Welcome
Founded in 1890, the Purdue Club of Indianapolis is one of the oldest and largest of Purdue University’s Alumni Clubs. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the educational mission and presence of Purdue in Indianapolis. The club highlights the strategic initiatives of the Association: Pillar of Strength for Purdue, Service and Relationships.
The Purdue Alumni Club of Indianapolis has multiple activities planned throughout the year. The club network is a great way to meet fellow Boilermakers, keep informed of campus activities, and show your Purdue pride. We’d love to see you at our next event! Hail Purdue.
Scholarship
Applications are due by March 1 and will be awarded on or before April 15 for the upcoming academic year.
We hope to hear from you soon! Hail Purdue!
History of the PAI Scholarship Program
Committee: In 1986, the Purdue Association of Indianapolis (PAI) named a Scholarship Committee under the leadership of Jim Wark, with the following members: Beth Brook, Bob Bruner, Bart Burrell, Frank Lambertus. The membership of the Scholarship Committee has changed over the years, but Jim Wark continued as Chairman until 2008. Upon Jim’s retirement, Sue Wilson became Chairman of the Scholarship Committee. Gordon Mallett became Treasurer in 1994, and managed the scholarship funds until 2012. In July, 2013, Tim Detterline became Treasurer.
Endowment Agreement: The committee determined to establish a Scholarship Endowment Account with Purdue University. An Endowment Agreement between PAI and Purdue University was signed on September 15, 1986. Bart Burrell, PAI President, signed the Endowment Agreement on our behalf. The Scholarship Endowment Account benefited from significant initial donations from members.
The Endowment Agreement specifies the terms of the scholarship award. Monies paid to our Endowment Account belong to and are invested by Purdue. Interest earned by the Endowment Account is used to pay scholars. Scholars must have graduated from a high school in Marion or any surrounding county that does not have a Purdue Alumni Club. Scholars must have maintained University scholarship grade requirements. Scholars must give evidence of financial need.
The first scholarship awarded was $500 given in 1988 to Ann Stanford. Jim Wark remembers that Ann came to the PAI lunch in Indianapolis, accompanied by the Financial Aid Director from Purdue University. The earliest available record shows that PAI awarded the next $500 scholarship in the Fall, 1994. By that time, the Scholarship Endowment Account had grown to $35,866.38 by virtue of wise investment by the University and continued contributions from PAI.
Performance: In the years from 1995 to 1998, we gradually increased the number of scholarships to 4 and the amount of each scholarship to $1,500, and the Endowment Account increased to $152,348. Since 2000, one scholarship has been named in memory of Joe Pierce, long time member of the Scholarship Committee. Since 2010, a scholarship has been named in honor of Jim Wark, Founding Chairman of the Scholarship Committee. In 2011, Endowment Account reached $250,000 and the scholarship amounts continued to increase as shown below.
Selection: Each year in April, the Financial Aid Office selects 8 candidates who meet our criteria. The Scholarship Committee goes to the Purdue Alumni Association offices on campus, interviews the candidates and selects the 4 students who become the PAI scholars for the next academic year.
Annual Awards
| Academic Year | PAI Scholarships | Joe Pierce Scholarship | Jim Wark Scholarship | Gordon Mallett Scholarship | Tom & Linda Carroll Scholarship | Total Awarded |
| 1997-1998 | 4 @ $1,000 | – | – | – | – | $4,000 |
| 1998-1999 | 4 @ $1,500 | – | – | – | – | $6,000 |
| 1999-2000 | 4 @ $1,500 | – | – | – | – | $6,000 |
| 2000-2001 | 3 @ $1,600 | $2,100 | – | – | – | $6,900 |
| 2001-2002 | 3 @ $2,000 | $2,500 | – | – | – | $8,500 |
| 2002-2003 | 3 @ $2,000 | $2,500 | – | – | – | $8,500 |
| 2003-2004 | 3 @ $2,000 | $2,500 | – | – | – | $8,500 |
| 2004-2005 | 3 @ $2,000 | $2,500 | – | – | – | $8,500 |
| 2005-2006 | 3 @ $2,000 | $2,500 | – | – | – | $8,500 |
| 2006-2007 | 3 @ $2,000 | $2,500 | – | – | – | $8,500 |
| 2007-2008 | 3 @ $2,000 | $3,000 | – | – | – | $9,000 |
| 2008-2009 | 3 @ $2,000 | $3,000 | – | – | – | $9,000 |
| 2009-2010 | 3 @ $2,000 | $3,000 | – | – | – | $9,000 |
| 2010-2011 | 2 @ $2,000 | $2,500 | $3,000 | – | – | $9,500 |
| 2011-2012 | 2 @ $2,300 | $2,600 | $3,250 | – | – | $10,450 |
| 2012-2013 | 2 @ $2,500 | $2,750 | $3,500 | – | – | $11,250 |
| 2013-2014 | 2 @ $2,750 | $3,500 | $3,250 | – | – | $12,250 |
| 2014-2015 | – | $3,500 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $14,000 |
| 2015-2016 | – | $3,500 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $14,000 |
| 2016-2017 | – | $3,750 | $3,750 | $3,750 | $3,750 | $15,000 |
| 2017-2018 | – | $3,750 | $3,750 | $3,750 | $3,750 | $15,000 |
The Future: At the beginning of this period, the interest from the Endowment Account was not quite enough to pay the entire scholarship amount, so PAI supplemented the scholarship account with earnings from silent auctions, raffles, and gifts – and we kept working to earn money to keep the Endowment Account growing. Now, the Endowment Account is close to $250,000, and the interest it earns will cover our 4 scholarships. From time to time, we consider increasing our scholarships. Our scholarship Endowment Account is of perpetual benefit to Purdue University. As long as Purdue exists, our Endowment Account will earn interest to fund future scholarships. For the sake of the University and of future scholars, it is important that we increase our Endowment Account and the scholarship numbers and amounts can grow, and grow, and grow. Hail Purdue!
Thank you to Gordon Mallett for putting this history into words!
Merchandise
You can now purchase Alumni Club of Indianapolis merchandise at the official Purdue for Life Foundation merchandise store. Offerings include branded shirts and outerwear for men and women, plus hats, blankets, tumblers, and more! Please note that you will be purchasing from Freckles Graphics, a preferred partner for merchandise.
Contact Us
Sara Nash
sara@nashams.com
Purdue for Life Foundationalumniclubs@purdueforlife.org