Appointments, honors and activities

• Faculty and staff honors:

- Ellen Gundlach and Gary Bennett recently received awards from the University Professional Continuing Education Association - Central Regional. Gundlach, continuing lecturer for the Department of Statistics, received a Celebration in Teaching Award for "successfully demonstrating her exemplary service to the profession and institution with her online course in statistics." Bennett, professor of entomology, received a Mature Program Award-noncredit, for integrated pest management programs. The nine integrated pest management courses have been offered via correspondence, and now the internet, since the mid-1970s. (GM, source: Robin Cunningham)

- Teresa Harris, a Veterans Certifying Official in the Veterans Success Center, recently received national recognition for her service to veterans and veteran programs. The NAVPA Service Award, issued by the National Association of Veterans' Program Administrators, recognizes individuals who make exceptional contributions to veterans, service members and their dependents that are above the requirement of their position. In addition to processing benefits for nearly 500 students who use the GI Bill, she works directly with veterans, service members and their families, helping them overcome challenges associated with attending Purdue. Jamie Richards, VSC director, said Harris recently arranged and co-facilitated a one-day GI Bill and certification primer for representatives at nine of Purdue's statewide Polytechnic locations. She also visited the local statewide location and helped resolve a debt issue.

• Student honors:

- A team from the Department of Art and Design was one of six chosen nationally to design unique installations for visitors to "connect" on the Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design Chicago show floor at a recent annual student design competition. Now in its fourth year, CONNECT highlights innovative design programs at universities throughout the country. "We just followed the parameters of seating, staging, and lighting, and I asked the team how they wanted to contribute," said Sigrid Zahner, associate professor of Fine Arts. "Our design was material-driven, and everyone on the team is a maker."