April 25, 2005

Junior Achievement to tour tech companies at Purdue Research Park

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Otterbein Elementary School Junior Achievement students are getting out of the classroom and into the boardroom and laboratory when they visit several businesses at Purdue Research Park on Tuesday(April 26).

Gregory Deason, Purdue Research Foundation's vice president for real estate and research park development, already has visited the fourth graders five times to teach them about business fundamentals, such as how human and natural resources are combined to create a product that businesses sell to make a profit, which creates capital.

"By using examples such as Purdue Research Park, these young people gain a better understanding of how discoveries made at Purdue University – combined with energetic and forward-thinking businesspeople – impact our economy in dramatic ways," Deason said. "If they are inspired by this program, perhaps someday we'll see some of these kids as the research park's next generation of entrepreneurs."

The park is home to more than 70 high-tech companies that employ 2,500 people. It promotes an active interchange between private enterprise and Purdue researchers. Many of the park's high-tech companies are developing Purdue-licensed technologies.

The students will visit Lite Machines Inc., which manufactures miniature remote-controlled helicopters, and Griffin Analytical Technologies Inc., which develops portable scientific equipment, including a miniature mass spectrometer. Both companies are working with Purdue and the military on homeland security applications.

Junior Achievement describes itself as the bridge between education and business. Lafayette JA coordinator Kathy Stewart says she prizes partnerships with local companies including BASi, another Purdue Research Park that has welcomed JA students.

"Our volunteers show how skills learned in school are used every day in the workplace," Stewart said. "Getting a workplace visit like this is an added bonus."

Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu

Sources: Gregory Deason, (765) 494-8572, gwdeason@prf.org

Kathy Stewart (765) 449-1630, kstewart@ja.org

Dennis Barket, Griffin Analytical Technologies Inc., (765) 775-1701 x101, barket@griffinanalytical.com

Paul Arlton, Lite Machines, Inc., (765) 463-0959, paularlton@litemachines.com

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Media are welcome at the tour that begins at 10 a.m. at the Purdue Technology Center at 3000 Kent Ave. Contact Jim Schenke at (765) 494-6262 or jschenke@purdue.edu to make arrangements.

To the News Service home page