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Ashton Kutcher, the popular actor and movie producer, will speak to students as part of a Wharton Social Impact Initiative speaker series.

Credit: David Shankbone/Creative Commons

Ashton Kutcher, the popular actor and movie producer, will be speaking at Penn on Sept. 18 as part of the Wharton School’s Social Impact Initiative, according to an email invitation sent out Wednesday.

The event will be held in the Annenberg Center’s Zellerbach Theater. Kutcher, who has also had success as a model and a technology investor, has starred in movies like “The Butterfly Effect,” “The Guardian” and “What Happens in Vegas.”

Kutcher’s appearance is part of Wharton’s Lauren and Bobby Turner Social Impact Executive Speaker Series. Last year, the series hosted actress Eva Longoria rapper Chris “Ludacris” Bridges.

Admission to the event is free to anybody with a PennCard, although students need to register online. Seating for the event is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Registration has already closed as of 10 p.m. Wednesday night for the event due to “an overwhelming interest” according to the registration form.

Many students are excited about Kutcher’s planned arrival.

Related: Eva Longoria spoke to Penn students on Wednesday night in Irvine

“I love when Penn brings someone famous to campus. I’ve always been a fan of his from ‘That 70s Show’,” College sophomore Ashlee Burris said.

Burris added that “I’m excited to hear what advice he has to give to the Penn community after reading about his inspirational Teen Choice Awards speech.”

College senior Gavin Huang was also happy to hear the news. “I think it’s awesome that Ashton Kutcher is coming to Penn. It’s unexpected and different from past speakers. I’m looking forward to his humor!”

Undergraduates are not the only ones who are excited for Kutcher’s arrival.

Yunica Jiang, who graduated from the College in 2013, also signed up for the event. “I shamelessly registered for the event even though I graduated,” she said. “I think that it’s great that they’re opening it to alums.”

The speaker series was started by 1984 Wharton graduate Bobby Turner and is meant to “to showcase leaders who are using their resources and influence as well as their creativity and passion to make a positive difference in the world,” Katherine Klein, the vice dean of Wharton Social Impact Initiative, said in an email.

While many students are excited to attend because of Kutcher’s celebrity, Klein also hopes that the speaker will inspire something more.

Related: Ludacris discusses life, social impact

“Students and other members of the Wharton community may come to see a star,” Klein said. “But, our hope as well as our experience to date is that they leave inspired and moved to pursue their own passions to make a positive difference in the world.”

Staff writers Harry Cooperman, Fola Onifade, Tvisi Ravi and San Le contributed reporting.

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