Purdue News Roundup
Purdue News Roundup
President Steven C. Beering signed an agreement Friday (5/30) making Purdue a member of the International Strategic Technology Alliance (ISTA), a cooperative of 15 universities in Hong Kong and China that collaborate on research and development of technologies for the world marketplace.
"This agreement is designed to create opportunities for Purdue to build relationships with both academia and industry in Hong Kong and China," explained Michael Stohl, dean of International Programs. "Building partnerships with their universities and industry leaders can only enhance the atmosphere for investment and trade between our countries. This also will provide a new source of research dollars for Purdue scholars."
The agreement, which is initially limited to two years, is part of Purdue's Pacific Rim Initiative. Purdue is the only university in North America that has been invited to join the alliance.
The ISTA is being represented by Professor Poon Chung Kwong, President of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, who will be on Purdue's West Lafayette campus to meet with faculty and administrators on Friday. He has served as an adviser to the Hong Kong government on matters of science and technology, and he was a member of the Hong Kong consultative committee, the advisory council for the transition of Hong Kong from British to Chinese sovereignty beginning July 1.
"Our new affiliation with the alliance puts us into a collaborative network with Chinese scholars and the growing industry of China," Stohl said. "This is a very vibrant, economically active area of the world with many opportunities for growth. This agreement gives Purdue University a chance to share in that growth and forge the kind of relationships that will create new investment and export opportunities for Indiana and the United States."
CONTACT: Stohl, (765) 494-8463; e-mail, puglobal@ippu.purdue.edu
Head coach David Kucik says this is the first time a club crew has represented the United States. "This is pretty special for us," he said. "Typically intercollegiate teams are selected to take part in this event."
Purdue's Crew Club is one of 24 clubs that comprise the Purdue Club Sports Program, a part of the Division of Recreational Sports. Participants in the club sports pay all their own expenses, and coaches and advisers all are volunteers.
This year's competition at Henley commemorates the 10th anniversary of the women's competition. Purdue's team will compete against collegiate crews from Holland, France, Australia, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Purdue's crew was selected because of its performance at the Dad Vail Regatta, May 10-11 in Philadelphia. The women's eight-oared boat finished third, less than one-tenth of a second out of second place. From this field, the Dad Vail Organizing Committee selects the U.S. representative for the Women's Royal Henley each year. The Dad Vail is the largest collegiate regatta in the United States, with more than 100 colleges and universities bringing more than 400 boats and 3,500 athletes each year.
"We have no idea who we'll be racing against," Kucik said. "We're hopeful the countries don't bring their pre-national team crews made up of a composite of the country's best eight athletes at this age level. If they do, we'll still compete very well, but probably not as well as if we were matched up against other university teams."
The eight rowers from Purdue are:
Jen Behr of South Bend, Ind., a sophomore in the Schools of Engineering, studying chemical engineering.
Kelly Fleming of Carmel, Ind., a junior in the School of Consumer and Family Sciences, studying nutrition, fitness and health.
Rachel Geik of Culver, Ind., a junior in the School of Consumer and Family Sciences, studying nutrition, fitness and health.
Julie Mottin of Chesterfield, Mo., a sophomore in the School of Engineering, studying environmental engineering.
Amanda Peters of Town and Country, Mo., a senior in the School of Liberal Arts, studying psychology.
Aimee Pilacik of Clifton Heights, Pa., a sophomore in the School of Engineering, studying aerospace engineering.
Lora Risk of Anderson, Ind. , a senior in the School of Engineering, studying environmental engineering.
Erica Stevie of Aiken, S.C. , a senior in the School of Science, studying ecology.
The boat's coxswain is Carrie Edinger of Neward, Del. , a senior in the School of Management, studying economics.
Traveling with the team as alternates are Sarah Dodson of Columbus, Ohio , a freshman studying political science in the School of Liberal Arts, and Amber Phillips of Anderson, Ind. , a freshman studying child development in the School of Consumer and Family Sciences.
"It's amazing what these women have done," Kucik said. "Each athlete comes up with about $1,200 from her own pocket every year, and this trip to England will cost everyone around $1,000 more. They train six days a week, every week of the school year, and maintain excellent academic records. I'm absolutely impressed and stunned by what they accomplish each year."
The team leaves for England on June 11.
CONTACT: Kucik, (765) 494-3121; e-mail, dwk@purdue.edu
-- Robert G. Showalter, professor emeritus in audiology and speech sciences, was named Sagamore of the Wabash by Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon. The award, the highest honor bestowed by the governor, was given to Showalter for developing innovative statewide distance learning programs for practicing speech-language pathologists.
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-- Pamela Welton of Mulberry , Ind ., has been awarded the 1997 Glen J. Sperandio Award for the Advancement of Pharmacy Practice from Purdue's School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences. The award is given annually to an Indiana pharmacist to recognize significant contributions to advancing pharmacy practice. Welton is manager of the Osco Drug store on U.S. 231 South in Lafayette, and she works as a diabetes care specialist to educate and counsel patients on their disease and its management. She is a member of the American Diabetes Association and president of the Tippecanoe chapter. She also has served as a volunteer teaching assistant for several Purdue pharmacy classes, and as a lecturer for the Diabetes Care Certificate Program. She received a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Purdue in 1980, and completed Purdue's doctor of pharmacy program in 1990.
Compiled by J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371; e-mail, mike_willis@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
