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February 28, 2003

Purdue participates in Reading Extravaganza

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University and community leaders, including professors, meteorologists and football players, will read to 400 Tippecanoe County area elementary students Monday, March 10, as part of an annual national literacy awareness campaign.

The third annual Reading Extravaganza, sponsored by Purdue's Barbara Cook Chapter of Mortar Board, will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Purdue Memorial Union Anniversary Drawing Room. Readers will share their love of books and the rewards of reading with preschool through second-grade students.

Staff from Imagination Station, Lafayette's only hands-on science museum, also will offer a mini-exhibit from noon to 1 p.m. in Stewart Center, Room 206.

Readers and their times include:

• 9:30 a.m. – Tom Turpin, professor of entomology and instruction development specialist; Tom Robinson, vice president for student services; Brian Breed, director of Purdue Musical Organizations; Morgan Burke, director of Intercollegiate Athletics; James Foster, diversity/residential life manager for Purdue University Residences; Krista Woodward, Girl in Black solo twirler with the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band; Cathy Wright-Eger, women's swim team coach.

• 10:30 a.m. – Patty Jischke, Purdue University's first lady; Carolyn Gery, associate vice president of development; Alan York, professor of entomology; John Sautter, vice president of housing and food services; Janine Reklaitis, associate director of Women in Engineering program; Trish Logan, Purdue Reamer Club member and Boiler Maker Special chair.

• Noon – Tangra Riggle, Miss Indiana; John Collier, Purdue head landscape architect; Antonia Munguia, assistant director of admissions; players from the Indiana Blast professional soccer team; Erik Brockman, Purdue "All-American" Marching Band drum major.

• 1 p.m. – Sue Scott, WLFI-TV 18 news anchor; Buzz Lopez, WLFI-TV 18 meteorologist; Betty Stansbury, Purdue Airport director; Tangra Riggle, Miss Indiana; Patti Dulik, senior assistant director of orientation and new student programs; Mallory Trusty, Purdue Reamer Club.

• 2 p.m. – Brandon Kirsch and Stuart Schweigert, Purdue football players; Renée Thomas, director of the Black Cultural Center; Liz Ferrill, Purdue Reamer Club; Stephanie Patterson, WAZY-FM Wake Up Crew co-host.

Approximately 400 students from Otterbein Elementary School, Cumberland Elementary School, St. Mary's Cathedral School, Battleground Elementary School, Burnett Creek Elementary School and Village Nursery School plan to attend.

Mortar Board members and alumni also will support the national literacy awareness campaign by collecting new children's books to donate to after-school and children's programs at Purdue and in Greater Lafayette.

With 191 college chapters, the national Mortar Board organization promotes the Reading Is Leading project to promote senior honor society members' leadership skills while performing community service.

Mortar Board members are selected for their achievements in scholarship, service to the university community and leadership. It is the first national organization to honor senior college women. The Purdue Chapter of Mortar Board was chartered in 1926 and is now celebrating its 75th anniversary. The society began admitting men in 1975.

The Barbara Cook Chapter of Mortar Board is named to honor Barbara Cook, retired Purdue dean of students, who advised the group from 1956 to 1986.

CONTACT: Steve Ewing, Mortar Board vice president, (765) 743-4574, stewing@purdue.edu; Pablo Malavenda, Mortar Board adviser, (765) 494-1232, pablo@purdue.edu; Mary Jane Hoover, Imagination Station, (765) 420-7780.

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


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