Alumni Link
‘Back to School’, ‘Friday University’
programs debut last fall
By DIANA VIRIJEVICH
(Diana Virijevich is Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations)
Purdue Calumet’s first Back to School weekend took place on campus Sept. 23–25. The event kicked off with Alumni Leaders Day recognition in Alumni Hall. Twenty-one successful alumni were recognized for their career achievements.
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| Professor Richard Rupp presented “America and the World: 2010″ to Friday University attendees. |
Purdue Calumet’s first Friday University debuted with two days of classes Sept. 24 And Oct. 1. Friday University provided noncredit adult enrichment courses, taught by Purdue Calumet faculty on campus. The goal was to provide stimulating, noncredit opportunities for adult learners of all ages desiring intellectual nourishment. A social component of the program included a morning reception and lunch.
The Fall 2010 program offered 13 two-hour classes on a wide range of topics ranging from “Introduction to Computers,” and “Math is Brain Food” to “The Supreme Court” and “Introduction to 3D Graphics and Animation.” More than 160 community members registered for Friday University classes.
Back to School Saturday…
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| Professor Joan Dorman shows visitors the Simulation Lab, where nursing students experience health care-related scenarios using mannequins that can simulate birth and near death. |
…activities took place from noon to 4 p.m. and included a range of activities, including a picnic, DJ, children’s games, campus tours and School/Department Open House programs. Attendees also shot hoops with Peregrine basketball players, played volleyball or basketball, toured the Fitness Center and met students, faculty and advisors.
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| Peregrine basketball player Andrew Anderson encouraged attendees of all ages to participate in the shooting hoops contest. |
The day was capped with an Alumni reception held in Alumni Hall with live entertainment provided by Real Trio.
Alumni Leaders Day
Twenty-one Purdue Calumet graduates received Purdue Alumni Calumet’s 2010 Outstanding Alumni Awards during Alumni Leaders Day, Sept. 23.
Faculty from each Purdue Calumet academic department selected honorees based on professional success. Chancellor Howard Cohen presented an Outstanding Alumni Award medallion to each award recipient. The honorees participated in a Q&A open forum, offering valuable advice to Purdue Calumet students and professionals in their field of study.
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| Back Row (from left): John Giobbi, Steve Tripenfeldas, Drew Wahlberg, Jeff Vaitekunas, Stewart McMillan, Mary Dankoski, Judy Serwatka, Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, Jason Topp, Joshua Lybolt Front Row: Araceli Reyna, Kara Bonin, Sue Mau, Karen Zmuda, Konstantina Sotiroglou Maginas, Larry Brechner, Melissa Yovich-Whattam, April Heltsley, Diane Schweitzer, Kathy Rich, J.T. Eagan |
2010 Alumni Leaders Day honorees.
School of Education
Steve Tripenfeldas (Schererville) Principal, Munster High School; Department of Graduate Studies in Education Award
Kara Bonin (Crown Point) Principal, Salk Elementary School, Merrillville; Department of Teacher Preparation Award
School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Mary Dankoski (Fishers), Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis; Department of Behavioral Sciences Award
Diane Schweitzer (St. John), Director of Child Nutrition, School City of Hammond; Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management Award
Larry Brechner (Highland) Munster Auditorium Director and Munster Theatre Company Producer/Director, School Town of Munster; Department of Communication and Creative Arts Award
April Heltsley (Bloomington, IN), senior faculty lecturer, Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Operations and Decision Technologies; Department of English and Philosophy Award
Kevin Cessna-Buscemi (Valparaiso), Director, National Spanish Examinations; Department of Foreign Languages and Literature Award
Melissa Yovich-Whattam (Aurora, IL), Director of Enrollment Communications, Aurora (IL) University; Department of History and Political Science Award
School of Engineering, Mathematics and Science
Karen Zmuda (East Chicago) Medical Technologist, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago; Department of Biological Sciences Award
Konstantina Sotiroglou Maginas (Crown Point), Chemistry Department Supervisor, DonLevy Laboratories; Department of Chemistry and Physics Award
Jeffrey Vaitekunas (Fairview, PA), Vice-President of Research & Development, Cybersonics, Inc., Erie, PA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Award
Sue Mau (Fort Wayne), Faculty, Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne; Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics Award
Stewart McMillan (Valparaiso), President and CEO, Task Force Tips, Valparaiso; Department of Mechanical Engineering Award
School of Management
J.T. Eagan (Dyer), Senior Associate, KPMG, LLP, Chicago; Department of Accounting Award
Joshua Lybolt (St. John, Vice President, Prime Real Estate, Schererville; Department of Finance and Economics Award
Judy Serwatka (Valparaiso), Professor of Management Information Systems (MIS), Purdue University North Central, Westville; Department of Information Systems Award
Jason Topp (Cedar Lake), Financial Advisor, Ameriprise Financial, Merrillville; Department of Marketing, Human Resources and Management Award
School of Nursing
Kathy Rich (Chesterton), Cardiovascular Clinical Specialist, LaPorte Regional Health System, La Porte; School of Nursing Award
School of Technology
Araceli Reyna (Portage), Senior Managing Consultant, BKD, LLP, Merrillville; Department of Construction Science and Organizational Leadership Award
Drew Wahlberg (Crown Point), Engineering Director, Aeromet Industries, Inc., Griffith; Department of Engineering Technology Award
John Giobbi (Bend, OR), CEO, Proxense (Bend, OR); Department of Computer Information Technology and Graphics Award
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| Members of Purdue Alumni Calumet, Purdue Club of Northwest Indiana and Purdue Club of Chicago gathered at Gino’s steakhouse in Dyer for a recent networking event. Fifty area alumni attended.
Updating attendees about Purdue sports at Purdue Calumet and West Lafayette campuses were: Purdue Calumet Asst. Vice Chancellor of Health, Recreation & Sports/Athletic Director Robert Bunnell and John Purdue Club Assistant Director Chris Clopton. |
Filed under Alumni.
