Lehigh University

The Class of 2026 is back with more meaningful objects that shaped their Lehigh experience! Today we’re featuring Crystal Flores’s brown bucket hat worn by Marching 97 members, Archer Benedict’s feature-length documentary made with recording studio equipment in Coppee Hall, Ryan Javier’s double-decker bus souvenir from Hong Kong, Taylor Jeffrey’s connection to the lab in the Health, Science and Technology (HST) building and Sam Anderson’s travel journal that motivated her to study abroad while connecting her to family memories.

Learn more about these Future Makers and their most special moments at the links below:

Blog: https://blog.lehigh.edu/26-class-of-26-students-reflect-on-meaningful-objects?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ucpa-social&utm_content=feed

Exposure: https://lehighuniversity.exposure.co/26-stories-of-meaningful-objects-from-the-class-of-2026?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ucpa-social&utm_content=feed

Wondering what the Class of 2026 carried with them throughout their Lehigh journeys? A new batch of recent alumni just dropped! Hear from Tyson Utesch, Olivia Link, Lexy Guazzone, Leia Barnes and Hashem Al Hattab as they add to the list of objects that defined their Lehigh experience. From pole vaulting through four years as a Mountain Hawk to pursuing photo journalism with a Canon R3, these five alumni share meaningful moments they won’t forget.

Check out the blog posts and Exposure from these Future Makers to learn more about their most special moments!

Blog: https://blog.lehigh.edu/26-class-of-26-students-reflect-on-meaningful-objects?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ucpa-social&utm_content=feed

Exposure: https://lehighuniversity.exposure.co/26-stories-of-meaningful-objects-from-the-class-of-2026?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ucpa-social&utm_content=feed

In its third academic year, Lehigh’s Compelling Perspectives series invited three influential voices to address the future of artificial intelligence: Arianna Huffington, founder of the Huffington Post and founder and CEO of Thrive Global; U.S. Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania; and Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple and technology entrepreneur.

Though their conversations explored distinct themes such as the human side of AI, the role of government and innovation in shaping AI’s future and how technology has impacted AI, together they offered a multifaceted portrait of the challenges and possibilities that lie ahead in a society living with AI.

Read about the 2025-26 Compelling Perspectives series: https://news.lehigh.edu/shaping-the-future-ai-humanity-and-innovation?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ucpa-social&utm_content=feed

Browse the Spring Alumni Bulletin: https://news.lehigh.edu/publications/bulletin/spring-2026?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ucpa-social&utm_content=feed

A transformative internship with 3M in China through the Iacocca International Internship Program jump started an impactful career for Gorgi Pavlov ’14 Ph.D.’18. Today, Pavlov is a principal scientist at Johnson & Johnson.

In the Spring Alumni Bulletin, read how Pavlov’s career came full circle as he returned to the university as an adjunct instructor in the department of bioengineering in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science during the Fall 2025 semester.

🔗 More on Pavlov's journey: https://alumni.lehigh.edu/news-blog/iacocca-impact-gorgi-pavlov-14-phd18?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ucpa-social&utm_content=feed

🔗 Browse the bulletin: https://news.lehigh.edu/publications/bulletin/spring-2026?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ucpa-social&utm_content=feed

Lehigh’s Community Service Office pulled out all the stops and with the help of some beautiful campus partners collected, sorted, packed up and unpacked gigantic piles of generous donations for today’s amazing Great South Side Sale.

It was extremely hot weather and we are ecstatically thankful for everyone who came to shop today, and to our volunteers.

The sale brought in nearly $27,000 that will go directly to programming for our South Side Kiddos!

Now new alumni, 26 graduates from the Class of 2026 shared their most meaningful objects from their Lehigh experience. Alli Courtenay, Cooper Delemus, Olympia Ransom, Patrick Stanton and Maritza Mones-Poblano kick off by sharing pivotal moments and milestones, from a Formula SAE racecar and trophy to finding Lehigh mentors that sparked true passion in environmental research.

Check out the blog posts and Exposure from these Future Makers to learn more about their most special moments:
💻 https://blog.lehigh.edu/26-class-of-26-students-reflect-on-meaningful-objects?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ucpa-social&utm_content=feed

📸 https://lehighuniversity.exposure.co/26-stories-of-meaningful-objects-from-the-class-of-2026?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ucpa-social&utm_content=feed

Meet Israel Wachs— G. Whitney Snyder Distinguished Professor for P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, National Academy of Engineering member and a driving force behind Lehigh’s elite R1 research status.

Wachs pioneered "operando" spectroscopy, a groundbreaking method that allows his team to watch chemical reactions happen at the molecular level in real time. By mapping how catalysts behave under real reaction conditions, his lab is engineering real-world solutions to massive environmental and energy challenges—from creating sustainable green fuels to transforming toxic air pollutants into harmless water and nitrogen.

🔗 Learn more: https://engineering.lehigh.edu/news/article/lehigh-professor-israel-e-wachs-elected-national-academy-engineering?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ucpa-social&utm_content=feed