Purdue News
Purdue News
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April 13, 2004 Study abroad scholarship honors Purdue alum lost in ferry accidentWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A Purdue University alumnus who died in the March 6 Baltimore ferry accident, will be honored through a memorial scholarship to support students who want to study abroad. Andrew Roccella, a 1999 graduate of the professional writing program and member of the lacrosse team, studied abroad in Italy in 1998. While there, he met his girlfriend, who also was in the Italian studies program. He had planned to propose to Corinne Schillings, a Purdue alumna who studied Italian and Spanish, the weekend of the ferry boat accident. Andrew and Corrinne, both 26, died when a sudden storm overturned a water taxi in the inner Baltimore harbor. "Thanks to the Roccella family, other Purdue students will experience the same educational and cultural opportunities afforded by study abroad that Andrew gained from his study in Italy," said Brian Harley, director of the Office of Programs for Study Abroad. More than $20,000 has been raised so far, Harley said. The scholarship will be available in 2005. The criteria for the Andrew Roccella Memorial Scholarship include a demonstrated interest and ability in one or more foreign languages, an explanation of how studying abroad will further the student's long-term goals, a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average, and a promise that the recipient will positively represent the values and culture of the United States while abroad. In a letter to Purdue, Andrew's father Edward Roccella, wrote, "I prefer the student(s) study in Italy or Italian studies, but if no suitable candidates are available, then Purdue University should award the scholarship, using the above four criteria, to deserving students who wish to study in other countries' cultures and languages." Those interested in contributing to the scholarship fund, can contact Liza Boffen-Yordanov, director of development for international programs and the graduate school, at (765) 494-7798, boffenl@purdue.edu. Purdue's study abroad has more than 200 programs in 45 countries, Western and Eastern Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia, and Latin and South America. Nearly 700 Purdue students studied abroad last year, and almost 800 were overseas this year. There are three types of study abroad programs, including a direct exchange with universities overseas or a co-sponsorship that is arranged through an outside organization. Two-thirds of the students are under direct Purdue faculty leadership. The program also offers short-term, multiple destination programs during the summer. Writer: Amy Patterson-Neubert, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu Sources: Brian Harley, (765) 494-2383, bharley@purdue.edu Liza Boffen-Yordanov, (765) 494-7798, boffenl@purdue.edu John Sloan, senior director of development, (765) 494-0632, jsloan@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu Related Web sites:
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