Three students honored with Purdue Homecoming Pillars of Excellency

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University on Saturday (Oct. 12) announced three recipients of the merit-based Homecoming Pillars of Excellency during halftime of the Homecoming football game against Maryland. Homecoming marked the end of the university’s 150th anniversary celebration.

The Purdue Student Union Board created the honor to recognize students who exemplify teaching and scholarship, service and leadership, and research and innovation. It was open to juniors and seniors, and each awardee received a $1,000 scholarship.

Karthick Shankar, a senior in computer engineering from Dubai, received the Teaching and Scholarship Pillar for his work as a teaching assistant and his role on the Student Orientation Committee.

Mark D’Aloia, a senior in nuclear engineering from Dayton, Ohio, earned the Service of Leadership Pillar. He has served the student body through a variety of leadership positions with Mortar Board, Old Masters and the Purdue Student Engineering Foundation.

Marina Mehling, a junior in biological engineering from Phoenix, won the Research and Innovation Pillar for her innovative agricultural research and extensive publications.

Sponsors for the Homecoming Pillars of Excellency are the Purdue Student Union Board and Office of the Vice Provost for Student Life.

Source: Chelsea Harris, harris648@purdue.edu