SpaceKids Global’s active-learning opportunities encourage children to consider careers in STEM — and in space

Sharon Hagle still recalls the excitement of the moment in 1961 when an administrator announced over her West Virginia school’s public-address system that Alan Shepard had just become the first American to travel into space.

She never imagined at the time that she would also go to space someday, much less that she’d get there aboard a rocket bearing Shepard’s name.

But as she and her husband, Marc (BS electrical engineering ’71, MS industrial administration ’72), stared out the windows of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket in 2022 during the NS-20 suborbital flight, they were inspired to share this awe-inspiring experience with others.

“When you have the opportunity to look down on Earth and see how fragile it is, it really does take your breath away, and it changes you,” says Sharon, founder and board chair of SpaceKids Global, an organization that encourages elementary students to consider careers in space exploration and technology. She and Marc are now two-time space travelers, having participated in Blue Origin’s NS-28 flight in November 2024.

“If you talk to any person that has left this planet and had that unique opportunity, every one of them would say that it changes you, and you just have this need to come back and make the Earth better.”

Addressing a societal need

So that’s exactly what she did, interacting thus far with nearly a million students globally through speaking engagements and SpaceKids Global activities focused on STEAM+ (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics and environment) learning.

Her goal is to inspire schoolchildren, especially young girls, to help meet the ever-growing need for workers in STEM disciplines. And she wants them to consider the career options that will exist in the future — perhaps on the moon, on Mars or beyond.

Many jobs that will exist in the future have not been invented yet due to anticipated technological advances. Before long, many of these types of jobs will exist far away from Earth, as well.

“How do we prepare these kids for all these new careers that are going to be presented by being in zero gravity or on another planet?” Sharon asks. “That’s something we need to think about.”

As a child in West Virginia, I had no idea that I would have this opportunity so early on in space exploration, and then to have a second chance at it.

Sharon Hagle

Founder and board chair of SpaceKids Global

Who can become a space explorer?

She also wants schoolchildren to think differently about what it means to be a space explorer, often repeating the mantra that space is for everyone.

When thinking about space jobs, some might instantly picture the scientists and engineers who historically have become astronauts, but future space travelers will come from every walk of life. They will be cooks who prepare food for fellow settlers in their habitat. They’ll be doctors responsible for keeping residents alive and healthy. And they’ll be welders whose expertise is necessary to construct vehicles capable of traveling safely through space.

“Every trade you have here on Earth will one day be duplicated off planet,” says Marc, president and CEO of Tricor International LLC, a real estate development firm based in central Florida.

The space explorers of the future will be single people as well as couples — an important aspect of the Hagles’ own space story, as they are the first married couple to travel beyond the Earth’s atmosphere aboard a commercial spacecraft.

Their NS-20 flight — Blue Origin’s fourth crewed commercial spaceflight — hurtled the six-person crew into space at a velocity of more than three times the speed of sound and reached a height of 66.29 miles above Earth. It was such a mind-blowing experience that the Hagles elected to do it again, if only to retain more of what they witnessed when peering into the vast expanse of space.

“You’re looking out these windows at the darkness — everybody describes the darkness of space being darker than anything they’ve ever seen — and you’re looking back at Earth,” Marc says. “And you’re looking at how thin the atmosphere is over the edge of Earth and how fragile that is. And guess what? Your energy level, your excitement level, is so high, you just don’t remember everything that’s going on.”

The Hagles returned to space Nov. 22, 2024, aboard Blue Origin’s ninth human spaceflight. The voyage made them the first married couple to travel to space twice.

“I would do it 100 times if I could,” jokes Marc, who as a former percussionist in the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band brought along a stuffed replica of the band’s Big Bass Drum on the NS-20 flight.

The experience also strengthened the Hagles’ resolve to remind children that when they say “space is for everyone,” the “everyone” could include them or any of their classmates.

The SpaceKids Global mission

Sharon had already founded SpaceKids Global by the time she and Marc first traveled to space — the organization debuted in 2015 — but her status as a Blue Origin astronaut creates a more powerful message when she tells children that they could travel to space someday, too.

