HONORS COLLEGE NEWS
DECEMBER 2021 ISSUE
The Honors College at Purdue University Northwest enhances the learning experiences of highly motivated and academically exceptional students.
Honors College students engage in advanced coursework, experiential learning, substantive research and collaboration with the University’s most outstanding faculty. These opportunities foster academic excellence, leadership skills, social and civic responsibility and other virtues required of outstanding citizens and innovators.
Dear Honors College Students and Friends,
It’s hard to believe the end of the year is almost upon us—and what a year it has been! What started out in uncertainty and with a spring semester partly remote, partly in-person ended with a full fall semester in-person and with Honors College activity and enthusiasm at its highest level ever! As we head into the holiday break and into 2022, I want to express my gratitude and appreciation for all you’ve done to bring the Honors College back healthy, strong, and engaged.
All of you have contributed in countless ways. Our Honors College staff has worked tirelessly, usually behind the scenes in ways that go unnoticed, to provide the kind of Honors experience you expect and deserve. Debbie Bachmann, Allison Vickers, and Gina Marzilli (whom we just welcomed in November!) are literally the dream team who make it all happen! Our student leaders on the Honors Student Advisory Board (HSAB) have done a tremendous job of planning a range and a sheer number of exciting events and meaningful service opportunities that almost boggles the mind! I can’t thank them enough for the enthusiasm and professionalism that they bring to their Honors work. And thanks to every one of you for powering onward this year! You’ve weathered some difficult times, prioritized your academic responsibilities, and stayed engaged inside and outside of Honors. You’ve filled up the dens again, led great events (with overflow crowds), and brought your optimism and vitality to Honors every day. Thank you!
I hope everyone has a safe and restful holiday break—you deserve it!—and an equally safe and wonderful 2022!
Best regards,
Honors Tackles "Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass"
The Dean’s Book Club is a chance for Honors students from all majors to come together and engage in conversation in an informal, relaxed setting.
This semester, The Dean’s Book Club was held once a month on September 22nd, October 20th and November 17th in Founders Study (SULB 358), from 5pm to 6pm.
On October 15th, students participated in the first Dean's Day Out, a day dedicated to education, exploration, and a dash of fun! To kick off the first outing, the group met in East Chicago and embarked on a train into the city to visit the Museum of Science and Industry.
Not only did students get to see the usual enthralling exhibits and activities that the Museum is known for, but the day also included Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes, a popular exhibit that included over 300 artifacts from the Marvel universe, exclusive artwork, life-size statues, and exciting installations.
Needless to say, it was a SUPER day and we're looking forward to the Dean's next big adventure in the spring.
This October, City of Hammond 3rd District Councilman, Barry Tyler Jr, came to speak to the Honors College Leadership class. His passion for giving back to the community aligns perfectly with the core values of the Honors College, making him the perfect speaker to inspire our future leaders.
Barry Tyler Jr. is a 2002 graduate of Hammond High School and a 2006 graduate of Wabash College.
In 2014, he was recognized as a Times Top 20 Under 40 Professional and has participated in programs such as Leadership for Northwest Indiana, Education Pioneers and Emerging Leaders. Along with coaching high school football, Barry is in his first term as the 3rd District Councilman for the City of Hammond and also serves as a board member for The First Tee of Lake County, The Hammond Education Foundation’s Blueprint Advisory Program and the Downtown Hammond Council while also volunteering for several other nonprofit organizations and as an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
On October 27, he gave an inspiring presentation to Honors students about his leadership development and experience and engaged students in a question-and-answer session. Thank you, Councilman Tyler!!
Honors very own, Mya Bell, was recognized this month at the 2021 South Shore Legends Celebration as the recipient of The Legends Scholarship.
This particular scholarship is awarded to local students who demonstrate one or more of a South Shore Legend's virtues: exploration, courage, creativity, and/or innovation.
Mya is an exceptional student that displays all of these virtues regularly in the classroom and as part of HSAB where she serves as Community Service Chair. We are thrilled that she was considered for this scholarship, as it is much deserved.
Congratulations, Mya!
This is the first of many upcoming projects supported by the new PNW Environmental Sustainability Endowment to bring more eco-friendly initiatives to our campus.
You can read more about this process in the following articles posted this year:
Purdue University Northwest Adds Honey Bees to Its Campus Communities | PNW Collects More Than 200 Pounds in First Honey Haul
Recently, our Honors students have stepped up and volunteered to bottle and label each jar of honey to ensure that PNW makes progress towards this goal of environmental sustainability.
