Outstanding students, faculty, staff and programs in University Residences learning communities were recognized at a recent awards banquet.

Nearly all learning communities allow students to take classes together and live in the same residence hall. Participants in learning communities have opportunities to connect with faculty and gain increased exposure to university resources and the Greater Lafayette community. Learning communities are the home of over 3,000 Boilermakers, including more than 1,000 first-year students. Students who participate in learning communities have consistently earned higher GPAs than their peers. 

Events and opportunities to build connections are among the hallmark experiences of living in a learning community. Social events, study sessions, one-on-one connections with faculty, opportunities to connect with business leaders and more vary among learning communities depending on academic areas and instructors. 

The honorees below served as catalysts for student success in learning communities. 

Instructor Advocate Award: Connie Kaspar, associate director of diversity, Women in Science Program – Women in Science Programs Learning Community

Instructor Advocate Award: Joshua Boyd, professor of communication, College of Liberal Arts – Welcome to Communication Learning Community

Student Impact Award: Lucas Petersen, assistant professor of bands, Purdue Bands & Orchestras – Bands and Orchestras-Engineering Learning Community

Student Impact Award: Thomas Gerrish, assistant professor, Purdue Libraries – Research Accelerator Learning Community

Exceptional Event or Experience Award: Zach Howard, resident assistant – Air Force ROTC Learning Community

Academic Connection Award: Dietetics Residential Program Learning Community, and instructors Donna Zoss, senior lecturer, Department of Nutrition and Dinah Dalder, clinical associate professor, Department of Nutrition Science

Real World Experience Award: Women in Technology Learning Community and instructor Antonia Mungia, director of recruitment, retention and diversity, Purdue Polytechnic Institute

Exceptional Event or Experience Award: Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) Learning Community and instructor William Oakes, director of EPICS and professor of engineering education

Exceptional Event or Experience Award: Engineering in the World of Data Learning Community and instructor Michael Witt, associate professor, Purdue Libraries

Exceptional Event or Experience Award: Agriculture Technology and Innovation Learning Community in partnership with the Women in Agriculture Learning Community, and instructors Dennis Buckmaster, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Amanda Deering, associate professor of produce food safety, College of Agriculture

Momentum Keeper Award: Aviation Learning Community and instructors Todd Brewer, flight maintenance technician supervisor, Purdue Polytechnic Institute and Brian Stirm, air operations technical specialist, Purdue Polytechnic Institute