“A point that I want the children to recognize is that you have no idea what you’re seeing today and how that’s going to propel you into whatever you do in the future,” she says. “As a child in West Virginia, I had no idea that I would have this opportunity so early on in space exploration, and then to have a second chance at it.”

SpaceKids Global encourages children to consider the exciting career opportunities that await them through a wealth of active-learning opportunities. To list a few:

• The organization has sponsored field trips for Florida Title I public school fourth graders to visit Kennedy Space Center.
• It collaborated with Blue Origin’s Club for the Future on a project that let participants of all ages send postcards to space aboard the New Shepard rocket.
• Two winners of SpaceKids Global’s “Why I Want To Go to Space” national essay competition were able to take a zero-gravity flight aboard a special Boeing 727 airplane.
• And most recently, eight children from across the country became members of the SpaceKids Press Squad, which allowed them to act as reporters while touring Blue Origin’s rocket manufacturing facility, visiting Kennedy Space Center, watching the Hagles’ recent Blue Origin launch from Mission Control and then interviewing the commercial astronauts afterward.

“This is what excites me: getting the kids involved,” Sharon said ahead of the flight.

Assisting in this endeavor is an honorary member of the NS-20 mission crew, the Hagles’ Pomeranian — Saba the Space Dog. Saba might have remained on Earth when the couple made their suborbital flight, but he’s often the star of the show when Sharon brings him into an elementary school classroom wearing his special astronaut uniform.

“Remember, my demographics are 5 to 12 years old,” she says, “and they are such sponges. They listen to everything. The room is quiet. You could hear a pin drop. And then we go into Q&A and the first question is always ‘Can we see your dog again?’ Blue Origin was kind enough to make Saba a spacesuit to match Marc’s and mine, so he was treated just like a dognaut.”

The Hagles have ambitious plans for SpaceKids Global’s future, expanding its reach far beyond the couple’s home base in central Florida and creating partnerships that will enable the organization to provide educational opportunities in students’ middle and high school years up through college entrepreneurial and internship programming.

“As we set those programs up, our geographic reach is going to increase,” Marc says. “We’ve done a very good job locally because we have the presence here and we have the capability here. We’re going to be able to expand that presence and that capability across the country.”

Expanding their legacy

When performing with the marching band during Purdue’s 1967 Rose Bowl victory, Marc could not have expected to someday contribute to the university’s budding reputation as a leading institution for space exploration. And yet he’s doing that very thing more than 50 years after graduation.

But even without space travel, Marc’s Boilermaker legacy would be secure thanks to his and Sharon’s commitment to paying it forward. Their philanthropic spirit is exemplified through their lead donation for the construction of Marc and Sharon Hagle Hall, the home of Purdue Bands & Orchestras, their funding support to the Purdue Astronaut Scholars, and Marc’s continuing role as a guest speaker in the Mitch Daniels School of Business’ real estate finance program.

And it’s most certainly evident in Sharon’s ongoing efforts to help others recognize that they can also travel among the stars.

SpaceKids Global became a primary sponsor of Purdue’s “Boilers to Mars” short film for precisely that reason. The Purdue-produced short film features three Boilermaker students who become the first explorers to travel to Mars — with the characters’ extremely different paths leading to the mission that reinforces the Hagles’ message about the wide range of roles humankind must fill in space.

“I’ve always told people when I’m speaking: going to space is the most emotional and spiritual journey you will ever take, and I think this film pokes you in how emotional it is and how it’s so exciting,” Sharon said on an episode of the “This Is Purdue” podcast recorded at the “Boilers to Mars” premiere.

In one scene from the film, a character named Bobbi works on a laptop adorned with a SpaceKids Global sticker, hinting that her interest in space originated with an early interaction with Sharon’s organization.

