Neil Armstrong, Purdue to honor 'Hero of the Hudson' Sullenberger on Friday (Nov. 12)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, and Purdue University will make history Friday evening (Nov. 12) when they honor Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger with the Neil A. Armstrong Medal of Excellence. Earlier in the day, the university also will present Sullenberger with a distinguished alumnus award and he will take part in a book signing.
Sullenberger, a Purdue alumnus, successfully landed his US Airways airliner in the Hudson River shortly after takeoff on Jan. 15, 2009. He stayed on board until all 155 passengers and crew were safely off the plane.
Reporters, photographers and videographers can attend all three events at Purdue, although there are specific restrictions, which are outlined below. Requests must be submitted in advance and written on the letterhead of the news organization to be represented. Requests and questions should be sent to Jeanne Norberg at jnorberg@purdue.edu by 5 p.m. Thursday (Nov. 11).
Neither Armstrong nor Sullenberger will be available for interviews on Friday (Nov. 12). Information for the dinner, book signing and distinguished alumnus award events is as follows:
8:15-9 p.m. Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms. Purdue President France A. Córdova and Armstrong, also a Purdue alumnus, will honor Sullenberger at the President's Council dinner. Journalists and still photographers should arrive at 8:10 p.m. at the south doors to the South Ballroom in the Purdue Memorial Union and will be escorted inside. Because space is limited, university videographers will provide audio and video feeds to the Terrace Room on the east side of the entryway to the South Ballroom. Videographers and radio reporters should arrive at the Terrace Room by 8 p.m. with a recording unit and plug-in equipment for both a video and an audio distribution box. Purdue also can provide video on a password-protected FTP server if there is sufficient interest expressed. Broadcast journalists interested in downloading video via FTP should contact Jeanne Norberg, 765-494-2084, jnorberg@purdue.edu, for access details.
1:30-3 p.m. Stewart Center, Room 306. Sullenberger will sign his book, "Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters." Photographers and videographers are welcome in the hallway or in a designated area inside the room. Journalists may conduct interviews with those in line provided their cameras remain in the designated areas.
12:30 p.m. Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom. Sullenberger will receive a distinguished alumnus award from the College of Liberal Arts during a Purdue President's Council lunch. Space will be provided at the south end of the ballroom for reporters, photographers and videographers. Sullenberger is expected on stage about 12:45 p.m.
A related news release is available at http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/events/2010/101110SullenbergerArmstro.html