SPRING 2024 ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
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STAFF INTRODUCTIONS & ALL ABOARD PURDUE
Meet our current professional staff and this years Student Orientation Committee and learn about the new Orientation Programs brand. |
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RECAP OF THE 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF BGR
Learn more about our 30th Boiler Gold Rush highlights including Slayter Slam, the Drone Show, the Reunion, and BGRi. |
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AWARDS &
ALUMNI
INVOLVEMENT
Check out this year's winners of our large awards and scholarships and out how you can get involved with Orientation as an alumni. |
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Greetings BGR Staff Alumni! The Orientation Programs team is excited to share with you our first alumni newsletter to all of our former staff. We celebrated 30 years of the first “CORN Camp” in August 2023 with several SOC and Professional Alumni in attendance, and we could not be more excited to re-engage with the thousands of students who have served Boiler Gold Rush and Orientation Programs at Purdue.
This inaugural newsletter is going out to over 6,000 former Team Leaders, Team Supervisors, and SOC Alumni dating back to the early 2000's. Our hope is that through these newsletters, we can reconnect in meaningful ways to the people who have left their legacy and impact on the program, and find those who were leaders in the 1990's and early 2000's. We want to hear how your work in orientation made a difference during your time at Purdue, how it influenced where you are today, and share with you some opportunities for how you can stay connected with orientation at Purdue in the future.
Our programs continue to evolve with our students and the institution. We created Boiler Gold Rush International (BGRi) in 2012 to better meet the needs of international students. In 2021, we launched Boiler Cold Rush to support new students who start in the spring semester. In 2023, we officially retired our “STAR” program and rebranded the orientation experience to welcome students “ All Aboard Purdue.” Now, we head into 2024 with an exciting expansion of our office to the state capitol, where we will launch Boiler Gold Rush in Indianapolis to support Purdue University in Indianapolis students, and with a familiar face leading the way.
Enjoy the newsletter. I hope you will see that the work you contributed to is still succeeding in many ways today. – Craig Johnson, Director of Orientation Programs. |
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| Craig Johnson serves as the Director of Orientation Programs and is responsible for developing the strategic vision of the office and developing its standing with partners inside and outside Purdue. |
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| Maggie Smith serves as the Senior Assistant Director of Orientation Programs and is responsible for planning and implementing Purdue’s pre-arrival programs for undergraduate students beginning at fall, spring, and summer terms. |
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| Virginia Johnson serves as the Senior Assistant Director of Orientation Programs and is responsible for planning and implementing Purdue’s new welcome week program at Purdue University in Indianapolis: Boiler Gold Rush (BGR) in Indianapolis. |
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| Whitney Johnson serves as a Program Coordinator for Orientation Programs and is responsible for the development and support of the peer leadership model of 700+ students and supports in the execution of BGR and BGRi. |
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| Jacque Rickett serves as a Program Coordinator for Orientation Programs and is responsible for the development and support of the peer leadership model of 700+ students and supports in the execution of BGR and BGRi. |
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| Adina Loomis serves as a Program Coordinator for Orientation Programs and is responsible for planning and implementing Purdue’s pre-arrival programs for undergraduate students beginning at fall, spring, and summer terms. |
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| Abby Molzer serves as a Program Coordinator for Orientation Programs and is responsible for planning and implementing Purdue’s pre-arrival programs for undergraduate students beginning at fall, spring, and summer terms. |
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2024 STUDENT ORIENTATION COMMITTEE
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Top row left to right: John Stutzman, April Lanka, John Riley, Lyla Stubbe, Varun Kamble
Bottom row left to right: Beatriz Cren Colalillo, Ty Roman, Kelsey Black, Sanjana Prasad
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Student Orientation Committee Chair : Ty Roman
The SOC Chair works cohesively with their team to facilitate the vision and mission of Orientation Programs. They act as the liaison to the Professional Staff and arrange groups to make the Student Orientation Committee and Orientation Programs successful.
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Orientation Initiatives: April Lanka & Varun Kamble
The Orientation Initiatives committee is responsible for coordinating diversity, inclusion, and belonging training and awareness and the development and implementation of FreeZone. They work to create a culture of vulnerability and storytelling. |
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Recruitment & Retention: John Riley, Kelsey Black, and Sanjana Prasad
The Recruitment & Retention committee is responsible for the coordination of the Team Supervisor and Team Leader recruitment processes, creating callouts, designing interviews, and implementing recruitment strategies, while also retaining student staff throughout the year. |
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Training & Development: Beatriz Cren Colalillo, John Stutzman, and Lyla Stubbe
The Training & Development committee is responsible for training all levels of student staff in Orientation Programs throughout the course of the year. They work to create useful and engaging training that focus on leadership skills, collaboration, and having some fun. |
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ALL ABOARD PURDUE
The re-brand of the Orientation process at Purdue University
Goal of the All Aboard Purdue Brand:
To simplify the names, descriptions, and messages of Orientation Programs to help students, their supporters, and campus partners better navigate orientation processes and understand the orientation process is a holisitc suite of expereinces rather than single, stand-alone events.
