Sean (T’94) and Tiffany Mitchell deeply understand what it means to be a Boilermaker. With over 20 alumni in their extended family, a Purdue-themed Christmas tree in their home, a Motion P tattooed on Sean’s left shoulder, and now a scholarship, the Mitchells bleed old gold and black.
Sean’s connection to Purdue began when he visited his sister Mary (LA’93, PG’20), a freshman at the time. “I went to her classes with her, and just walking around, I fell in love with the campus,” he says. “I thought to myself, ‘I’m going to be here next year, and sure enough, I was.”
Although Sean and Mary only shared one class together, a history course taught by Professor Randy Roberts, it left a lasting impact.
“It was truly memorable,” Sean says. “Tiffany later had a class with Professor Roberts, and I would sit in on her lectures just to hear him teach again. Years later, we even brought our kids to his classes to experience it themselves.”
The Mitchells reconnected with Roberts during a President’s Council trip last summer. “I’ve had many wonderful experiences at Purdue, especially through President’s Council, but spending time with my favorite professor overseas was definitely a highlight,” Sean says.
The couple’s love of Purdue runs deep and has shaped the lives of their eight children, who grew up attending football tailgates and riding bikes around campus. Two of their children even inspired the creation of their scholarship. The Zoe and Robi Mitchell Scholarship will support students in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute.
“Our daughter Zoe and our son Robi both have special needs and are unable to attend Purdue as students,” Sean says.
“We wanted to name this scholarship in their honor, so they still feel connected to the university they both love, just like the rest of us.” The scholarship is open to all, no matter a student’s GPA or year in school.
“When I was a student, I worked 30 hours a week to put myself through school,” Sean says. “There were times when I didn’t get the grades I wanted simply because balancing work and classes was a struggle. We want to help students who might be facing the same challenges.”
The scholarship is fully funded, but the Mitchells hope to grow it over time. “We want others to be inspired by our love for Purdue,” Sean says. “Our hope is to encourage others to give back and stay connected to the university, just like we have, because it truly has changed our lives.”
