Purdue student wins orientation leadership award
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A Purdue student leader was recently honored for his work with the university's Boiler Gold Rush orientation program.Kyle Sloan, a senior in the professional pharmacy program from Pittsboro, Ind., earned a Student Leadership Award from the National Orientation Directors Association.
Sloan was one of two winners in the region that includes Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Ontario, and the only winner in the four-year institution category, said Drew Koch, director of Purdue's Student Access, Transition and Success Programs.
"This is the first time that a Purdue student orientation committee member has won the award in all the years we've nominated a student," Koch said. "Kyle is the chair of the 2005-06 Student Orientation Committee and has worked with Boiler Gold Rush for four years. Each year, he's had an amazing impact on not only incoming students, but on his peers and the professional staff in the department."
Jennifer Wierda, an assistant director of Student Access, Transition and Success works directly with the development of Purdue's student orientation leaders, including Sloan.
"Kyle exemplifies the type of student that staff at any college or university would want to work with its newest students," Wierda said. "The incoming students see him as a mentor, leader and role model. His relationship with these students encourages their participation and engages them in our program."
The National Orientation Directors Association award is designed to recognize students for their creativity, energy, enthusiasm and abilities as part of an orientation program.
Boiler Gold Rush is a five-day, student-run orientation program held in August that encompasses all Purdue residence halls. Last year, more than 4,800 freshmen and 500 student volunteers took part in the event, which is a part of the new Student Access, Transition and Success Programs office.
The new office also includes Boiler Gold Rush, Day on Campus, Learning Communities, Purdue Opportunity Awards and the West Central Region Support Site for the 21st Century Scholars program.
Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu
Sources: Drew Koch, (765) 496-3618, akkoch@purdue.edu
Jennifer Wierda, (765) 496-3627, jwierda@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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