May 1, 2009

Student honors

Four Purdue University students earned first place at the 15th annual Collegiate Turf Bowl Competition in February.

The team consisted of Jack Weatherwax and Chris Ulrich, turf science majors from Lafayette, Ind.; Erin Wanstrath, a turf science graduate who is currently pursuing a second degree in mechanical engineering technology from Batesville, Ind.; and Eric Haub, a turf science major from Corydon, Ind.

Throughout the competition the team of four had to identify turfgrass species, diseases, weeds and insects, and answer questions on mathematics, growth and development. In addition to the first place team, Purdue also had teams that placed third and sixth.

2 Indiana students earn Wade Steffey Memorial Scholarship

Two students from Indiana have been selected as recipients of the Wade Steffey Memorial Scholarship.

Amy L. Flis of Carmel and Griffin R. Corn of Daleville are set to enter Purdue in the fall. The scholarship provides $2,000 for each of the students for the 2009-10 academic year.

The Wade Steffey Memorial Fund was created by Purdue to honor Wade Steffey, who died Jan. 13, 2007, when he entered an electrical vault in the basement of Owen Hall, a Purdue student residence building. His body was found March 19, 2007, after extensive searches by police agencies, university staff and hundreds of volunteers. Steffey, from Bloomington, Ind., was a National Merit Scholar and Eagle Scout who was majoring in aviation technology at Purdue.

"I really hope that Wade is remembered as a good friend to all kinds of people and that he built bridges between groups and brought people together," said Dale Steffey, Wade's father. "He was smart, kind and honest. We hope that this scholarship honors Wade and that it helps the university remember the extraordinary coming together that occurred when Wade was missing."

While at Purdue, Flis plans to major in engineering and Corn plans to major in management.

Flis and Corn were selected based on their academic excellence, school and community involvement, and financial need.

Students eligible for the scholarship must be from Indiana and plan to attend Purdue.

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

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