Purdue Graduation Briefs
Purdue Graduation Briefs
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April 27, 2001 Three members of Felix family earn Purdue degrees in MayWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue senior Daniel Felix of West Lafayette might have a couple of extra tickets available to his May 11 commencement exercises. That's because his mother and father will be seated with him in the Class of 2001 rather than in the audience.
Daniel and his father, Douglas Felix, will receive bachelor's degrees in horticulture, while Debra Felix will earn an associate of science in organizational leadership and supervision. The only member of the Felix family not receiving a Purdue degree this May is Darcy, a freshman at Harrison High School, who has yet to make her college choice. Debra says it was a fortunate accident that she, her husband and her son all finished their degrees in time to graduate together. "Doug had been working on a bachelor's degree off and on ever since he got out of the Marine Corps in 1979, but when he realized he had a chance to graduate with Dan, he stepped up his class schedule a bit," she says. "Shortly after that it became clear that I could be finished with my associate's by May, so we went for it." Both Debra and Douglas are employed by the university, where she is a student services coordinator for the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and he is an arborist working for physical facilities. Both advised their son to enroll at Purdue full time right out of high school and stick with it until he had finished his degree. "It's so much more difficult to do after you've got a spouse or kids or a mortgage," says Debra, who has been working toward her degree off and on since the mid '70s. "Doug and I were able to speak from personal experience on that, and in some cases even demonstrate it to the kids at home." Daniel has accepted a position as a landscape crew leader with Accent Landscaping in Lebanon, Ind., and Debra is already looking into the possibility of going after a bachelor's in organizational leadership and supervision. Douglas is looking into a variety of advancement opportunities within the university's physical facilities area. Debra has received permission from the Office of the Registrar to graduate with the School of Agriculture candidates rather than her classmates in the School of Technology so she can share the ceremony with her husband and son. The graduation ceremony will be 8 p.m. Friday, May 11, in the Elliott Hall of Music. "It's going to be a very special day," she says. CONTACT: Doug Felix, (765) 496-6683, drfelix@purdue.edu; Debra Felix, (765) 494-1172, felixd@purdue.edu; Daniel Felix, (765) 583-2902, dfelix2@purdue.edu. Brees throws touchdowns in game of lifeWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – All-American quarterback Drew Brees doesn't just throw touchdowns on Saturday afternoons at Ross-Ade Stadium. He's also a star in the classroom and on the field of life. Brees, from Austin, Texas, will walk across the Elliott Hall of Music stage at 8 p.m. on May 11 to receive his degree in industrial management from Purdue's Krannert School of Management. Last spring, the GTE Academic All-American had a perfect 4.0 grade point average. His overall grade point average is 3.45. He was named to Mortar Board, an academic honorary fraternity. Brees won't have to look for a job. The National Football League's San Diego Chargers drafted him in the second round. "Cool Brees," as his teammates call him, is a spokesman for the American Lung Association and also has publicly supported the March of Dimes and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He is a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, joining other former Purdue quarterbacks Bob DeMoss, Bob Griese, Mark Herrmann and Jim Everett. CONTACTS: To arrange an interview with Brees, contact Jim Vruggink, director of intercollegiate athletics public and media relations at (765) 494-3196. To arrange interviews with Brees' professors, contact Erik G. Props, Krannert School academic adviser, at (765) 494-4343. Compiled by Brian Zink, (765) 494-2080; bzink@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu PHOTO CAPTION:
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