.Baking a Sweeter Community with Boiler Bakers
The fresh smell of homemade cookies may bring your mind to thoughts of Grandma, the soft salty bite out of a pretzel might bring you back to attending your first baseball game and the sight of a well-decorated cake could bring forth visions of blowing out birthday candles with those you hold closest.
Baked goods bring us together and help us remember our best memories. At Purdue, The Boiler Bakers offer students the opportunity to find community in food, embrace their mutual love of baking, learn about diverse cultures and attitudes surrounding baking and express their shared passion for baking though philanthropic endeavors.
Club members have a wide variety of skill levels and many come from different backgrounds.
“I joined because of my passion for baking,” says Katherine Poulos, president and junior studying pharmaceutical science with a minor in human resource management. “I really just wanted to join a club that wasn't super stressful, was a good way to take time out of my major and meet people who with like similar mindsets who just want to bake and have fun.”
Some members, like Emmanuel Gichaba, join after newly finding the hobby, utilizing it as a way to develop their emerging skills in the kitchen.
“COVID sparked my adventure into baking,” says Gichaba, treasurer and junior studying biomedical engineering. “I watched years of Food Network and wanted to give it a try. When I got to Purdue and discovered the Boiler Bakers I decided to join my first meeting.”
The Boiler Bakers host a monthly meeting, typically at the beginning of each month. Events include themed baking nights, demonstration nights in which an example dish is brought to be sampled and the presenter explains how it is made, catering orders and more. Outside of learning new baking techniques, members have the added benefit of making new friends.
“It allows me to meet new people,” says Claudya Josselyn, vice president of philanthropy and a junior studying psychology with a minor in law and society. “There are so many different grades and majors that come to the club as well as international students. It’s an incredible opportunity to find a community outside of what you would normally explore.”
“Baking and just sharing like the process of making something is a very good way to bring people together,” emphasizes Gichaba.
On the menu for fun dishes the club has made are Taylor Swift’s chai cookies, a tiered cake, pizza, pretzels, blue milkshakes and more! 
“The Taylor Swift night was my favorite event out of our themed bake nights,” emphasized Poulos, “Blasting Taylor Swift’s music and baking delicious chai cookies was a great way to unwind.”
Themed nights have included Star Wars Wookie pies night, Harry Potter butterbeer cookies, cake pop night and Valentine’s Day heart-shaped pizza. Members of the club are always coming up with fun new ideas for themes.
To fund the purchase of ingredients and raise funds for philanthropic pursuits, the Boiler Bakers accept catering orders which are carried out by members who have earned their ServSafe certificates, meaning that they can handle food for consumption by other people. 
“We work with other organizations and provide catering orders for other clubs,” explains Bella Hafferman, vice president of communications and senior in civil engineering. “I feel like I've learned a lot about other organizations that we have at Purdue because we cater to them. That's really fun and rewarding.”
In the future, the Boiler Bakers aim to continue organize their fun monthly meetings and grow their membership. The club emphasizes that they are there to support all forms of bakers and all skill levels, whether you are a baking beginner or a seasoned professional. To get involved, RSVP to events on their BoilerLink, join their GroupMe, and check out their Instagram to see member events and sweet treats.