of 1964 by Friar Dick Drury ’66 after seeing the Temple Owl and LaSalle Hawk mascots in action at sporting events and noting that Penn had none. The first mascot outfit was meant to look like Ben Franklin but has eventually turned into what is now a generic “Quaker”
Hey Day March and Hats on Us
Friars are credited for adding the senior march to Hey Day festivities and the 1949 Friars are responsible for seniors wearing straw hats to give the Hey Day ceremonies an added “interest” to the day. Hurrah!
BBB Major a Friar Creation
Ann Kelley ’76 is credited with creating the Biological Basis of Behavior major at Penn. She was a leading behavioral neuroscientist in the world and gave a Nobel lecture in Stockholm before her death
To the MOON and back
Friar Samuel Campbell III ’56 and his family are proud to have created the cultural icon of the south, the delicious MoonPie in their Chattanooga Bakery in Tennessee … now for five generations and counting
Taking Care of Babies
Friar Bob Borer ’59 developed the first real perinatal medicine used for the entire country of Qatar and Sultanate of Oman
We got you into Penn!
You have Friars to thank for your Penn education If you were taken into Penn from the 70s under the big footsteps of former Dean Lee Stetson through 2020 under Dean of Admissions, Eric Furda, you have a big Friarly thank you to give since both are Friars!!!
Smarty Pants
Sixteen Friars have been named Thouron Scholars or Fellows, two became Truman Scholars and eight have won Fulbrights
Friar Firsts at Penn
More than 80 groups or events at Penn were founded at Penn by Friars including the Onyx, Osiris and Oracle Senior Societies, Bloomers, Counterparts, The Vision, The Walk, FocusFirst Philly, underthebutton.com, Women’s Ruby Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, BARS, and the African American Arts Alliance
Society Flashes Started Here
The first society to have a fun “secret” sign is secret no more! Created by Kyle Kozloff ’90 during his senior year, our “flash” was first on Penn’s campus and has inspired other societies to add their own “hand sign” to the mix. You’re welcome!
First Feb Club Is On Us
In 1993 Feb Club was created when Friar Class President Michael Rosenband ’93 made it an official part of a Penn senior’s year (from an idea he and Friar Val Thompson ’92 started for fun with friends the year before)
Saturday Night Live
From 2010-2017, our own Vanessa Bayer ’04 killed it as a cast member of SNL and has branched out to fun roles in comedic movies and writing children’s books
The Friar Bench
In front of the Sweeten Alumni House, our bench was the first honor society bench to appear on campus. We also have a Friars Room on the first floor of College Hall
CHALK it up to Friars!
Friars also started another first on campus: we started the tradition of leaving chalk messages down Locust Walk and campus in celebration of new inductees each fall and spring
Oldest Society on Campus
Founded in 1899 and inspired by the leadership of Daniel Keller, Jr. ’01, Friars was created to help promote democracy at Penn when the minority used to rule the majority
Friar Honorables
The Vision creator, Harold Ford ’91, once the youngest member of Congress from Tennessee and Ed Rendell ’65, former head of the Student Government Club at Penn turned Philly Mayor and PA Governor are just two Friars who have left their mark promoting democracy like our founder!
Friars In the Big League
Walter O’Malley ’26 owned the L.A. Dodgers, grandson Kevin O’Malley ’97 owned a minor league team and was part owner of the San Diego Padres and Mark DeRosa ’97 played professional baseball for 15 years and now a TV baseball analyst
Friar Names Up in Lights
Broadway lights have shined for a number of Friars: Jonah Platt has starred in Wicked and he joins Gayle Samuels, Kate Jennings Grant, Mark Zimmerman, and Angela Ai who have all also performed on Broadway and in off-broadway show tours
“May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor“
That’s another Friar addition to our world (smile)! This is Friar Elizabeth Banks’ famous catchphrase in The Hunger Games movie franchise. We say she’s a “Pitch Perfect” Friar not afraid to ‘Press [Her] Luck’ (wink)
Making News is a Friar Natural
You can catch more than a dozen and a half Friars reporting the news on TV and in print including: Andrea Mitchell H’11, Amna Nawaz ’01, Joe Watkins ’75, Eric Tucker ’01, Rachel Feintzeig ’07, Julie Steinberg ’09 and Sam Brodey ’14.
Discovering the Cure to Cancer
We’re working on that one…