We're proud of our students for playing a role in such a new and exciting initiative and we hope you get the chance to try "Pride Gold" in the near future. Rumor has it, it's the best honey this side of the Indiana border!
Natalia Salazar Visits Barcelona, Spain
In this segment of our newsletter, we invite you to take a trip to Barcelona, Spain where Senior Honors student, Natalia Salazar, is currently studying.
Natalia is participating in Barcelona's Journalism program, with a focus on global and international studies.
On top of taking classes with her program at PNW, she is taking a course at a Barcelona University, and completing an internship with a company abroad called TAG. (Be sure to read the Student Internships section later in this issue for more details!)
Although Natalia has been extremely busy with her studies, she's made it a priority to enjoy her trip abroad.
"I absolutely love Barcelona, as it is just a completely different way of life compared to the United States."
Natalia went on to explain that the "hustle culture" that drives our country is far less prevalent in Barcelona. Instead, she said, "People enjoy the things that they have in life a little more."
Due to the more laid back nature of Barcelona, and ease of travel, Natalia has found time to explore Milan, Morocco, the Sahara Desert, Berlin, Amsterdam, and even Paris!
In terms of Natalia's future goals, the experience has been an eye-opener for her.
"I am minoring in Global Studies and have always been interested in that specialization so being here has definitely broadened my horizon and has confirmed that I do want to be able to travel, or at least focus on writing about more of the world, rather than just the United States."
All of us here at the Honors College congratulate Natalia on this exciting opportunity and wish her the best on all her future endeavors, wherever they may take her.
Peter Cowling - Intern at Orbital Engineering, Inc.
"Hello! My name is Pete Cowling, and I am a sophomore pursuing a double major in mechanical engineering and physics.
I am a mechanical engineering intern at Orbital Engineering, Inc.
Getting an internship has helped me to understand the application of what we learn in school on a different level. School is great because you learn things on the level of a scientist or researcher. It's pretty low level. My internship is great because I can see how to get things done without getting bogged down in the unnecessary details. It's all about how good is good enough, which requires you to understand what really matters. Time is too important. Efficiency is key."
Natalia Salazar - Intern at TAG in Barcelona, Spain
"Right now I am studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain in their Journalism program and focusing on global and international studies. I am currently taking classes through the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), as well as at a University in Barcelona. I also had an internship here with a company called Talent Garden (TAG), which is basically a coworking business, focusing on building connection and collaboration between digital and tech innovators.
My internship was super interesting, especially since it was in Spanish. It really taught me to put myself out there. I also learned how to use a lot of different computer programs like Google Sites and was able to practice using different programs like Canva."
Zackary Richards - Intern for the Electric Standards department at NIPSCO
"My name is Zack Richards, and I am entering my sophomore year this fall as a mechanical engineering major. I was born and raised in Northwest Indiana and have always been very interested in attending PNW. As a student, I am involved in the Honors College, as well as the Baja SAE student chapter. I am also an intern for the Electric Standards department at NIPSCO. I began my internship working full-time and am currently working part-time during the school year.
Having the opportunity to begin an internship this early in my college career has been a big blessing. One way it has helped me is in the way I approach my studies. Since my internship, I am now looking at how I can apply things that I learn in class to the real world, which allows me to have a fuller understanding of what I’m being taught.
Another thing it has helped me with is time management. There have been very few days at work where I have only worked on one or even two things all day. Most days I am going from project to project trying to use my time as efficiently as possible. This has helped me become better at using my time wisely in school and in life.
Lastly, my internship has greatly helped me with networking. Although many companies are still enforcing Covid restrictions, I was still able to build many relationships with suppliers and co-workers through email, call, and even the occasional face-to-face meeting. This has proved to be very valuable to me and has also helped me with my communication skills."
Courtney Blackwell
"My future plans are to attend the University of Illinois-Springfield to pursue my master's degree in Educational Leadership while playing my final season of collegiate softball. I loved working alongside my professors as a teaching assistant for the Honors College and developing my pedagogical skills. I am so grateful for my time as a member of the Honors College."
Erik Krause
"I am a Graduating Senior here at PNW. My future plans include getting married on December 31st of this year, starting my career with ArcBest in January, and finding my first home! I have enjoyed the people in the Honors College the most, as they are some of the most thoughtful, selfless, and caring individuals on campus. I will miss you all tremendously and hope the best for all in the Honors College!"
Rachel Wilcox
"I am a Mathematics graduate with minors in Computer Science and Statistics. After graduation, I will be going through some self-taught training on different software and coding languages while pursuing a career in data analysis. The thing I enjoyed most about the Honors College was having Cohort 1 and building relationships with my peers that made the transition into college so much easier. "
