.Past Awardees
Previous Flora Roberts Award Winner
2021 - Sasha Kipnis
Computer Science with concentration of Machine Intelligence
Sasha has been an advocate for diversity in computer science from her first semester at Purdue. She joined the Computer Science Women’s Network and was elected president as a second-semester freshman. In this role, she planned and moderated a Women in Tech panel for more than 100 student attendees. Sasha served as a tour guide for prospective students and mentor in the computer science department, was selected the Outstanding Junior in Computer Science and awarded the 2020 Homecoming Pillar of Excellence for Leadership and Service. As a member of MAGIC – Mentors for Aspiring Girls in Computing – she visited local schools to help encourage girls to learn computer science and participate in STEM fields. As a junior, she was chosen to take over instruction and training when the director of the program left to attend graduate school. Sasha was chosen to join the Barbara Cook Chapter of Mortar Board and, as elected chair of the Reading is Leading Committee, she and a fellow Mortar Board member authored and illustrated a children’s book! Upon graduating, Sasha will be moving to Washington, D.C.
Word of Wisdom from Sasha:
It's important to take the time to understand what you're passionate about and then find outlets at Purdue to fulfill those passions. As a university, Purdue has seemingly endless opportunities, and by stepping out of your comfort zone and not conforming to what you think is expected of you, you'll find new ways to truly make an impact.
2020
Emily Sagstetter
Athletic Training
2019
Olivia Glowacki
College of Health & Human Sciences
2018
Claire G. Lee
College of Liberal Arts and Honors College
2017
Cameron S. Mann
College of Agriculture
2016
Dana C. Smith
College of Science
Previous G.A. Ross Award Winner
2021 - Zach Marshall
Aero & Astro Engineering, and Aerospace Financial Analysis
Zach will graduate with two Bachelor of Science degrees, receive a Certificate for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and complete all requirements for the Honors College with a 4.0 GPA. Zach has accumulated a number of community service hours as a student ambassador for Purdue Aviation Day, helping organize donations for Lafayette Transitional Housing Center and helping local school children learn to build and launch stomp rockets and balsa gliders. Zach serves as the Technology Lead for the Mortar Board Leadership Committee. He led the creation and organization of a virtual edition of the Purdue Mortar Board Leadership Conference. He also served as President of the Purdue Chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Two years ago, he was selected and served as a lead researcher for the Advanced Aviation Analytics Institute for Research – A Center for Research Excellence, and presented at the 2020 Transportation Research Board Conference in Washington, D.C. Zach has earned numerous other honors from the university and will begin working for Boeing Defense, Space and Security in St. Louis after graduating.
Word of Wisdom from Zach:
- Seek and seize all opportunities, regardless of any immediate rewards, as success will follow your commitment.
- Explore the incredible connections and opportunities at Purdue as what you get out of your academic career will be a reflection of what you put into it.
- Commit to lifelong learning as not all of your educational experiences will occur in lecture halls. Learn via application in undergraduate research projects or student organization design teams.
2020
Stephen Scwartz
Agribusiness and Agronomy
2019
Justin L. Couetil
Biochemistry
2018
Daniel J. Romary
Biomedical Engineering
2017
Peter C. Boyd
College of Science
2016
Quinton T. Nannet
College of Agriculture