One Brick Higher Award Nomination
Purdue University is distinguished for the quality of its people and their dedication. The President recognizes that some faculty, staff, or students undertake their responsibilities with extra vitality, extra care, extra creativity, and extraordinary effort.
These individuals go beyond the requirements of their role by preventing or solving problems, providing outstanding mentorship, improving the lives of students or their parents, or increasing the effectiveness of their workplace.
To recognize the importance of such contributions, Purdue's President presents the "One Brick Higher" Award. "One Brick Higher" awards will be selected based upon nominations and will be presented at selected Presidential Forums.
To nominate an individual for this award, please provide the following information:
Thank you for your time and effort in submitting this nomination.
One Brick Higher
In 1894, the newly built Heavilon Hall – which was then the home of Purdue engineering – was dedicated. The building featured a tower, which symbolized academic excellence. Tragically, four days after the dedication a fire destroyed this new campus landmark.
Purdue President James A. Smart rallied spirits on campus by declaring that Heavilon Hall and its tower would be rebuilt "one brick higher."
And it was rebuilt. The new building was completed the following year, and featured a tower with a clock and four bells that served as a campus landmark for 60 years.
In the Fifties, Heavilon Hall was torn down and the current structure was built. The bells were placed in storage until 1995 when the Purdue Bell Tower was completed. So the bells that ring today are from the hall that was built "one brick higher."