Purdue, Ivy Tech students honored for community activity

Students from Purdue University and Ivy Tech Community College have been honored for their work in the community by Greater Lafayette Commerce.

The University Relations Committee of Greater Lafayette Commerce presented the awards at the Purdue-Michigan State Women’s Basketball game January 23.  The awards recognize Purdue University and Ivy Tech Community College students for their volunteer efforts which contribute to enhancing the quality of life in Greater Lafayette.  Presenting the awards were two members of the University Relations Committee of Greater Lafayette Commerce: Susan Hychka, Associate Director of Purdue’s Center for Career Opportunities and Todd Roswarski, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Ivy Tech. 

The winners include:

Sarah King, a junior in the College of Science at Purdue.  Sarah gave birth to a baby boy in 2009, but the baby died in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.   The tragedy inspired Sarah not only to pursue a career in the medical field, but to find a way to help other parents facing similar situations.    She founded a local chapter of Project Sweet Peas which has provided more than 200 care packages for families whose infants are in intensive care.

Lindsey Payne, a graduate student in Ecological Sciences and Engineering at Purdue.   Lindsey’s focus is on water resources in developing regions. However, she has put her environmental expertise to work in the local community while working toward a PhD degree.   She led a collaborative effort involving local governments and organizations to form the Clear-Blue-Green Initiative, a program that recognizes, promotes, and advocates for innovative businesses that are committed and engaged in environmentally responsible operations and practices in the Greater Lafayette Area.    She has also worked with the Wabash River Enhancement Corporation and West Lafayette Go Greener Commission on various outreach and education efforts.

Damian Fisher, an Accelerated Associates Degree Program student at Ivy Tech.    Damian volunteers for several local organizations including the American Red Cross, where he began to volunteer at the age of eight. He also volunteers at Habitat for Humanity, Lafayette Adult Resource Academy and Lafayette Transitional Housing, where he is Youth Volunteer Coordinator.   He plans to pursue a career in Music Therapy.

Amee Biancofiori, a senior in the Purdue College of Technology.  She served in leadership roles in the College’s Student Ambassador organization which included volunteer activity with Food Finders Food Bank.   She has been active with the LayFlats Music and Arts Festival and coordinated children’s activities.   Amee is an active patron of Battle Ground Middle School where she chaired the school’s fund raising activity in 2010 and for the PTO in 2011.   She is currently leading an anti-bullying activity at the school. (Her daughters will accept the award.)

College Mentors for Kids is an organization of more than 200 Purdue students who host at-risk children from local elementary schools during weekly visits to campus.  Each “little buddy” is paired with a college student in activities focused on community service, higher education, economics, culture and diversity.

Statistics in the Community (StatCom) is a volunteer community outreach organization involving graduate students in Purdue’s Department of Statistics.   It provides professional statistical consulting services to governmental and nonprofit groups free of charge.  The group has been assisting local organizations for ten years.   StatCom is currently conducting a market research survey for Lafayette city government aimed at determining the interest of potential buyers in different types of townhomes being considered for a city project.