A year of “Roaring Ahead”
Celebrating the Past, Present and Future
2021-2022 marked the fifth anniversary of the establishment of Purdue Northwest and the 75th anniversaries of our legacy institutions, Purdue Calumet and Purdue North Central.
We celebrated with a yearlong tribute, “Roaring Ahead,” that focused on the many ways Purdue Northwest transforms students’ lives and our metropolitan region, driving engagement and pushing the boundaries of innovation.
PNW planned several university-wide events open to the entire community. More importantly, individual units, departments and colleges were encouraged to plan their own events to look to our future while celebrating our history.
Roaring Ahead Highlights
- On June 10th, PNW hosted the 5.75 Roaring Ahead Scholarship Gala at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana. This gala raised more than $200,000 from generous donors to support scholarships for current and future PNW students. All of the funds raised were doubled thanks to a generous matching gift from PNW Hall of Fame inductee David Roberts and his wife Susan.
- PNW Chancellor Thomas L. Keon received the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash award while being recognized for his 10 years of transformational leadership in Northwest Indiana at the 5.75 Roaring Ahead Scholarship Gala on June 10.
- David Roberts, a 1974 graduate of Purdue Northwest, was honored during the gala as the inaugural inductee to the PNW Alumni Hall of Fame. Roberts, a native of Steger, Ill. and Marine Corps veteran, was selected from a pool of nominations and recognized for his professional achievement and leadership, impact on the communities he’s worked and lived in and his continued engagement with PNW to support scholarship, development and outreach.
- Not even snow could stop the PNW community from getting together and Roaring Loud. DJ Diesel (aka Shaq!) joined us on April 8th to lead the entire PNW Pride for an unforgettable dance party!
- On March 4th, we celebrated the 6th annual Founders Day celebration! We were excited to honor award recipients and congratulate PNW faculty and staff for their dedicated years of service.
- This year, we raised nearly $900,000 from more than 1,240 donations in 24 hours during our annual Day of Giving on April 27. Donors’ gifts to PNW are used to support student scholarships, academic programs, Pride athletics, student organizations and other strategic initiatives.
Looking Back
DJ Diesel matched that energy, offering the crowd an unforgettable night at Roaring Loud! Thanks to everyone who joined the fun.
Snow might have been falling, but PNW students were all smiles between sets.
DJ Diesel didn't stay on stage for long before heading down to meet the PNW students gathered up front.
Purdue Northwest Chancellor Thomas L. Keon delivers remarks July 10 after being honored with the Sagamore of the Wabash award.
David Roberts, right, a 1974 PNW alumnus, was honored July 10 as the inaugural member of the new PNW Alumni Hall of Fame. Also pictured are Chancellor Thomas L. Keon, center, and Niaz Latif, dean of the College of Technology at PNW.
Founders Day guests display their years of service to PNW.
PNW students, faculty and staff were encouraged to show their PNW Pride on Day of Giving with yard signs outside the Student Union & Library Building at the Hammond campus and outside the Technology Building at the Westville campus.