At the film’s premiere, Marc encouraged the Purdue students in attendance to follow through on their own ambitious interests and dreams. “It said in the [film] not to be afraid to be first,” he said. “[Virgin Galactic founder] Richard Branson said it a little differently: ‘If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.’ So, think of what the future could be for you. Think what the opportunities are and what the benefits could be with an education that you get from such a wonderful university.”

Entrepreneurship was never Sienna Clawson’s vision, but experience sparked a passion that grew into a vital resource for moms

Sienna Clawson’s home is full of life wherever you look.  

Two-year-old Sarah shows off two monarch chrysalises they’re watching. The family’s gentle giant, George, a cuddly goldendoodle, tries to get attention with nose nudges. Photos of Sienna with her husband, Brendon, and their four kids cover the living room wall. Torty the tortoise loudly munches lettuce a room away. And Sarah forgets about butterflies in favor of performing a series of belly flops on the couch. 

The lively scene is not necessarily a surprise, considering that the two businesses Sienna runs are devoted to the holistic care of postpartum mothers and their newborns. But the fact that she’s built this life she always wanted — the family, the photos and the memories they hold, the bear-sized dog, the soon-to-be butterflies, the work she loves, the clear confidence she carries — defies every known statistic. Sienna and Brendon were teen parents. 

And today, Brendon takes Sarah outside to play while Sienna pulls out a chair from her dining room table to talk about how she went from pregnant high schooler to Purdue Global graduate and successful entrepreneur.

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Beating the odds 

Early in her senior year of high school, Sienna discovered she’d have enough credits to graduate in December, ahead of the rest of her class. So she weighed whether to graduate early or take some fun classes and enjoy the home stretch.  

Ten days before December graduation, she found out she was pregnant, and her decision was made for her. 

That August, their baby boy arrived the same weekend most of her friends moved into their college dorms. While her peers eased their way into adulthood by exploring career paths in college, Sienna was thrust into a new life as a grown-up and had to learn on the job. 

She and Brendon were strong as ever, but the isolation was still overwhelming. She had all the medical care and support she needed throughout her pregnancy, but as soon as she gave birth, when she had more concerns and bigger questions than ever, somehow she suddenly felt like she was in the middle of a postpartum desert. The stress was unbearable, and she suffered from postpartum depression. 

“It was really lonely,” she says. “I was so young. I didn’t have much help. I basically did it myself, and it sucked.” 

Amidst all the struggles any new mother faces, plus depression, Sienna also endured the stigma of being a teen mom everywhere she went, whatever she did. 

“Teen moms get a bad rap,” she says, tears springing to her eyes.  

She takes a moment and a deep breath.  

“There’s this stereotype that if you’re a teen mom, you’re irresponsible,” she continues. “So it was always our goal that we provide him with a life that never feels to him like it’s weighed down by the way we got our start.” 

That’s why, in the young family’s earliest days, they gave everything they had to support each other and their new baby. 

As residents of Lafayette, Indiana, Brendon (who is a couple of years older than Sienna and had already started his engineering degree at Purdue University’s campus in West Lafayette) opted to work full time while maintaining full-time student status. Sienna stayed home with the baby for a few months, but they needed another source of income, so she began bouncing around to different types of work.  

Eventually, she settled on providing child care out of her home, but something was missing. She felt like she had the right story with the wrong angle. 

“My husband sat me down one night,” she says. “And he said to me, ‘You seem lost.’” 

It was during this difficult conversation that all the pieces started coming together for her. 

“I started looking back on those early years, and I truly realized how much I had gone through by myself during postpartum and all the things that came with it. I asked myself and I asked Brendon, ‘Why? Why is nobody helping moms with newborns?’” she says. “I didn’t start a business because I like business. I started a business because I had to.” 

She felt strongly that if she’d had professional support with breastfeeding, or if she’d had counsel and education on what to expect, her experience as a new mom would have been dramatically different. She would have been able to focus on bonding with her baby. She was sure the intense stress of trying to figure out everything by herself, in the highest-stakes situation of her life, was a primary factor in developing postpartum depression. If she could help new moms address those challenges, maybe their first experiences with motherhood could be more positive than hers. 

