Mortar Board announces winners of annual awards

The Barbara Cook Chapter of Mortar Board has selected Shelby Wood and Boilers in Action as the 2018 Dean Betty Nelson Service Award recipients and Annette Watters as the 2018 Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion Award recipient.

The Dean Betty Nelson Service Award recognizes one Purdue student affiliated with a student organization and one student organization that excel in community service in Greater Lafayette.

Shelby Wood was honored with this award because she has strengthened the positivity in her community at Purdue and the area through her involvement and service. A current senior from Fishers, Indiana, studying public relations and strategic communication and women’s, gender and sexuality studies, Wood is committed to serving her community and passionate about providing opportunities for students to learn about social justice and leadership issues. Along with being heavily involved in Boilers in Action, she works to promote and create a welcoming atmosphere for LGBTQ youth.

Boilers in Action is a student organization that contributes to the community through service and volunteer work and develops its members into young leaders. The organization works with the Civic Engagement & Leadership Development Office to connect Purdue students with service organizations in larger communities.

The Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion Award is presented to a deserving faculty member or administrator for his or her contributions to Purdue, especially in the promotion and advancement of women students and women’s issues. The award continues to remember the legacy of Dean Helen B. Schleman, who served as dean of women from 1947 to 1968.

Annette Watters, diversity outreach project manager in the Division of Diversity and Inclusion, was selected to receive this award because she exemplifies the principles of scholarship, leadership and service within and beyond the Purdue community. Her nominators describe her as a strong leader who stands up for women in this community as well as people of color. She holds a caring attitude and works to nurture, support, mentor and inspire students to achieve excellence.  

The Barbara Cook Chapter of Mortar Board at Purdue is a senior honor society dedicated to the pillars of scholarship, leadership and service. Over the past 90 years, Mortar Board has given over $1,000,000 in fellowships and awards to Purdue students, staff and student organizations. The Barbara Cook Chapter is named to honor retired dean of students Barbara Cook, who advised Mortar Board from 1956 to 1986. 

Writer: Olivia Crouse, ocrouse@purdue.edu