Step One:
Purdue 101: At this first step, students participate in a self-led module in Brightspace that guides students through campus resources and provides information on Purdue's course planning and advising processes.
Step Two:
Purdue Advising: During this step, new students will receive an email from an academic advisor about scheduling their first advising appointment. Students fill out their course request form after they meet with an advisor.
Step Three:
Purdue 102: At this step, students participate in a self-led virtual module in Brightspace that focuses on resources related to students' transition to campus and adjusting to college life.
Step Four:
Purdue Welcome: In this final step, students may participate in optional welcome programs that include Boiler Gold Rush (BGR) or Boiler Gold Rush International (BGRi) for fall beginners and Boiler Cold Rush (BCR) for spring beginners. Students may alternatively participate in other welcome programs for the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band, Purdue Musical Organizations, or Purdue Athletics.
Optional Step:
Summer Visit Days: This optional step is hosted by Orientation Programs in June to give students and their supporters a chance to visit Purdue's campus and engage with students and staff.
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BOILER GOLD RUSH INTERNATIONAL
An orientation program catered to Purdue's International Students
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Boiler Gold Rush International (BGRi) is a specialized orientation program tailored to address the distinctive needs and concerns of incoming international undergraduate students. It offers valuable information and guidance to support the success of new international students at Purdue.
BGRi kicked off with an opening ceremony that started a few days before the BGR opening ceremony. This past year, the BGRi opening ceremony took place in Elliott Hall of Music. |
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New students walking through the "welcome tunnel" on their way to Elliott Hall of Music
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New students playing mini games
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Virginia Johnson welcoming the new faces to Purdue
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Prior to the start of the BGRi kickoff, new students were welcomed into the ceremony through a "welcome tunnel" that is lined by BGR staff to cheer on the new students and their families as they walk in. The opening ceremony started with a warm welcome from our professional staff, welcoming the new students and their families to Purdue University.
From there, the new students were given an explanation on how the next few days of the program would unfold for them. New students competed in a series of small competitive mini games held onstage. These games gave the new students a chance to earn points to go toward their respective hall teams. Once the opening ceremony came to a close, the international students were dismissed with their new student groups to be lead by their Team Leader International (TLi). These TLi's showed their new students around campus and assisted with any transition needs they had before school began. Students participated in presentations around culture shock, academics in the U.S., and an student panel. The program continues to grow with the international student population at Purdue. |
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Recap of BGR 30th Anniversary
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SLAYTER SLAM
Slayter Slam was a student-inspired event that took place for the first time since 2015. The event kicked off with a performance from the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band. Local student bands from around campus were also featured who revved up a crowd of over 1,000 new students and BGR staff. |
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SKYELEMENTS DRONE SHOW
This year for Boiler Gold Rush's 30th year anniversary, Purdue University held a drone show, a first of its kind here at Purdue. Purdue's Fusion Studio for Entertainment and Engineering, reached out to bring SkyElements to perform their largest drone show to date. The show consisted of three hundred drones all equipped with bright lights that illuminated the night sky. Watch the Drone Show from a student's perspective here.
10 Team Supervisors seized the chance to contribute to this incredible project. They split into three teams; animation, piloting, and marketing. The animation team aimed to depict a Purdue student's journey on campus. Drones illuminated the sky, showcasing a student arriving, moving in, and exploring the wonders of the Purdue campus. Learn more about the SkyElements' partnership here . |
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30TH BGR SOC REUNION
To celebrate 30 years of Boiler Gold Rush, past SOC members were invited to a reunion event to reconnect and mingle with current and past staff and celebrate the accomplishments of the past 30 years. The event included speeches from 2023 Chair, Director of Orientation Programs, Assistant Vice Provost of Student Success Innovations, and Vice Provost of Teaching and Learning. A full photo album from the event can be found here . |
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BGR FREEZONE THEME FOR 2024
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| The Freezone theme for this years BGR program is...OWN YOUR UNKNOWN! Owning your unknown is about boldly embracing life's uncertainties and unfamiliar territories. It's like constructing a bridge, connecting your past experiences to your future aspirations. By challenging yourself in the unknown, you not only discover new places but also unveil hidden facets of yourself. This approach empowers you to navigate the journey from the known to the unknown, shape your own narrative, and transform mysteries into opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery. |
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FREEZONE GUIDELINES FOR 2024
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| It means to encourage and support not just yourself but others. This allows us to create a more open and empathetic space for mutual understanding. |
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| This asks us to be more flexible and open to sharing our stories with others. It is okay to admit your flaws and embrace them, because they are a part of who you are as a person. |
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| Everyone's struggles are different and valid, no matter how big or small they might seem. Give yourself the space, time, and grace to process your experiences so that you can evolve to be a better version of yourself. |
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| Being mindful that everyone's comfort level with vulnerability is different. We ask that you foster a safe and inclusive environment which can allow for challenge by choice. |
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| This asks you to challenge your assumptions and judgment. When someone shares their stories, we ask you to listen to hear them instead of listening to respond. |
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FREEZONE IS THUS M.A.G.I.C
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ORIENTATION PROGRAMS 2023 Click here to see a full list of award winner in 2023.
