UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Fourth year Schreyer Scholar Yun Song, majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology at Penn State, has been awarded the 2025 Neil C. Patel Changemaker Scholarship honoring her community engagement and academic excellence. Throughout her time at Penn State, Song has shown commitment, leadership and a passion to help others.
An immigrant from South Korea, Song said her outlook on life has been heavily impacted by her grandparents. When she decided to study abroad in the United States at age 14, she had to leave her grandparents but continued to let their mentorship and influence guide her. She said the love she feels for her grandparents led her to major in biochemistry and minor in gerontology, the study of aging. Song plans to specialize in geriatric medicine, where, she said, she would like to use her lived experience to help provide ethical care for older adults who might feel powerless.
Song is already beginning her work in gerontology through her work at Penn State's Center for Healthy Aging, developing weekly group-based activities for a local senior living community. The goal of these programs is to help enhance social activity and reduce loneliness for the residents of the senior living community; Song said she plans to continue this work throughout the academic year. Additionally, she participated in a Maymester study abroad program in London that focused on adulthood. In London, she studied adult development through monarchal history and contemporary developmental theory.
Her achievements as an international student and scholar made an impression on Martin Silwinski, the Gregory Wolf Professor of Aging Studies and the director of the Center for Healthy Aging.
“Yun Song has distinguished herself not only through academic excellence, but through her extraordinary emotional depth, clarity of purpose and commitment to care for others — especially the vulnerable and isolated,” Silwinski said. “Her story is a powerful testament to how personal adversity can fuel as life dedicated to meaningful change.”
The Changemaker Scholarship was established in December 2021 in honor of its namesake, Neil Patel, who died from COVID-19 earlier that year. The scholarship honors Patel's memory and recognizes Schreyer Scholars who exemplify his commitment to family, community, education, and opportunity. Song will be honored at the Schreyer Honors College Celebration of Philanthropy on Sept. 4.