Purdue Graduation Story Ideas

April 2000 Earhart Scholar bound for medical school WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Michelle Ludwig, a profoundly deaf senior from Germantown, Tenn., will graduate from Purdue with a bachelor's degree in pharmaceutical science at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 13, in the Elliott Hall of Music. She completed her degree in four years with a grade-point average of 3.81. The recipient of the recently revitalized Amelia Earhart Scholarship will head to medical school in the fall, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, a family practitioner. Ludwig lost her hearing to a bout of spinal meningitis at age 2. Because she was already talking when she became ill, she has always been able to speak and is adept at lip-reading. She uses hearing aids to make use of what residual hearing she has, and she managed most of her smaller Purdue classes and laboratories without additional assistance. A note taker was provided by the Office of the Dean of Students for larger classrooms and lecture halls. Ludwig's disability has barely registered as a blip on the radar screen of her college career, which has included membership in Phi Eta Sigma, serving as a Purdue Alumni Student Ambassador, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, and studying abroad in Madrid, Spain. Ludwig spent spring break of her junior year with a church group visiting Haiti, where the volunteers assisted in rebuilding hurricane-damaged communities. She's also a certified emergency medical technician and completed an internship as a clinical nutritionist at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. CONTACT: Ludwig, (765) 743-3868; msludwig@expert.cc.purdue.edu New graduate keeping computer degree in state WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Stephanie Scherer came to Purdue to study computer science even though the Haubstadt, Ind., native grew up in Indiana University country. "It was not my family's first choice to come to Purdue – actually it probably wasn't their 100th choice," Scherer says. Although she moved away to go to school, she will be staying in the Hoosier state after earning her degree at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 13. After spending a few weeks in Europe, Scherer will start working for Aprimo, a 2-year-old company on the north side of Indianapolis. She decided to stay even though many new computer graduates take jobs in California's Silicon Valley. "I have had the wonderful opportunity to intern with Hewlett-Packard in California for three summers. I loved California and the different jobs I did at HP while I was there, but coming out of Purdue, I have lots of ambition and I want to have an impact where I work," she says. "This is something that was hard to find at HP, because of the massive breadth of products and people. "I decided to stay in Indianapolis solely for the purpose of getting the opportunity to work at Aprimo. Most people with a computer science degree want to go into some type of programming; well, I wanted lots of customer interaction, some travel, and in addition an opportunity to stay technical and use my computer science skills. Aprimo offered me what I consider my ideal position." CONTACT: Scherer, (765) 463-6501; scheresk@cs.purdue.edu Globetrotting student earning a truly international MBA WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Kevin Cookman, who will receive his master's degree in business administration from the Krannert Graduate School of Management at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, May 14, works in Shanghai, China. To make the situation more complicated and to pile up frequent-flier miles, the 1984 Purdue electrical engineering graduate is married to Noel Smith Cookman, a 1984 Purdue chemical engineering graduate, who works in the United Kingdom. Along the way to their present occupations, the couple also did a stint in Japan. Cookman is the founder and general manager of Shanghai-based In Dex Computer Co. He enrolled at Krannert after being impressed with what one of his employees, who completed the executive MBA program, gained from it. Cookman, an Anderson, Ind., native who obviously is undaunted by travel, will be on campus to receive his degree. CONTACT: Cookman, 86-21-6226-1100; kevinc@public.sta.net.cn Outstanding senior balances academics, activities WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Amanda Schreiweis has led a full life during her years at Purdue. She has been involved in three separate research projects while an undergraduate. She also has been night coordinator for Lafayette Urban Ministry's homeless shelter and served as director for Boiler Gold Rush, a first-year student orientation program sponsored by the Office of Admissions. In recognition of her work, she was named the Flora Roberts Award winner as the outstanding female senior this year. Schreiweis, of New Albany, Ind., will graduate in May with highest distinction with bachelor's degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering. After graduation, she will work in chemical process research and development at Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis. "Probably the most important part of balancing all the parts of my life has been to look for the purpose behind each activity in which I involved myself, academic or otherwise." Schreiweis says. "If that purpose was not something that I had a passion for I either eliminated that activity or gave it low priority. For example, I didn't always have a passion for the constant meetings that I had as a director for Boiler Gold Rush, but I did love the chance to help freshmen get a firm footing at Purdue. Similarly, I sometimes hated the homework I had to do for my classes, but I enjoy the way that science and engineering have taught me to think. When I could see the big picture, it was easy to pour myself into what I do." CONTACT: Schreiweis, (765) 743-1121; aschreiw@purdue.edu High-flying senior looking at career overseas WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Ryan Casteel will complete a high-flying Purdue career when he receives his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at 8 p.m. Friday, May 12. Casteel, of Decatur, Ill., founded the first reduced-gravity experiment team in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The team was among several Purdue groups to conduct experiments last summer at the Johnson Space Center aboard a KC-135 jet, also known at the Vomit Comet, that astronauts use to train for space flight. The aircraft goes through several steep descents, causing the occupants to experience about 25 or 30 seconds of weightlessness on each dip. After graduation, Casteel plans to attend Georgetown University to pursue a master's degree in national security studies, in addition to earning a law degree. Casteel says he enjoys learning, and that his long-term goals include combining his education in engineering with international affairs to improve the lives of people. "One day I would like to be a Middle East arms control adviser, since my passion is international affairs," Casteel says. He is in his second year of studying Arabic at Purdue, with the goal of increasing his knowledge of the Middle East and improving his ability to communicate there. On campus, Casteel has participated in numerous activities, including serving as a co-chairman for Old Masters, as a senator in Purdue Student Government, and as an officer and player for the Purdue Men's Soccer Club. He also earned the G.A. Ross Award that is presented each year to the outstanding male senior at Purdue. CONTACT: Casteel, (765) 494-3521; casteel@ecn.purdue.edu Compiled by J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371; mwillis@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page