Leaders, team captains mark Class of '08

Everyone always says that high-profile schools like Penn are looking for unique students. This year's freshman class certainly has its quirks.

The Class of 2008 is full of leaders, inside and outside their school environments. It is composed of 729 students who were captains of a varsity sport, 204 who were editor in chief of their high school newspapers, 95 student council presidents, 69 class presidents and 82 debate team captains.

However, many students reached above those titles and found their own niches.

One particularly creative student is a fashion designer with 20 employees who sells clothes in 350 stores in seven countries.

There is a student who is a champion Irish step dancer and another who played the violin alongside Yo-Yo Ma.

There is another musician who composes his own music and has a CD coming out soon from Virgin Records America.

One freshman has appeared on Jeopardy's Teen Tournament, while at the same time developing a program called "Jeans for Teens." It collects, mends and distributes jeans to those who cannot afford such clothing.

The admissions officers who read the thousands of applications are often moved by the students' endeavors.

"I was particularly touched by a student who grew up in the Marshall Islands and completely didn't wear shoes until he was 12," says Doris Cochran-Fikes, a regional director for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

"Another student who is a member of the current freshman class had no idea that when I visited her school to recruit students ... I was able to go to her one-woman show," she added. "She had [an] incredible artwork exhibition. I was able to see her pictures and paintings up close and personal."

She added, "The fact that I had a chance to see her work at home was very powerful."

Other students have more bizarre passions.

One freshman's family is in the Guinness Book of World Records for building the world's largest ball of tape. Another is a roller figure skater who has been a part of junior and world-class teams.

Some you might see in the spotlight soon.

One Broadway actor has performed in shows such as Beauty and the Beast, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Ragtime, Titanic and A Christmas Carol.

There is one freshman who is a broadcaster for red-carpet movie premieres and video music award shows as the East Coast correspondent for Fred TV and for his own company.

From leaders to musicians, this year's entering class is ready to make its mark on the Penn community.

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