Chinaza Ruth Okonkwo Awarded 2021 Beinecke Scholarship

Chinaza Ruth Okonkwo, C'22, has been awarded a 2021 Beinecke Scholarship to pursue a graduate education in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Each scholar receives $4,000 upon completion of undergraduate studies and an additional $30,000 to support graduate study, with no geographic restrictions.

Okonkwo is one of only 16 Beinecke Scholars chosen this year from the U.S., and the 14th recipient from Penn since the award was first given in 1975. She is majoring in philosophy and history with concentrations in moral and political philosophy and world history, and pursuing minors in Africana studies; gender, sexuality, and women’s studies; and Native American and Indigenous studies. Okonkwo sub-matriculated into the philosophy master’s program and will be receiving her master’s degree along with her bachelor’s degree upon graduation in 2022.

Okonkwo identifies as a first-generation, low-income student and has done extensive research across the humanities and social sciences. Her current independent research project on Igbo philosophy aims to re-shape the understanding of indigeneity as it relates to the African continent. She intends to pursue graduate study in philosophy or social/modern thought.

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