August 17, 2005

Mortar Board celebrates 60 years of calendar sales

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue University Mortar Board national honor society will help nearly 30,000 people stay more organized this year.

Marking its 60th year, Mortar Board's annual calendar will include Purdue's academic dates and deadlines, athletic events, convocations, information on student organizations and callout dates, hours for campus facilities, important phone numbers and Web sites, and room for notes and class schedules. In celebration of the 60th edition, an 8 1/2-by-11-inch version of the calendar will be offered in addition to the classic 5-by-8-inch format.

The 176-page Mortar Board calendar is now on sale for $5, and the new larger edition for $8, at Follett's, University Books, University Spirit, Textbook Depot, Discount Den, Wal-Mart, Meijer, Stewart Newsstand and all university residences.

"The Mortar Board organization has been an active member of both the Purdue campus and the community for decades," said Pablo Malavenda, associate dean of students and adviser of the organization. "Since the calendar began in 1945, Mortar Board has awarded more than $820,000 in fellowships and awards to Purdue students, staff and faculty."

Proceeds from this year's calendar will fund projects and awards, including one $2,000 national fellowship named for former sponsor Barbara Cook, who advised the group from 1956 to 1986. Purdue's chapter also is named for Cook, who was the former dean of students. Ten more fellowships in the amount of $2,500 each will go to Purdue students for graduate studies. Other projects Mortar Board supports include an invitational volleyball tournament, scholarship receptions for students and administrators, an annual reading event for the community, and alumni events.

The Purdue University chapter will celebrate its 80th year in 2006. In the next year, members will be soliciting donations for the Mortar Board endowment and other special projects.

Mortar Board members are selected for their scholarship, service to the university community and leadership abilities. Formed in 1918, the national organization was the first to honor female seniors. In 1975 men were permitted to join. There are now 191 Mortar Board chapters at college campuses throughout the country.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Sources: Pablo Malavenda, (765) 494-1232, pablo@purdue.edu

Shavonne Holton, Mortar Board president, (317) 366-7433, slholton@purdue.edu

Barbara Cook, (765) 463-5642

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

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