Impact

Three-time Paralympian and 19-time Paralympic medalist Erin Popovich named chief of staff for Purdue for Life Foundation.

Dozens of volunteers recently planted trees and mulched at Horticulture Park and John T. McCutcheon Residence Hall as part of the fall 2024 Day of Service. A total of 894 trees have been planted over the four-year history of the event, which is hosted by Purdue University in partnership with the Purdue for Life Foundation.

Homecoming at Purdue is naturally loaded with meaning for anyone who attends. For Liz White (EDU’74), the significance of Homecoming 2024 ran even deeper.

In the age of social media, artificial intelligence, and robots, one thing has remained constant—good old-fashioned mail. No matter where you live, you likely have a mailbox.

In celebration of Arbor Day and National Volunteer Month, 100 volunteers planted 260 trees at Purdue’s Horticulture Park on Friday, April 26, as part of a special spring Purdue Day of Service. Since the event launched in 2021, more than 450 volunteers have planted 861 trees at select campus locations.

Jay Hart (HHS’80) has reached the pinnacle of success in the film industry, but his is not a typical Hollywood story. Hart is what screenwriters would call a reluctant hero. Hesitant at first to even go into the movie business, Hart ultimately overcame his reservations to build a successful career as a Hollywood set decorator—and win an Academy Award.

Mindy Schultz remembers a time when she repeatedly drove her car over a small tree by mistake. Now, she plants trees—with purpose. Schultz, a 21-year Purdue employee, redeemed herself by volunteering to plant trees during the 2023 Purdue Day of Service.

Tyler Trent (AS T’18) was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer, at 15 years old. Despite his diagnosis, he was determined to attend Purdue University and have a normal college experience. While undergoing aggressive cancer treatment, Tyler maintained a positive attitude, inspiring millions.

Many may recognize the name Tyler Trent and associate it with words like superfan, Boilermaker, or hero. They may think of a Motion P–covered suit jacket, a hashtag, or a spirited buzz cut. But Tyler Trent (AS T’18) was more than a Purdue student battling a cancer diagnosis, and his fight for a cure for pediatric cancer continues today.

Bob Bowen (CE’62, HDR E’07) has at least two enduring passions—Purdue and bicycling—and he has found a clever way to celebrate both loves at the same time. Once a year on the day of Purdue’s first home football game, Bowen leads a bike ride from Indianapolis to West Lafayette in celebration of the Boilermakers and new beginnings.