First Expressions — a local business to offer birth photography and doula and lactation services — was born that day.

A comeback made possible with an online education 

But in order to provide the kind of care that was so desperately needed, there was one big hurdle she had to find her way over. 

“I needed foundational knowledge with a bachelor’s degree to be able to know if I wanted to get into a master’s program for lactation, but I never saw myself being able to finish a degree. The statistics of teen parents even getting a bachelor’s degree after they have children is really low,” she says.  

She’s not wrong. According to data from both the National Conference of State Legislatures and Child Trends, fewer than 2% of teen mothers earn a college degree by the age of 30. With stats like that, she knew exactly how difficult it would be to come back — and now she and Brendon had four kids, not just one. 

“I knew if I was going to be a respected resource in my community, I need those letters behind my name. People look for that, and they want to know where you got them. The Purdue Global name earns trust and respect,” she says. 

Brendon was already a year deep into a second degree through a Purdue Global program in finance. Sienna saw firsthand the great experience he was having, so she took the leap. She began a bachelor’s degree in health and wellness from Purdue Global.  

One of the first things she noticed was how engaged she felt. 

“The health and wellness program at Purdue Global has blown my mind,” she says. “I love the live seminars; I love the structure of the courses. And there’s no fluff — all the information is pertinent. They get straight to the point. They know what you need to know, what you’ll need to apply in the field.” 

She says the 10-week terms are short enough to be manageable, too, which is important for her motivation. And with the kids watching, she’s communicating daily — without words — that if she can do school, so can they. 

“The kids know they can’t quit either; they know they’ve got this. We check on each other every morning. They ask me, ‘Hey, Mommy, did you finish your homework last night after we went to bed?’ Or when we’re looking at their report cards, they want to know what my grades are, too,” she says. “And if they’re going to be looking that closely, I better do it right so they know they can, too.”

Now, since crossing milestone after milestone, she’s just weeks away from the finish line. In the meantime, as First Expressions has grown in the services it offers, Sienna has partnered with a speech-language pathologist to begin a second business called Pediatric Wellness Group, which aims to be a one-stop shop for holistic care. Both businesses are rapidly becoming essential resources for the community.  

Above all, nothing compares to what it feels like coming home from work every day — she says seeing relief in the eyes of new mothers makes it all worth it. 

“There’s nothing better than knowing you’re truly helping somebody’s journey and setting them up for success,” she says. “Some people leave work and they’re like, ‘Thank God I’m done!’ But I leave every single appointment knowing that I’ve helped somebody. I leave work feeling like I have made a difference.”

Tina Smith wanted to donate a Purdue Memorial Union Christmas tree. Tina’s husband, Darrell, helped fulfill that wish.

“She’d just be ecstatic. She’d want to be there. She’d want to see it cut down. She’d want to be at the Union to see it come in. She’d want to be there to watch it being decorated. She loved all holidays, but Christmas was her favorite.” 

Darrell Smith, a maintenance technician at Purdue for the last 33 years, knows exactly how his late wife, Tina, would have reacted to the news that her wish had come true. Tina loved visiting the Purdue Memorial Union Christmas tree each holiday season — so much so that she dreamed of contributing to the tradition herself someday. 

Eight years after Tina passed away, the Purdue Student Union Board accepted Darrell’s offer to donate a 32-foot spruce from his backyard that he and Tina picked as a potential Purdue Christmas tree more than a decade ago. 

The Smiths’ tree was the featured attraction when Purdue kicked off its holiday festivities with a tree-lighting ceremony on Nov. 25, in the PMU Great Hall. 

“I was pretty happy when I heard,” Smith says. “I’m really an emotional guy. It makes me so happy that my wife’s getting what she wanted.” 

The PMU Christmas tree holds a special place in many Boilermakers’ holiday traditions, but that is especially the case for the Smith family. For most of the past three decades, Smith has taken care of the massive trees that have resided in the Union’s Great Hall during the holidays. 

