Zion Sykes hopes to leave a lasting legacy as he nears the end of his undergraduate experience at Penn State and his term as president of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA).
“I hope that through my actions people feel both heard and cared for,” said Sykes, a first-generation student and Schreyer Honors Scholar studying political science and global and international studies in the College of the Liberal Arts. “That goes hand in hand with how I generally approach my interactions with others. I always try to add a little bit of goodness to someone’s day.”
As leader of the student government that represents and advocates for all University Park undergraduate students — more than 42,000 strong — Sykes’ goal is no small feat. But he draws on his own background — including his personal experience with homelessness — to listen and connect with students to deeply understand the personal individual issues they are each facing.
Read more about Zion Sykes here: Leading with determination: A journey from adversity to advocacy | Penn State University