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Roger Sharritt Award
The Roger Sharritt Award is awarded to the most outstanding Team Supervisor of BGR who maintained the spirit of FreeZone and served as an exceptional mentor, inclusive leader, positive supporter, and embodiment of Purdue University and Orientation Programs. The Roger Sharritt Award is dedicated to the former manager of Cary Quadrangle who helped create the first CORN Camp at Purdue. Pictured on the right is this years winner, Emily Helmuth! |
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Kasi Jones Memorial Scholarship
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| The Kasi Jones Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Boiler Gold Rush student leaders who maintained a good attitude and energy while overcoming adversity and hardship during the week of BGR and BGRi. The Kasi Jones Memorial Scholarship is dedicated to the Director of Orientation Programs from 2008 to 2018 who passed away from colon cancer in 2018. Her positivity and optimism throughout her role and during her battle with cancer was infectious and she was loved by all who knew her. This years winners are Team Supervisors Atin Dewan and Brynn Oros, and Team Leaders Cole Eckert, and Genna Cordes. |
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TO HELP SUPPORT THE KASI JONES SCHOLARSHIP AND OTHER FUNDS FOR STUDENTS SAVE THE DATE FOR PURDUE'S DAY OF GIVING: APRIL 24TH, 2024
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This award goes out to one Team Supervisor per Hall Team who has demonstrated extraordinary skills as a mentor. Award recipients have gone above and beyond what is required of them not just during the week of BGR but also throughout the entirety of the Team Supervisor experience. They are the most valuable players in their Hall Team. This years winners are Hayley Matlon from CHOO, Evan Senall from WHAM, Ethan York from MinT, Emma Kruyer from McHarrison, April Lanka from Shrevehart, and Dhruv Mendpara from WHAM as our MVP Team Supervisor International!
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MVP TEAM LEADER & TEAM LEADER INTERNATIONAL
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This award goes out to one Team Leader per Hall Team who has gone above and beyond the call of duty for BGR. They exemplify hard work, dedication, and the mission of Orientation Programs. Not only were they there for their new students, but also BGR staff members throughout the week. They are the most valuable players in their Hall Team.
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MVP TEAM LEADER RECIPIENTS
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This years winners are Gordon Finnegan from CHOO, Teagan Drumm from WHAM, Alicia Ader from MinT, Robin Bell from McHarrison, and Rachel Clark from Shrevehart!
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MVP TEAM LEADER INTERNATIONAL RECIPIENTS
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This years winners are Daniel Capobianco from CHOO, George Lukman from WHAM, Ram Goyal from MinT, Marina San Martin Rossano from McHarrison, and Mia Rodriguez from Shrevehart!
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MOST SPIRITED TEAM LEADER & TEAM LEADER
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This award goes out to one Team Leader per Hall Team who has demonstrated a great amount of spirit for Purdue University, Boiler Gold Rush International, and Boiler Gold Rush. They exemplify positivity, joy, and passion not just for this program, but for Purdue University as well.
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This years winners are Josh Miller from CHOO,Mark Rapp from WHAM, ThomasWilson from MinT, Matthew Majeski from McHarrison, and Dillon Klee from Shrevehart!
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TEAM LEADER INTERNATIONAL RECIPIENTS
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This years winners are Sarah Shivakumar from CHOO, Dorothy Pirosch from WHAM, CJ Denault from MinT, Pranav Nag from McHarrison, and Stephen Wong from Shrevehart!
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650 TEAM LEADERS &
140 TEAM SUPERVISORS
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THESE SUPERVISORS AND TEAM LEADERS ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH TRAINING'S TO PREPARE FOR BGR AND BGRi 2024! SOON, TEAM LEADERS WILL BE HIRED FOR THE FIRST EVER BOILER GOLD RUSH IN INDIANAPOLIS.
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| Want to get involved with Boiler Gold Rush, or our new BGR program in Indianapolis? Want to be an advocate for orientation for Purdue Day of Giving? If you are interested in learning more about these opportunities, please fill out this survey ! |
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Purdue University
Dauch Alumni Center, 403 West Wood Street
West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
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