On Saturday, Purdue University Northwest celebrated the graduation of 493 students during the first Purdue Northwest Fall Commencement ceremonies to be held at the Hammond Campus.
The Commencement was the first held by the regional university since becoming Purdue University Northwest (PNW) this year. PNW Chancellor Thomas L. Keon spoke about the ceremonies.
“This graduation ceremony really was the very first opportunity for us to feel like a single university,” Keon said. “Being able to see all of the students and their families celebrate as one was very nice.”
“It truly is just a first step to all of the wonderful things that can follow,” added Keon.
Former Indiana state legislator and PNW Westville Campus alumni, Christina Hale delivered the keynote address at the day’s ceremonies and urged graduates to be prepared to answer, “Yes!” when opportunity comes knocking.
“I suspect that you are smart, you are engaged in life for the right reasons and you have a good heart,” Hale said to the graduates. “So when opportunity knocks, ask yourself that question, ‘Why not you? Why not?’ and be prepared to say “Yes!”
Also addressing graduates was President of the Purdue Northwest Alumni Organization, Kathryn Eaton, who was not only speaking to PNW graduates, but newly-made alumni members.
“You are Purdue Northwest! Go out there and make your mark on the world. And welcome to the Purdue Alumni family,” Eaton said to resounding cheers.
In total, PNW’s fall graduating class is comprised of 174 individuals from the Westville Campus and 816 from the Hammond Campus. Between the two campuses, there were 82 master’s degree recipients, 894 earning baccalaureate degrees and 14 receiving associate degrees.
Also during the weekend's commencementceremonies, distinguished baccalaureate degree candidates were recognized. They include the following Chancellor Medallion honorees for compiling the top grade point averages in each of Purdue Northwest’s academic colleges: Natalie Weiss of Granger (College of Business), Qusai Alqadi of Oak Forest, IL and Andres Roja Carbo (College of Engineering and Sciences), Mallory Hayes of Schererville and Charles Halberstadt of Portage (College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences), Rachel Collins of Highland (College of Nursing), and Yvette Rarick of Whiting (College of Technology).
Purdue Northwest Chancellor Thomas L. Keon presented recipients with the medallions.
Purdue University Northwest, a comprehensive regional university within the Purdue University system, has two Northwest Indiana campuses in Hammond and Westville. The university established by the unification in early 2016 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.