Like all Purdue University students, pharmacy major Neena Phadke is ambitious. She dreams of professional success, but she also yearns for something much more personal. Phadke dreams of one day being able to help her father.
“Dad has suffered from heart disease and other cardiac problems, so cardiovascular research is really important to me to,” Phadke says. “We have some great drugs for that, but I do think we can do better.”
Her father is doing well, Phadke says. He has modified his lifestyle and followed all of his physician’s instructions, but there is only so much an individual can do.
“I think he has done everything that he can,” she says. “The rest is up to finding better medicines and better approaches.”
The Valparaiso, Ind., student is in the fifth year of a six-year pharmacy program. Purdue has fulfilled all of her expectations.
“I’m so happy with my decision to come,” Phadke says. “It’s the little things that make it great, last season’s basketball game against Michigan State, going to football games and watching the marching band play “Hail Purdue” and welcoming new students in the fall. It’s the quality of the relationships I’ve made through the organizations I’ve been in, and the openness and friendliness of the students and faculty here.”
A National Merit Scholar, Phadke says scholarships played a key role in her decision to attend Purdue.
“I honestly don’t think I would have chosen Purdue if it wasn’t for the scholarships,” she says. “It makes things easier on my family. I have a younger sister going to college next fall, and it especially helps with a six-year program.”
If she could, Phadke would give a “very deep and heartfelt thank you” to every donor whose gifts have supported her scholarships.
“They’ve made this amazing experience that I’ve had here possible,” Phadke says. “I really appreciate that they were so kind to donate what they could have spent on themselves to give students a better chance for an education.”
Phadke has been involved with the Student Orientation Committee, Mortar Board, Purdue Pharmacy Ambassadors, the Purdue Foundation Student Board and Delta Gamma sorority.