He’s helped yank them in the front door. He’s helped raise them into standing position. He’s helped students decorate them. And he’s spent untold hours watering them in an effort to keep them looking beautiful all season. 

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It can be a thankless job, but his Purdue colleagues are well aware of the special care that Smith takes to make sure the season is merry and bright for the Boilermaker community. So when Smith’s boss, Luke Versprille, learned about his desire to donate a tree in his late wife’s memory, he made Smith’s goal his own. 

“Luke and I hit it off from the day I met him. More than being my boss, he turned out to be a friend who saw something I wanted and tried to make it happen,” Smith says. “He said it was one of his goals that, before I retire, he wanted to get one of my trees in there.” 

It was an easy decision for Versprille, Purdue’s director of auxiliary services operations. 

“For over three decades, Darrell has poured endless amounts of effort and energy into helping mold the Purdue Memorial Union into what it has become today,” Versprille said. “His love and care for the building and, more importantly, the people who visit embodies the spirit of Boilermaker hospitality. Having Darrell’s tree as the centerpiece for the holidays is such a beautiful way for us to recognize what makes this place so special: its people.” 

One of Smith’s favorite responsibilities at Christmastime is helping students decorate the tree, preparing it for the tree-lighting festivities. Of course, that work is a bit more meaningful this year. 

When the lights flickered on for the first time, Darrell and his children were in attendance to see Tina’s dream finally realized. 

“It was her idea after going there for so many years and looking at them and seeing that we actually had that type of tree out here in our backyard,” Smith says. 

“She really wanted to be able to donate one. I just wish she could be here to see it.” 

She’d just be ecstatic. She’d want to be there. She’d want to see it cut down. She’d want to be at the Union to see it come in. She’d want to be there to watch it being decorated. She loved all holidays, but Christmas was her favorite.

Darrell Smith, on how his late wife, Tina, would have reacted when Purdue selected their tree as the Purdue Memorial Union Christmas tree 

Learn about Craig Dockstader’s journey toward his online degree in communication and his inspiring words of support 

Craig Dockstader is one of Purdue Global’s proudest alumni. From interacting with social channels to being an advocate for online learning, he loves to show his support. Learn about his journey, to his bachelor’s degree, told in his own words, and how Purdue Global has helped him move forward in his career. Plus, discover his advice about what it means to be a successful online student and graduate.

I had already seen my wife finish her degree. My oldest child had finished hers, and there I was stuck in limbo. I was getting to the point where getting my degree was something I wanted to do. At the time, I was in law enforcement, but I then transitioned to working for a waste and recycling company that had an education benefit. It gave all types and levels of employees an educational benefit. My wife and I also had a lot of friends recommending the great opportunities with Purdue Global. So I did a lot of research. I figured this is the perfect fit.

It’s going to help me meet my educational goals. It’s going to help me with my career advancement. I’m going to feel like I have the support to continue my success within my career or whatever I do in life. I wanted the best bang for my buck, so to speak, and I’m happy to say that I have gotten everything that I’ve asked for and more. I feel it did so many great things for me and my family, even though I earned that degree later in life. It just shows you that it’s never too late.

I have gotten everything that I’ve asked for and more.

Craig Dockstader  BA communication ’24, Purdue Global 

I have two daughters, a granddaughter and a grandson. They know that when I commit to something, I’m all in. I don’t do anything halfway. So they knew when I said, “Hey, I’m going back to school. I’m going to graduate with highest honors. I’m going to get those gold cords because that’s my goal.” There was nothing stopping me, and then for them to see it, they’re like, “Wow. You really did it.” I did.

It’s hard not to get emotional about it now. Graduation was surreal. You put in all those hours, and you work so hard to make your goal a reality. Seeing my wife and my youngest daughter in the stands cheering me on in Dallas, that was a big deal. I showed my kids and my coworkers that it’s never too late. I couldn’t have thought of a better way to walk across the stage other than raising my hands like Rocky. It felt so triumphant.

