Welcome
The Purdue Alumni Club of New Jersey connects Purdue University students, alumni, family and supporters throughout the Garden State. The club is built on the core values of discovery, service, pride, respect, responsibility and tradition. Our officers meet regularly and hold social and fundraising events throughout the year. Along with alumni, current and prospective Purdue students and their families are welcome at all of our events.
Scholarship
The Purdue Alumni Club of New Jersey’s intention is to offer at least one (1) scholarship per academic year in an effort to help students and families reduce the financial burdens of a Purdue education. The quantity and dollar amount of awards shall be determined by the club’s officers based on available funds in the club’s scholarship account. All scholarship recipients will be selected by the Purdue University Division of Financial Aid (DFA) using the following criteria:
- Student must be a New Jersey resident,
- be an undergraduate student in their sophomore, junior, or senior year,
- with a 3.2 GPA or higher (on a 4.0 scale = 87%), and
- demonstrates financial need
The Purdue Alumni Club of New Jersey cannot give specific recommendation to DFA to award a particular student. The club’s responsibility is to raise awareness of the scholarship and hold activities to help bolster the funds available to award each year.
Meet Our Recent Scholarship Winners!
2015-2016: Breeah C. of Hillside, NJ
$1,000 Scholarship
Where in New Jersey did you grow up and attend high school?
I grew up in Hillside, NJ, and attended Union County Magnet High School in Scotch Plains, NJ.
What are you studying at Purdue (major, minor, and year of study)?
This fall I will be a sophomore studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Spanish.
What is your favorite memory during your time at Purdue so far?
My favorite memory at Purdue so far is meeting my best friend. From the first time that we met in September until now, we have been inseparable. I can now confirm the statement that lifelong friends are made in college.
What are your long-term goals after graduating from Purdue?
My long term goals after graduation include getting a Master’s Degree to become a certified speech-language pathologist. I will work in school systems with younger populations. After this, I would like to construct and run my own school consisting of a daycare, school for the academically advanced, and school for the disabled/handicapped in one large facility.
2014-2015: Christopher D. of Readington, NJ
$1,000 Scholarship
1. Where in New Jersey did you grow up and attend high school?
I grew up in Readington, New Jersey, and attended Hunterdon Central Regional High School.
2. What are you studying at Purdue (major, minor, and year of study)?
I am currently studying mechanical engineering and going into my sophomore year at Purdue. I plan on doing the five year program to also obtain an MBA from Purdue.
3. What is your favorite memory during your time at Purdue so far?
My favorite memory so far is becoming a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.
4. What are your long term goals after graduating from Purdue?
My long term goals after Purdue include working with alternative energy to make the planet more sustainable.
2013-2014: Matthew P. of Monmouth Junction, NJ
$1,000 Scholarship
1. Where in New Jersey did you grow up and go to high school?
I grew up in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, and attended South Brunswick High School.
2. What are you studying at Purdue (major, minor and year of study)? How did you select Purdue as a student from New Jersey?
I am a sophomore, majoring in Aeronautical Engineering Technology with a minor in Management and Military Science. I chose to attend Purdue because of its excellent Aviation Technology program. I knew that I wanted to be around aircraft and Purdue provided the best opportunity to continue my love for aviation.
3. What is your favorite memory during your time at Purdue so far?
My favorite memory at Purdue has to be my first “Discovery Flight” where I was able to sit in the cockpit of Purdue’s own Embraer Phenom 100 jet and fly the plane. It was very humbling to know that you are in control of a multimillion dollar jet, let alone people’s lives, as a first semester freshman, with almost no previous flight experience. Overall, it was a thrilling experience.
4. What are your long term goals after graduating from Purdue?
Upon graduation, I plan to commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. I am currently a cadet in Purdue’s Army ROTC Boiler Battalion, and so far have loved every minute of it. Hopefully, I will be lucky enough to possibly go to Army Helicopter Flight School. Flying for the Army is a goal I’ve had for a long time, and Purdue is helping me get closer to that goal every day.
2010-2011: Gawin P. of New Milford, NJ
$1,000 Scholarship
1. Where in New Jersey did you grow up and go to high school?
I grew up in New Milford, NJ. I attended the Bergen County
Academies in Hackensack, NJ and was part of the Academy for Engineering and Design Technology.
2. What are you studying at Purdue (major, minor and year of study)? How did you select Purdue as a student from NJ?
I am a junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Environmental and Ecological Engineering. I chose Purdue because I wanted to further my education in engineering. My high school curriculum was geared towards engineering and I wanted to continue studying the field in college. Purdue is known for having one of the country’s best engineering programs so it seemed like a good fit.
3. What is your favorite memory during your time at Purdue so far?
My favorite memory at Purdue was my first week of orientation. That was my first opportunity to see what college was like. I toured campus, listened to the All American Marching Band and saw the Purdue Football team practice. It was during this week that I met the group of friends that I’ve spent the majority of my free time with at Purdue.
4. What are your long term goals after graduating from Purdue?
Once I graduate, I hope to find a job in mechanical engineering somewhere in New Jersey or New York so that I can be closer to my family. Engineering is a competitive field, so I might have to continue with internships for a few years before landing a job. I’ll always keep the option of going to graduate school in consideration, but I do not see myself going for my master’s directly after my bachelor’s.
Contact Us
Andrew Shannon
PurdueAlumniNJ@gmail.com
Purdue for Life Foundation
alumniclubs@purdueforlife.org