Elaine Khoong (SEAS/Wharton - Class of 2007) More than sixty student leaders volunteer their time to serve on a Weiss Tech House committee each year. Committees include Marketing, Mentoring, Innovation Fund, PennVention, Newsletter, Information Technology, and Community Relations. We caught up with Community Relations Committee Co-Chair, Elaine Khoong who recently won the Judith Seitz Rodin Prize for Innovative Leadership. Here’s her interview:

1. How did you first become involved with the Weiss Tech House?
I first became involved near the end of my freshman year. I thought the community relations committee (then the house projects committee) would be a nice way to combine my math/science interest with my desire to do community service work. I had tutored in West Philadelphia my entire freshman year and had really enjoyed it. I wanted to continue doing this and be able to do it in areas that I was particularly passionate about.

2. What does the Community Relations Committee do?
We create programs to inspire technological innovation in West Philadelphia by providing a basic, fun after school program on science and technology to 3rd and 4th graders at Penn-Alexander School and the Sayre Beacon program.

3. What have you been able to accomplish?
Since I have joined, the Committee has established a purpose to do work in the local community. Further, we have expanded our program offerings from one school to potentially four programs.

4. What other programs/clubs/ etc are you involved with at Penn? I am involved with the PEER Mentoring Program, Research at PennMed, and am an RA at Rodin College House. I’ve also been involved with the West Philadelphia Tutoring Project, Wharton Community Consultants and have served as a Narberth Ambulance EMT.