Search
Close this search box.

Support as Strong as a John Deere Combine

Randy and Deb Sergesketter

“One of the things we learned at John Deere was the value of getting our customers some actual ‘seat time’ in our products and in the field,” retirees Randy (T’80) and Deb Sergesketter say. The couple now supports programs they believe provide some Purdue “seat time” earlier in a young person’s development, helping them make informed decisions about their future—and maybe even become a Boilermaker.   

Randy and Deb met while working for John Deere. He held numerous positions before retiring as a senior vice president, and she retired as a graphic designer. Randy also served as John Deere’s key executive for Purdue and as a member of the Dean’s Executive Council for nearly 25 years, enjoying an inside look at what was happening at his alma mater.

“I worked with a lot of great Purdue leaders who were driving change and expanding educational opportunities to a broader and more diverse group of young people,” Randy says. “We were able to support these efforts both personally and through John Deere, and I am privileged to work with the Dean’s Executive Council as well as a new Diversity Advisory Council within Purdue Polytechnic Institute.”

The Sergesketters have given back to the university in a variety of ways, including their support of the Polytechnic Excellence Accelerating Knowledge (PEAK) Scholars Program and the STEM Academic Boot Camp (ABC).

PEAK is designed to recruit and support high school students who show an early interest in polytechnic disciplines. “The purpose of PEAK is to help break down barriers that hinder the retention and success of students who are often not typically equipped to benefit from higher education,” Randy says. “By providing tailored support, fostering a sense of belonging, and promoting a culture of inclusivity, we aim to empower these students to excel academically, graduate, and become the next generation of leaders who will drive positive change.”

STEM ABC allows incoming students to connect with their professors and advisors, meet distinguished Purdue Polytechnic Institute leaders, and become acquainted with the college’s departments and opportunities. “This program is meant to give students a head start on their education by building a strong academic foundation for success,” Randy says.

“We are at the point in our lives where we can give back,” Deb says. “We give to people we trust will make a difference. Purdue is fortunate to have many who are committed to making the world a better place.”

Randy and Deb are enjoying retirement and cheering for Purdue’s athletic teams from their home in Iowa. “We owe a lot to the education, experiences, and relationships from Purdue,” Randy says. “We are excited to see how these programs will make similar opportunities possible for more students and generations to come.”

More President's Council News

Luzader Legacy: A Lifelong Commitment to Higher Education and the Arts

Tim and Sally Luzader first crossed paths at a Midwest College Placement Association conference and, united by their mutual passion for helping students succeed in higher education, have spent decades dedicated to student success. Now, through their generous bequests to Purdue, they’re ensuring their impact continues well into the future.

Jody and Rodney Green

An Expression of Gratitude

“It’s our responsibility to create opportunities for others, whether through financial sponsorship or the willingness to commit time and expertise to inspire those following behind us,” say Jody (MS’04, PhD A’08) and Rodney (A’02, PhD A’08) Green.









Keagan’s story

I’m walking with Grandparents University tour group near the steps of Hovde Hall. It’s a Thursday morning in July, and the only students around are between the ages of 7 and 14. I catch a snippet of a conversation between a grandmother and her grandson as she details the pranks she pulled with her friends around this area.

I smile because just a few months ago I was doing the same thing.

Grandparents University (GPU) is a two-day event where grandparents and their grandchildren embrace Purdue and all it has to offer.

Participants choose a specific major to study and attend a class taught by Boilermaker experts. The majors aren’t exactly like the ones we have here at Purdue, but they do get to do cool activities like creating hot sauce, designing monsters, flying drones, and cooking in a Purdue kitchen. It’s a great opportunity to see wisdom and curiosity combined in the classroom, as grandparents and their grandchildren collaborate on these projects. They’re equally willing to learn from the instructors —and from each other—while creating lasting memories.

They might not know it yet, but this Purdue experience at such a young age will help with their college decision in a few years.

My mother started working at Purdue when she was pregnant with me, so I’ve been familiar with the university my whole life. Many of my childhood memories are associated with different parts of campus, and these memories played a big part in my decision to attend Purdue. I was going to a place that I knew—a place I already considered a home away from home. In the same way, when these children make their college decisions, they will already have built connections with Purdue through Grandparents University.

It will also help they already have a Purdue degree!

At the end of GPU, the kids graduate just like regular students by walking across the stage of Elliott Hall of Music. They even have their own caps to decorate and keep—which is great because robe rentals would be a nightmare.

I had been to nine commencement ceremonies before my own in May, so I’m well-versed in Purdue graduations. Nevertheless, it was still fun to watch this one.

These children had learned so much more than what was taught in their major. They learned more about their grandparents and strengthened their connection with them. They learned about the university and what’s in store for them when they (hopefully) become Boilermakers. And at the Block Party, they befriended students they had never met before and hung out on Memorial Mall—just like regular college students.

It was almost exactly what I experienced throughout my college career. Yes, I got my degree and now  have a job as was intended on this life path. But I also made lifelong friendships and went outside my comfort zone in ways that helped me grow as an individual.

Purdue shaped me and continues to shape me. I credit a lot of my growth as a person and a professional to my college career here, and a lot of what I know to the professors and instructors I had throughout my education.

Through Grandparents University, you have the opportunity to provide the same transformative experience for future Boilermakers. You can be the Purdue instructor that inspires a path that lasts a lifetime.

Patsy J. Mellott

BS College of Health and Human Sciences, 1969
Fishers, IN

Patsy earned a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition in business from Purdue in 1969, in addition to an MBA in food marketing from Michigan State University in 1970. She retired from Kraft Foods in 2006 after 36 years in corporate food marketing and marketing communications management.

A community volunteer, Patsy serves on the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana Advisory Board and the Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences Dean’s Leadership Council, in addition to the President’s Council Advisory Board. She is a former member of the Health and Human Sciences Alumni Board. Patsy held several offices from 2006 through 2013, including president and treasurer. She serves her community’s Discover Indianapolis Club in Fishers, holding several leadership roles for over 10 years.

Patsy has received several honors, including the Purdue University Nutrition Science Department Hall of Fame recipient in 2009 and the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016. She also received the college’s Gold and Black Award in 2016, an honor reserved for donors who have moved the college forward by committing exceptional financial resources.

In addition to endowing two scholarships, the Patsy J. Mellott Scholarship and Patsy J. Mellott HHS Scholarship, she established the Patsy J. Mellott Teaching Innovation Award in the College of Health and Human Sciences in 2013. In 2015, she endowed the Patsy J. Mellott Women’s Tennis Coach Performance Award. She is a lead donor in the Christine M. Ladisch Faculty Leadership Award and the Purdue Women’s Network Virginia C. Meredith Scholarship for the College of Health and Human Sciences.