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Center Stage: Purduettes at President's Council Annual Dinner
Friday, September 30, 2011
The Purdue President’s Council is a notable group of alumni and friends of the University who are instrumental in Purdue’s progress and success by giving to a multitude of University programs. This year’s President’s Council Annual Dinner celebrated student’s gratitude toward President’s Council members for their contributions that help students live their dream at Purdue. Before the evening began, the Purduettes had the opportunity to speak with some of these distinguished men and women. Here, senior Erin Handy talks with Kate Burke – Purduette mentor and wife of Athletic Director Morgan Burke.
New women Julie Scherer, Bailey McGrath, and Karli Davis have an interesting and entertaining conversation with another esteemed member of the President’s Council.
The Purduettes led the start of the evening by singing the “National Anthem” while the Purdue ROTC Color Guard presented the colors.
Before dinner was served, the ladies sang praise for the food about to be received by singing the blessing.
After a delicious meal, the ladies prepared to perform their set for the audience. Here, Assistant Director Jon Ranard and the gentlemen of the Purduette rhythm section show their excitement for the show to come.
After opening their set with the crowd pleasers “Choreography” and “Brand New You,” the Purduettes brought back favorites such as “One Fine Day” and “Natural Woman.” Here, the sopranos warmly sing the Gershwin classic “Summertime.”
The Purduettes love having the opportunity to share new music! The ladies debuted their new arrangement of “Some Kind of Wonderful” and wowed the audience with their a capella sound.
Always a favorite at President’s Council events, the Purduettes entertain with the “STEM Song,” a tune written for Purdue President France Córdova that tells of the joys and difficulties of being in a technical major.
To conclude a wonderful performance, the ladies performed some of their favorite numbers, “For the Honor of Old Purdue” and “Hail Purdue!” Here, former astronaut Eugene Cernan directs the ladies in his alma mater’s fight song.
President’s Council events give the ladies the opportunity to meet some interesting and notable people. Some ladies had the privilege of chatting with Purdue basketball star Robbie Hummel, who gave a stirring speech at the dinner.
The theme of the evening was students showing their gratitude toward President’s Council members for helping make their dreams come true – and that theme couldn’t have rung truer for Purduette Sara McNally. Thanks to President’s Council members Tom and Christine Turpin, the Chicago native and aeronautical and astronautical engineering student had the distinct honor of meeting fellow Chicago native and Purdue engineer Eugene Cernan, the most recent man on the moon. The Turpins encouraged the senior, who has dreams of one day working for NASA, to go up and meet one of her heroes.