“I arrived in West Lafayette on a cold and quiet winter day,” says Ryan Tedjasukmana (AAE’13, MS’15). “When classes started, Purdue turned into this melting pot of people from different backgrounds and unique upbringings. Some of them became my very best friends.”
The child of a Scottish immigrant, Tom Howatt (M’72, MS M’73) was the first in his family to attend college. “What I learned growing up was a strong work ethic—something that has served me well my entire life,” he says.
Donald “Don” Coates (MS ME’66, PhD ME’70) didn’t originally plan on attending Purdue. He changed his mind, however, while working at the Grumman Aerospace Corporation. His boss, Bernard “Bernie” Zapotowski (AAE’54), was a proud Boilermaker who embodied the university’s innovative spirit.
When the Purdue Boilermakers pulled off an upset against the No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 22, 1979, hundreds of students rushed the Ross-Ade Stadium field.
Lush trees, eye-catching sculptures, welcoming tables and benches, and serene surroundings have made Pickett Memorial Park the perfect campus escape since 1971. Now, by capitalizing on the park’s proximity to the Intramural Gold Playing Fields, the university will further its focus on student health and wellness.
Today is not just any graduation but the commencement at a special place called Purdue, with a history that is rich and distinct and an accelerating momentum of excellence at scale.
As Purdue’s graduates set out to change the world, they do so ever grateful for the generosity of alumni and friends.
Mary Kay and Lee Sommers understand the importance of education, both as students and teachers, and feel that “education is critical if we want to ensure that our country maintains a strong, productive society.”
David Merrick (AAS’82, T’83) and April Cheung (AAS’95, T’96, MS T’04), a Purdue assistant professor, have a long history of giving back to their community, including volunteer work with the American Red Cross.
Inspired by the kindness and generosity of Boilermakers before him, proud alumnus Tom Moore (LA’65, HDR LA’95) supports Purdue students who are passionate about the arts through his estate plan.
