Purdue Northwest Fall Graduate Looking Forward to Providing Community Assistance

Megan-VietorMegan Vietor gave careful thought to the career that she wanted to pursue. She knew she wanted one that would enable her to help people battling through some of life’s challenges. And once she decided on the path she wanted to follow, Vietor would not let anything get in her way.

Vietor, of North Judson, looks forward to earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology during the Purdue University Northwest commencement ceremony Friday (12/9—5 p.m.) in the H.D. Kesling Gymnasium of the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex on the Westville Campus.

A career awaits “I will be taking a position as coordinator at Recovery Connection in Valparaiso,” she said. “Recovery Connection provides a support system for addicted persons and their families during their recovery period.”

Vietor, who went through recovery from a drug addiction herself, knows the importance of having a network of individuals who are willing to give their unquestioning and unwavering assistance to individuals facing what can seem like insurmountable problems.

“PNW allowed me a fresh start at school, and I was determined to graduate in order to help others who struggle with substance abuse or addiction,” she said.

It didn’t take long for her to find her niche on campus. She enjoyed her classes, and her grades earned her placement on the semester honors lists.

“My professors at PNW have been extremely encouraging and helped me in so many ways on my path to graduation,’ she said. “I received incredible support.”

Valuable career experience Outside of class, she gained valuable career experience when she took it upon herself to give back to her community.

“This past school year, I volunteered at an alternative high school, The Crossing, in Knox,” Vietor said. “I have had the privilege to work with students who have been expelled or who have dropped out of public school. At The Crossing, they have a second chance at earning a diploma or GED. This was a tremendous opportunity for me.”

She also looks forward to being married next July, noting, “My fiancé always encouraged me and kept me going while I was pursuing my degree, and he is very supportive of my career choice.”

Looking back at her time as a student, Vietor does not hesitate in saying “I would highly recommend PNW to anyone who thrives in smaller class settings. My experiences in class have been highly beneficial. Because of the smaller number of students, I have many strong relationships with my classmates. I love having personal experiences with my professors and classmates, and I feel I can learn better this way and come away with positive memories and encounters. I am extremely appreciative of PNW and all that it gives to its students.”

Purdue University Northwest Purdue University Northwest (PNW), a comprehensive regional university within the Purdue University system, has two Northwest Indiana campuses in Hammond and Westville. The university was established by the unification earlier this year of the former Purdue University Calumet and Purdue University North Central. With more than 15,000 students and nearly 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, Purdue Northwest is Indiana’s fifth largest public university. For more information about PNW, visit www.pnw.edu.