.2023 Ross & Roberts Award Winners
2023 Flora Roberts Award Winner
Presented to the most outstanding graduating student who has shown a commitment to scholarship, leadership and service and displays outstanding character. The honoree will have their name engraved on the MSEE obelisk and will receive an engraved medallion and monetary award.
Frances A. O'Leary
Computer Science Honors and Mathematics
Frances A. O’Leary has served on several research and project teams. As a member of the XYTZ Lab, she worked on an Army-sponsored research group to build a self-correcting 3D printer. She served as the information technology lead on the Purdue Space Program High Altitude subteam and served as team lead of a group of Purdue students who competed within the University Nanosatellite Program. She has held internships with SpaceX and Microsoft. On campus, she has served as an officer in several organizations, include the Purdue 3D Printing Club, Computer Science Women’s Network and Purdue Space Program. She has served as a teaching assistant for several computer science courses. Frances has also completed training and is awaiting final approval to be a licensed pilot.
Words of Wisdom from Frances:
- Explore outside of your major. On any given day at Purdue ~50,000 people are doing something, at least one of those things is bound to be interesting! For example, you can learn how to fly a plane, visit the scientific glass blowing lab, see jets at Purdue Aviation Day, meet cows during Ag Week, see a golden wrecking ball in one of the construction labs, learn about screen printing and on and on. You may find a new hobby, and at the very least it will make your day that much more interesting.
- You don’t have to work all the time but you should think all the time.
- Try new things, even if you’re worried about looking stupid. Play that piano on campus, learn how to roller blade, pick up that hobby you were always too scared to do. You’ll never have time like you do now. And “looking stupid” is a wasted emotion anyway.
2023 G.A. Ross Award Winner
Lara Chuppe
Computer Science
Lara Chuppe has held several leadership roles in Global House, a learning community in the John Martinson Honors College. She served as tutor coordinator for the the Honors 39900: Beyond Afghanistan course for two semesters. She co-authored a publication with Purdue Libraries faculty on empowering Afghan high school students through Pax Populi as a service-learning component of the course. She was recognized with Pillar Awards for Community and Global Engagement for 2nd and 3rd year students in 2021 and 2022 respectively. She has been involved in College Mentors for Kids, Global Science Partners, English Language Learners In-Home and several volunteer tutoring programs. Lara also completed a summer internship with Advocates for Human Rights, where she worked directly on US immigration policies for Afghan evacuees.
Words of Wisdom from Lara:
- Surround yourself with people who will support you and help you treat others with more kindness and grace.
- No matter how impossible the odds seem, never give up on your values or the people you care about.
- Sometimes life will take you down an unexpected path. Stay true to who you are, but embrace the journey and the people you meet along the way.