Early Outreach Program
College readiness starts with the habits you build today. The Boilermaker Opportunity Program Plus Early Outreach team helps Indiana students get a head start through coaching, resources and hands-on Purdue experiences that build confidence and plan for life after high school.
Supporting Indiana Students
The Boilermaker Opportunity Program Plus Early Outreach team partners with Indiana schools and families to help students prepare for high school, develop skills for academic success, explore college through visit experiences, understand the admissions process and build a real plan for life after high school — years before decisions start to feel urgent.
Meet Our REACH Ambassadors
REACH stands for Reaching Every Achiever with Care and Helpfulness. Our REACH Ambassadors are Boilermakers helping students from their hometown and communities navigate their path to Purdue University by connecting them with campus resources, other students, and a plan to make Purdue a reality.
Building a Foundation for Future Success
Every stage of your journey offers opportunities to learn, grow and prepare for what’s next. Whether you’re in elementary school or preparing for college applications, there are meaningful steps you can take now to support academic success, confidence and college readiness. Explore age-specific guidance and discover how BOP+ can help along the way.
Elementary school
Student Tips
- Read every day, for fun and for information — reading strengthens every other skill
- Practice working hard even when something is difficult, not just when it’s easy
- Learn to manage a simple schedule for homework time, reading time and free time
- Set small goals (finishing a book, learning a math skill) and celebrate reaching them
Parent and Guardian Tips
- Read a book series alongside your child and talk about what you’re reading
- Visit their school, meet with their teacher and stay in regular contact about progress
- Praise effort and persistence, not just results, to build a growth mindset early
- Encourage curiosity outside of school with visits to the library, museums and community events
Middle school
Student Tips
- Start building strong habits: Practice time management, goal-setting, following through on responsibilities and asking questions — skills that will carry you through high school and beyond. Consider joining us for Early Outreach Academy, a virtual workshop series for 9th and 10th graders to help you prepare for high school and apply to college.
- Explore majors that connect to your future goals: If you’re interested in pursuing business or engineering, check out opportunities within the Dr. Cornell A. Bell Business Opportunity Program or the Don and Liz Thompson MEP Program to learn how these BOP+ programs can support your path to Purdue.
- Visit campus with BOP+: Experience a college life first-hand — including full-day, immersive events designed to build familiarity with Purdue and college in general, long before application season.
- Get support as a first-generation student: If you’re the first in your family to go to college, connect with First Generation Student Services to help you navigate the challenges of high school and transition confidently to college.
- Access personalized support: Get individual guidance through virtual one-on-ones and in-person meet-ups to ask any questions you may have about college, learn how to best prepare to apply and explore degree paths that will get you to your goal.
Parent and Guardian Tips
- Explore options together, so you can have informed conversations along the way.
- Talk with a financial advisor about planning for college and learn about available options to cover costs.
Admissions College Prep Timeline
Get on track for college with guidance from Purdue’s Office of Admissions with steps to take from middle school through senior year of high school.
Get to Know Our Early Outreach Team
James Borom
Associate Director
I’m from: Northwest Indiana
Growing up, I wanted to be an: NBA player
Favorite subject in high school: gym — easily!
In college, I studied: business (associate’s degree), computer information systems (bachelor’s degree) and educational leadership (master’s degree)
Favorite Purdue tradition: hearing the story of how Purdue got the Boilermakers nickname
Fun fact: I was a Junior College All-American basketball player and was inducted into my college’s Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor.
Shannon Chipman
Academic Coordinator
I’m from: Northeast Ohio
Growing up, I wanted to be a: dairy farmer
Favorite subject in high school: American history
In college, I studied: family and child science (bachelor’s degree) and agricultural extension education (master’s degree)
Favorite Purdue tradition: Every year, my husband and I try to take our boys to a Purdue basketball game. Our favorite memory is watching Zach Edey play and getting our picture taken with him after the game.
Fun fact: I worked at Dairy Queen in college. And though its been a minute, I can still tell you every ingredient in your favorite DQ Blizzard.
