Honors College Newsletter

The Honors College at Purdue University Northwest empowers motivated, high-achieving students through enriched academics, experiential learning, impactful research, and close collaboration with dedicated faculty.

Through these opportunities, students cultivate academic excellence, develop strong leadership skills, and prepare to be thoughtful innovators and engaged global citizens.

Dear Honors College Friends, Families, and Supporters,

Welcome to the Spring 2026 edition of the Purdue Northwest Honors College newsletter!

As we conclude another busy year and head towards what I hope will be an enjoyable summer for all, I am excited to reflect on the incredible vitality of our Honors community. This latest edition is dedicated to the hard work and collective spirit that have defined our college over the past several months.

We begin by offering our warmest congratulations to the Spring 2026 graduating class. These students have tackled their rigorous academic paths with determination and persistence, and we are honored to welcome them into the Honors alumni ranks. Their achievements, alongside those of our various Honors award winners, represent the very best of PNW.

In the pages that follow, you will find a variety of features that capture the essence of this semester, including: a retrospective on the Days of Discovery, where our students presented original research that tackled complex questions across a variety of disciplines; a recap of our students’ community outreach and social events that improved our community and helped strengthen the bonds within our Honors family; and a recognition of our Honors award recipients, whose commitment to academic excellence remains a cornerstone of our program.

These successes are only possible because of the dedicated network of families, friends, and supporters who champion our mission. Thank you for your continued partnership in making the Honors College such a transformative environment for our scholars!

I wish everyone a peaceful and safe summer season.

Best regards,

Jonathan Swarts

Dean

Joining the Honors College means committing to 20 hours of community service each academic year, but it’s so much more than a requirement or a resume boost. It’s a chance to grow, give back, and make a real impact in our community.

This spring, PNW Honors students partnered with the grounds department for a campus-wide mulching project. With a record-breaking turnout, their teamwork and dedication helped refresh and revitalize the campus in a big way.

Because of their hard work, our university is looking better than ever—proof that when a community comes together, amazing things happen.

My name is Roman Ford. I have been interning with Dynatect Manufacturing for three years now and I will be starting a full-time position after graduation as a Design Engineer. During my internship I primarily worked in the engineering department; however, each summer I tried to spend a day working in each department in the manufacturing plant. This gave me better insight into any changes that needed to be made on the engineering side. It also allowed me to connect with a large number of employees.

Each year the intern(s) at Dynatect are in charge of hosting a philanthropy event. During my three years of internships, I have hosted one food drive and two school supply drives. All of these events allowed me to collect items as well as cash donations that were then delivered to a local shelter and a local school. These events were set up as a competition where points were assigned to each item and prizes were given to the employee or team with the most points.

During my time in the engineering department my first project was to streamline the CNC department setup time. At the end of my first year my efforts saved the department an estimate of nearly $6,000 annually. My second and third years of my internship were focused on design and design automation. As a result of my design automation there was an 83% reduction in design time. This reduction in design time allows engineers to focus on new product development and continuous improvement rather than spending time doing repetitive tasks. I have also been featured in product assembly videos, which can be found on the Dynatect YouTube channel.

This internship with Dynatect has given me the opportunity to put into practice the values of the Honors College. These values are to learn, serve, and lead. I have seen the impact that these values can have in the workplace and community. I am excited to see where these opportunities will take me. The Honors College has certainly set a strong foundation for success.

Days of Discovery is Purdue University Northwest’s annual research event that highlights the work of students and faculty across a wide range of disciplines. Many Honors College students take part, presenting their research and sharing ideas that connect classroom learning to real-world impact.

Kylee Shinkle, an Honors College student, is pictured at Days of Discovery presenting her research. She is pursuing a degree in Integrative Human Health at Purdue University Northwest

Honors courses bring together students from all majors, creating dynamic, thought-provoking conversations shaped by diverse perspectives. Students are encouraged to actively participate while strengthening their critical thinking through intentional assignments and activities.

That commitment to excellence shines students earning a 3.8+ GPA were celebrated for going above and beyond, demonstrating discipline, curiosity, and a true dedication to academic success. Their achievements reflect not just hard work, but a commitment to making the most of their Honors College experience.

The Mid-East Honors Association (MEHA) represents Honors programs at universities and colleges across the mid-east region.

In April, students Cassie Vickers, Zane Winders, Sylvia Rotole, Carlos Juarez and Julian Arceo were able to attend the annual MEHA conference in South Bend, where they delivered outstanding presentations.

Through sharing information about Honors programs and best Honors practices region-wide, MEHA hopes to create an intellectual, programmatic, and administrative network of resources aimed at helping the region’s honors programs grow and thrive.

The 3D modeling keychain workshop was designed to be both educational and interactive, bringing together students from multiple organizations, including ASME, the Honors College, and the Fine Arts Club. The event aimed to create an inclusive environment where students from different backgrounds and fields of study could learn, connect, and engage in a hands-on experience.

The workshop began with a brief introduction to 3D printing, followed by a tour of the Design Studio where students explored projects from various student groups. After the tour, the space was reorganized to facilitate a guided 3D modeling tutorial, helping participants understand how designs are created and prepared for printing. Each student then selected a design to be printed as a custom keychain. Due to the high level of participation, more than 50 keychains were produced and distributed following the event.

Overall, the workshop fostered collaboration, creativity, and community building. Students remained engaged even after the formal program ended, continuing conversations and making connections. The event highlighted the value of cross-organizational partnerships and demonstrated how hands-on, inclusive programming can strengthen student engagement and create meaningful shared experiences.

The annual Purdue Northwest Day of Giving was an incredible success for the Honors College!

Thanks to the generosity and support of our community. We’re proud to share that we placed 2nd in participation and 7th overall in donations, a testament to the strength and dedication of our students, alumni, and advisory board.

Throughout the day, it was wonderful to see alumni stop by, reconnect, and celebrate alongside our current students. The energy and enthusiasm from everyone who participated made the day truly special.

Thank you to all who gave, showed up, and made an impact. This was an incredible feat, and we couldn’t have done it without you!

Intern at the Alliance for Civic Engagement

This past spring semester, I had the opportunity to be a Current Events Intern at the Alliance for Civic Engagement (ACE), a non-profit organization located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dedicated to increasing civic literacy among young voters. As a Current Events Intern, I authored seven non-partisan news articles for ACE’s website and an additional 13 update blurbs for outdated policy briefs ranging across 9 different policy areas. When it came to my articles, I became well-exposed to the editorial process, submitting my article proposals on Monday, my first drafts on Wednesday, and my final drafts on Sunday. My supervisor Ms. Ella Dennis, a graduate student at Washington University, was a big help with her first-draft feedback—it felt like I was working for an online newspaper as her feedback strengthened my professional writing skills! In addition to researching and writing for ACE, I also attended several virtual events hosted by ACE. From a panel with industry leaders at the heights of their careers, to a networking hour with other interns, I learned so much through the professionals and students I heard from. Whether it was how to stand out in the job market or how to navigate options post-grad, these ACE events did more than compliment what turned out to be my dream internship: they helped me prepare for what’s next! Looking ahead, I plan to return to ACE this summer as a Current Events Intern and an Environmental Policy Fellow. The latter role will be more research intensive, but I am thrilled to expand my work in environmental policy, my future career field.

Congratulations to all of our Honors College graduates!

These students have demonstrated remarkable dedication, curiosity, and resilience throughout their academic journeys. They have challenged themselves, embraced new ideas, and pursued excellence in ways that inspire everyone around them.

As they step into their next chapters, they carry with them the passion and determination that brought them here. There is no doubt they will continue to make a meaningful impact wherever their paths lead!