Purdue College Marks Milestone

Purdue University's College of Technology is planning celebrations throughout the year to mark its 50th anniversary. The events include a presentation next week from Starbucks Corp. (Nasdaq: SBUX) Vice President Steve Lovejoy, who graduated from the school in 1988.

West Lafayette, Ind. — The Purdue College of Technology kicks off its 50th year with a series of events this month that include tailgates, an open house, a guest lecture and career fair.

The college was created in West Lafayette on July 1, 1964, and has grown to include 4,803 students, 171 faculty and 31 degree programs at nine locations throughout the state. The college is also helping to establish an engineering and technology university in Peru, South America. The college is among the university's most diverse and is a leader in making college education more affordable through innovations such as online degrees.

“We have grown this large because we offer relevant degrees that impact individuals and local economies over the long haul,” said Gary Bertoline, dean of the College of Technology. “The vast majority of our graduates are hired into good jobs, close to their homes, and at salaries significantly better than they might have otherwise enjoyed.”

The kickoff tailgate will be on the front lawn of Knoy Hall at 9:30 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 7). Steve Lovejoy, a Starbucks vice president and 1988 industrial technology graduate, will discuss the corporation's supply chain innovations at a guest lecture at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Sept. 10) at Fowler Hall. On Sept. 11 the college will hold an open house and ice cream social for the campus community on Young Hall's third floor at 3:30 p.m. On Sept. 12 a reception for the Lafayette-West Lafayette community will showcase new Technology Leadership & Innovation facilities on Young Hall's third floor from 4-7 p.m. Later in the month building construction management will sponsor a career fair on Sept. 27. On Sept. 28 Gaylor Co. will sponsor the college's tailgate at Ross-Ade Pavilion.

The college will sponsor a series of celebration events throughout the academic year that will be announced on the 50th year website at https://tech.purdue.edu/50

Source: Purdue University