Small StepsStudent Spotlight
Small Steps Spotlight
Purdue University is home to many outstanding students. Spotlighting the incredible work of Purdue students is essential to inspiring future boilermakers and unifying current Boilermakers across campus. Small steps are the leadership positions we hold, problem-solving skills we develop, research we conduct and so much more. Whether it is in a lab, greenhouse or meeting room, Boilermakers are persistently discovering, researching, and developing the Next Giant Leap.
Stories
Angela Zhang
Aerospace Engineering major from Southern California, Angela Zhang, came to Purdue to experience all the opportunities and resources the university has to offer.
“I knew Purdue was known for being the cradle of astronauts”. Not only has she taken advantage of academic opportunities, but she is extremely involved on campus. Zhang serves as the president of the Society of Women Engineers, is a member of the Purdue Student Engineering Foundation, is an Aero and Astro Ambassador and participates in undergraduate research.
Zhang states, “Being a Purdue student has taught me a lot about grit and determination and what you need to succeed in the industry as a Purdue graduate”. She exemplified this notion of grit after not being accepted into Aerospace Engineering after her freshman year. Zhang did not let this obstacle prevent her from working toward her goals. Through learning and leveraging the resources Purdue offers and a great amount of determination, she was able to transform her biggest failure into her greatest achievement.
Zhang recognizes the community at Purdue as a great asset and she continuously gives back. She states, “Being a Boilermaker means that you help everyone around you succeed as you go through your path in college. Being a Boilermaker is being kind, being loving, being helpful as well as being an amazing student”.
Isabella Sirit
As a proud woman in STEM, senior Isabella Sirit says the resources across campus and support from faculty and staff offered at Purdue have aided in her successes and growth as a Boilermaker.
“Being heavily involved with the Women in Science Program since my freshman year, I have felt incredibly supported in my time here at Purdue. In terms of practicality, there is an abundance of tutoring opportunities provided by and at Purdue to take advantage of. But personally, I find that the faculty, staff, and students have been the most uplifting and motivating part of being a woman in STEM.”
This past year, US News and World Report ranked Purdue University among the top 10 most innovative universities in the country and Forbes ranked Purdue University fifth nationwide for graduating the most STEM Majors. Because of the resources and opportunities that placed Purdue University in these rankings, Sirit knows she will be prepared for her time after graduation.
By being involved in Women in Science and the Forensic Science Club and working in the Honors Research Program as an undergraduate researcher for the Cancer Center as well as being an undergraduate TA for biology labs, Sirit says the relationships she has made here has truly been her greatest accomplishment.
“The greatest achievement I have had here at Purdue University are the relationships I have built with peers, family, and faculty and staff. These relationships have helped drive my passion for all my involvements across campus.”
Joshua Gregory
Purdue University student, Joshua Gregory, chose to come to Purdue after falling in love with the campus and people during a summer engineering program his junior year of high school. Since then, he has taken advantage of the immense opportunities offered on campus and has stayed true to himself.
Gregory is heavily involved on campus. He serves as the president of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, inc., the president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and is involved in the National Society of Black Engineers. He also has had many internship opportunities during his time at Purdue, one that he prides himself on involved him working on one of the tallest skyscrapers in Chicago that will be completed in Fall of 2022.
“Being a Boilermaker is being someone that works really hard and just gets things done. We’re very results driven here, and it shows up in even our new buildings, new programs, and new opportunities. We are always ready to take the next step” states Gregory.
In addition to his involvement on campus, Gregory gives back to fellow Boilermakers off campus through uplifting them in their academics and ensuring that everyone is safe in social settings. His advice for Boilermakers that strive to his level of success is to enjoy your time in college and stay true to yourself.
Gregory advises, “Don’t judge yourself by others’ opinions but judge yourself based on how far you’re going and your opinion of yourself”.
Marcus Lannie
As a senior in the College of Engineering, Marcus Lannie strives to make a giant impact on everything he works on. Coming to Purdue, he admired how Purdue engineering was not only making differences on campus, but also out in the world. Lannie wanted to make a difference, he knew he could do that by attending Purdue.
Lannie describes how Purdue’s culture has impacted his experience on campus as “I never knew just how strong Purdue’s network is.” This has allowed him to achieve internships and job opportunities through connection alone and strives for other Boilermakers to focus on connections that come with going to Purdue.
Lannie’s involvements have allowed him to leave a mark on Purdue’s campus. He develops winning strategies as a technical consultant at Purdue Solutions Consulting, has grown Purdue’s American Society for Mechanical Engineers to over 300 motivated members as President, and most recently received the distinguished award of Engineering Fellow from Purdue’s College of Engineering for his work on campus. He persistently takes small steps toward his next giant leap through campus involvements!
“The Boilermaker spirit is all about working hard in class, developing a desire to learn, taking that knowledge to apply in the real world and so that we can make it a better place,” he says. Marcus Lannie’s devotion to learning, both inside and outside of the classroom, showcases exactly what it means to be a Boilermaker.
Izzy Weber
As a junior in the College of Engineering, Izzy Weber has found her way at Purdue University with the support of the strong and caring Boilermaker community. Weber states, “What surprised me most when coming to Purdue is the strong sense of family here”. The devotion of faculty and peers to the success of others has played an important role in her time at Purdue. Through this support, she has been able to develop and sharpen her interpersonal skills, independence, and ability to ask for help when needed.
Weber’s involvement has allowed her to contribute to this community to a great extent. She holds a position in her sorority, in the Panhellenic Association, in Purdue Student Government, and is a mentor in the Women in Engineering program. She continuously utilizes her empathy and interpersonal skills in her academics and campus involvement to give back to the Boilermaker community.
“Being a Boilermaker to me means being a part of something that’s bigger than yourself, being a part of that campus-wide family and being there for anyone for anything,” she says. Izzy Weber’s devotion to her academics and the Purdue community embody the definition of a true Boilermaker.
Kaustubh Ray
Research, leadership, and academic ability are the three different areas that senior in Aerospace Engineering, Kaustubh Ray, focuses on.
“Being a Boilermaker is about adopting and growing together. I think we have a really organic competitiveness here on campus that really pushes every student and allows them to have a choice and take those opportunities.”
Ray is also highly involved at Purdue as he serves as the President for the Interfraternity Council, is involved in Purdue Space Day and is a member of the Aerospace Student Council. He has also worked on research for both the aerospace and mechanical engineering departments and had the opportunity to work for NASA and JPL.
As COVID impacted and canceled many of his involvements, including leadership positions and internship opportunities he was able to find new opportunities and excel in ways that led to much of his success. His persistence in finding new avenues to get involved on campus is a defining characteristic of all Boilermakers.