HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. - Nearly 1,200 Purdue University Northwest (PNW) students have successfully completed the requirements of their undergraduate and graduate degrees as the spring 2020 semester draws to a close.
PNW celebrates with its graduates their determination in persisting to earn their degrees. Chancellor Thomas L. Keon and PNW Student Government Association President Oriana White will present their messages to the graduates virtually via the website at pnw.edu/commencement. Graduating students and their families are encouraged to watch this site starting May 15.
White completed her undergraduate degree in Communications with a minor in Human Resources, and will go on to graduate school at PNW in the fall to work toward a master’s degree in business administration. She recently was reelected as president of the student body.
During her undergraduate years, in addition to her work with Student Government, White served as president of the Public Relations Club, a campus ambassador, and worked on campus. This spring she received PNW’s Outstanding Undergraduate Student Service Award and she is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, the communications honor society.
Chancellor’s Medallion honorees
Fourteen graduating seniors have earned the Chancellor’s Medallion by achieving the highest grade point average from each college. Recipients of this distinguished honor are as follows:
College of Business - Rafida Ahad (Hammond), Noel M. Keeble (Dyer) and Randy Tadros (Crown Point).
College of Engineering & Sciences – Thomas Biancardi (Griffith), Autumn I. Duley (Crown Point) and Joel E. Moore (Saint John).
College of Humanities, Education & Social Sciences – Joshua W. Koepke (Kouts), Claire E. Miller (Lowell), Ashley R. Oh (Portage), Sarah Soliday (Valparaiso) and Hilary K. VanderVelde (Schererville).
College of Nursing – Jacinda D. Hinten (Valparaiso) and Ruth J. Ryder (La Porte).
College of Technology – Damian Podgorski (Franklin Park, Ill.).
By the numbers
PNW’s 2020 spring graduating class of 1,172 is comprised of 145 master’s degree candidates and 1,027 prospective baccalaureate graduates. According to PNW’s Office of the Registrar, the candidates earning bachelor’s degrees represent the College of Business with 182; 204 in the College of Engineering & Sciences; 228 from the College of Humanities, Education & Social Sciences; 274 from the College of Nursing; and the College of Technology has 139.
Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a student-centered university that values academic excellence, supports growth and celebrates diversity. Located in Northwest Indiana, near Chicago, PNW fosters a vibrant academic community through high quality and engaging undergraduate and graduate education. For more information about PNW, visit www.pnw.edu.
