Old Masters program selects returning alumni for virtual events

The 2020 Old Masters program will celebrate 70 years of enriching traditions, uniting generations and empowering Boilermakers on Nov. 8-9.

To honor the Protect Purdue Pledge and ensure the health and safety of the Purdue community, this year’s Old Masters program will introduce an innovative, hybrid format. The program’s main virtual event, "An Evening with the Old Masters," will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 9 via YouTube livestream.

The Old Masters also will engage with the Purdue community through an array of interactive platforms including the Old Masters Podcast, personal host calls, virtual classroom talks, organization meetings, and events with student organizations in which the Old Masters talk about their career advice and success. Many of the 2020 Old Masters virtual events are free and open to Purdue students and the public. More information on the events will be available on the Old Masters' Instagram channel (@purdueoldmasters) or Old Masters website, or by emailing oldmasters@purdue.edu.

Students and faculty can request to meet and engage with an Old Master for a classroom talk or student organization meeting through this link.

An Old Master is an exceptional person who has made significant contributions to their field of study and to society. Each year, a group of 12 students, known as the Central Committee, goes through hundreds of nominations in order to honor  deserving candidates.

The 2020 Old Masters are:

• Ken Armstrong, BA 1985, political science and government.
• Melody Birmingham, BS 1994, organizational leadership.
• Stacey Baitinger Burr, BSIE 1984, MSIA 1991, industrial engineering.
• Julie Dussliere, BA 1994, Russian.
• Stephen McKinley Henderson, MA 1977, theatre.
• Luke Marklin, BSCEM 2007, construction engineering and management.
• Ted McKinney, BA 1981, agricultural economics. 
• Reini Wirahadikusumah, MSCE 1996, PhD 1999, civil engineering.

 The Old Masters is one of Purdue’s oldest traditions, dating back to 1950. The program is known for connecting distinguished professionals to the student body in order to enrich traditions, unite generations and empower one another to move the world forward together as Boilermakers.

More information about this year’s Old Masters, the history of the program, involvement within the program and classroom requests can be found at the Old Masters website.

The Old Masters program is also encouraging nominations of deserving candidates for the 2021 Old Masters. This process can be completed online.

Contact: Rachel Walters and Luke Lael, oldmasters-publicity@purdue.edu