After hearing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama speak to area volunteers last night, students involved in his campaign say they are, to use a popular Obama slogan, "fired up, ready to go."
The event, held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, had several thousand Philadelphia volunteers for the campaign in attendance.
About 50 Penn students went to the event, according to Penn Democrats president Lauren Burdette and Penn for Obama co-president Julian Harris.
Obama spoke about his experiences as a community organizer in Chicago in order to illustrate to his volunteers the challenges - and rewards - of grassroots activism.
Penn attendees were chosen through a lottery last night for students who had signed up for at least four hours of volunteer work each week until the election.
Students said the event gave them energy to continue their campaign efforts in the three weeks remaining before Pennsylvania's April 22 primary.
"It was really rewarding for us to have worked so hard, then to be able to see him and be inspired by his speeches in person," College freshman Nate Miller said.
Miller became involved in Penn for Obama at the beginning of the semester and worked for the campaign in Iowa over winter break. He said that even though he's met Obama and heard his speeches before, "it's not the same as when you're feeding off his energy and everyone's energy around you."
Wharton freshman Elizabeth Celata, who is the Harrison College House dorm captain for Penn for Obama, also spoke about the energy at the event.
"I came out energized, being like, 'We've got to go, we've got to do this,'" she said.
Another striking feature of the event, students said, was the diversity of the crowd.
"It was amazing to me to see the old, the young, the rich, the poor, the business-oriented and teachers," College sophomore Andrew Remley said.
Despite his demanding campaign schedule, Obama seemed energized as well, students said.
"I'm sure he's exhausted, it's the end of a six-day bus tour, but he was still a fantastic speaker," Burdette said.
