A tattoo sleeve full of Purdue memories

Name: Brittany Blackford
Graduation year: Fall 2015
Major/area of study: Wildlife; fisheries and aquatic sciences
Current career: Small-business owner and Master of Science student at Mississippi State University studying conservation education

Meet Brittany, who has a tattoo sleeve dedicated to her love of wildlife and her Purdue education.

1. Tell us about your Purdue tattoo.

I have the Purdue P on my left wrist.

2. When did you get it?

I started on my sleeve with Andrew Moody (Operation Ink, Lafayette, Ind.) in January 2015 and completed it in January 2018.

3. Why a Purdue tattoo? 

While working with the Purdue Wrestling team as their manager for a few years in college, many of them had Purdue tattoos, and I wanted one somewhere but didn’t know where yet. Eventually, when planning my sleeve, I thought that was where I should place my Purdue tattoo.

4. What is the meaning/significance of your Purdue tattoo?

My Purdue Motion P is part of my overall sleeve. My sleeve is representative of my two majors that I studied at Purdue: wildlife, and fisheries and aquatic sciences. The species of wildlife that are on my arm are Costa Rican species. When I was a student at Purdue, I went to Costa Rica twice during study abroad trips with professors Goforth and Dunning and fell in love with the culture, country and the flora/fauna.

I have the Purdue Motion P among the tattoos in my sleeve because attending Purdue provided me with the opportunity to travel all over the world and set me up for success within my field and future.

I have been told by people who didn’t go to Purdue that those who attended Purdue University always let you know that is where they went. It’s true. I am a proud Boilermaker, and I love the prestige that comes with the Purdue name and education.

Purdue provided me with the opportunity to travel all over the world and set me up for success within my field and future.

Brittany Blackford
BS aquatic sciences ’15