Student Life Honors 2020 Impact Award Winners

The Division of Student Life has recognized five outstanding individuals with the inaugural Student Life Impact awards. These awards have been established to honor, recognize and engage exceptionally accomplished alumni and friends of Student Life at Purdue.

Distinguished Mentorship Award - Bob & Joyce Miles

Bob and Joyce Miles were honored for their continued mentorship and financial support for areas within Student Life. The award honors and promotes the considerable efforts and accomplishments of individuals who consistently serve as effective mentors for students in areas within Student Life.

The Miles’ have been staunch supporters of Purdue Musical Organizations over the years. They actively supported the construction of Bailey Hall, which serves as the home of PMO, with the Miles practice room. Bob and Joyce have served as mentors for generations of PMO students, often opening their own home to host students for home-cooked meals. Bob and Joyce are also members of the Twin Pines Cooperative alumni board and serve as mentors for students in the house. They were each members of co-op housing during their time on campus.

In addition to their support for Student Life, they established the Bob and Joyce Beery Miles Endowment Fund to help support College of Consumer and Family Sciences (now the College of Health and Human Services) programs in education and scholarships at Purdue. The Bob L. and Joyce Beery Miles Outdoor Learning Space at Lyles-Porter Hall, which serves children of all ages, was also made possible by a gift from the couple.

Joyce is a former Purduette and graduated with a degree in home economics education. Bob was a member of Fairway Cooperative and the Student Cooperative Association, holding leadership positions in both, as well as a member of the Purdue Reamer Club. He graduated with a civil engineering degree in 1965.

Award for Outstanding Leadership - Christa Pazera

Decades of dedication to students within University Residences led to Christa Pazera’s recognition as the inaugural winner of this award. The award is given to alumni who have exceptional careers and shown long-term leadership within their chosen profession, as well as noteworthy professional accomplishments that reflect favorably on their profession, Purdue University and society.

Pazera began working her way through the different levels of student affairs in higher education as a student. She served as a resident assistant, staff resident and graduate intern and was Governess of Meredith Hall. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 1994 and earned a Master of Science in Education with a specialization in college student affairs in 1996.

After a brief stint elsewhere, Pazera returned to Purdue as a Residential Life manager in 1999 and has served University Residences since. She has held various management and leadership positions within UR and has served as the Director of Residential Life. Pazera has been a champion for inclusion during her time at the University, earned the LGBTQ Center Advocate Award in 2015 and serving as a co-chair on the Student Life Inclusion Task Force. She has also represented the university in positions on regional campus housing organizations and was recognized with the First Year Experience Advocate Award after co-chairing the First Year Experience program for University Residences.

Pazera continues to provide vision, leadership and a student-centered focus for the professional and student staff on the Residential Life team who support students living on-campus in residence halls, apartments and student family housing communities.

Service Award - David Hunke

David Huhnke was named the inaugural recipient of the award, which is given to a Purdue alumnus who has demonstrated a commitment to their community through the development of, or significant contributions to private or public programs that improve or enhance quality of life.

Huhnke served as the Director of Marketing and Communications for the City of Lafayette. He also continues to serve on the Purdue University President’s Council. Huhnke previously served as a chapter advisor for Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and received the Purdue University Outstanding Fraternity Advisor Award for the years 1995-97. He was recognized with the chapter’s National Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2001. Huhnke has also served as an advisor and mentor for numerous other campus organizations.

As a student, Huhnke was a member of the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Purdue Student Government. He currently serves as vice president and community engagement manager for Old National Bank in Lafayette. He additionally volunteers with local organizations such as the YWCA, Leadership Lafayette and Greater Lafayette United Way. 

Young Alumni Award - Lorrie Newhouse

Lorrie Newhouse, the winner of the award, has continued being an active member of community organizations after being involved in campus organizations as a student. The award is given to a Purdue alumnus 35 or younger who has shown outstanding career development through traditional channels or innovative approaches.

Newhouse served as president of the Residence Hall Association and was Governess of Windsor Halls during her time as a student. She was also an active member of National Residence Hall Honorary, Purdue Student Government and University Residences’ President’s Roundtable. She additionally presented at regional and national student leadership organization conferences.

She has continued to be an active member of the community, earning the Evergreen Leadership 2017 Community Builder Award. Newhouse volunteers with local community organizations such as Leadership Daviess County and 4-H. She continues to support her alma mater, having served as a volunteer at the National Association of College and University Residence Halls conference hosted by Purdue in 2017 and serving as a volunteer for the University Residences Spring Leadership Institute retreat. She is employed by Tate & Lyle as a staff process engineer in Lafayette.

To view student award recipients in Student Life, visit our Instagram account here.