I showed my kids and my coworkers that it’s never too late.

Craig Dockstader
BA communication ’24, Purdue Global

Since earning my degree, it has helped me with my team and within my career. I’ve been with my company for seven years, and the improvement is extremely noticeable. I’m a market-area safety specialist, so I do a lot of training, teaching and educating. If we’re educating our employees, then they feel inspired to do more because they’re feeling valued. I wanted to be an effective communicator, so I chose to pursue my bachelor’s in communication. I was a terrible speaker before my degree, but now I have a better understanding of what the other person needs. I don’t know many people who can say that they utilize their degree every day, but I know that I do. I’m very passionate about it.

To other working adults who are hesitant about going back to school, I just want to say that it’s never too late. Don’t think that your age is a restriction or the reason why you can’t keep going. You’re going to get back what you put in. Don’t give up when it’s hard. I’ve been supported from start to finish, and I’m still supported even though I’ve graduated. I still have weekly contact with my professors because I’ve built friendships

If you’re wondering if it’s right for you, they even give you a three-week, no-cost trial. Take advantage of it and see if it is for you. I’ve done the research; I’ve saved the time for you. Just remember, you won’t find an online university that supports you as much as Purdue Global does. So just take the time, take the step, make that progress and go forward.

This Purdue fan cave features visual evidence of a family’s memorable interactions with famous Boilermakers

Rob Stanley has lived and worked all over the world, and yet visiting one particular location always elicited childlike enthusiasm.

Stanley (BS technology ’88) relished any opportunity that he and his wife, Cheryl (BA education ’88), could take their daughters, Laura and Beth, to Purdue, where they met as undergraduate students.

“We used to take the girls when they were younger back to Purdue whenever we could,” says Rob, who grew up in Kokomo, Indiana, before attending Purdue on an Air Force ROTC scholarship. “We were hardly ever in Indiana, and it was really special to us to go back and show them where we grew up and where we met and tell them the stories. They could tell that both of us just came to life anytime we’d go back to Purdue. I’d get so excited that I’d do some pretty stupid things.” 

More on those things in a moment. Years later, the most important aspect of those stories is not whatever light trespassing might have occurred, but the memories that remain for the Stanleys and their daughters. Those moments are memorialized on the walls of Rob and Cheryl’s Purdue-themed fan cave in the upstairs rec room of their Rockwall, Texas, home. Affectionately known as “The Boiler Room,” it houses memories and mementos from their time at Purdue and from Rob’s 25-year career in the Air Force.

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There are photos of family members with Purdue luminaries like President Emeritus Mitch Daniels and C-SPAN founder Brian Lamb, the university alumnus for whom the School of Communication is named. And like many Boilermaker fan caves, there are pictures featuring numerous Purdue football and basketball coaches. 

But what sets the Stanleys’ fan cave apart from others like it are the questions visitors might be inspired to ask after viewing some of the photos on display.

For starters, how did the Stanleys wind up in legendary Boilermaker basketball coach Gene Keady’s office during a visit to campus? 

Or, a few years later, how did they meet current Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter and essentially enjoy a private viewing of a Boilermaker basketball practice at Mackey Arena? 

Or, in perhaps the story that beats them all: During her own days as a Purdue student, how did Beth and a friend manage to spend the night in the guesthouse of former Purdue football coach Joe Tiller and his wife, Arnette, after the Tillers retired to Wyoming? 

To answer a couple of those questions, it’s time to explain those “stupid things” Rob referenced.

‘Where are you gonna go to college, little girl?’

The Keady story starts innocently enough. On a 2004 trip to Purdue, Rob and Beth — over Cheryl and Laura’s protests — decided to sneak onto the field at Ross-Ade Stadium to grab a few blades of grass from the football field that are still on display in their Boiler Room. Rob then decided to test his luck further, trying multiple doors at Mackey Arena until finding an open one that provided access to the basketball arena. 

The family wandered around the darkened building for a bit. The girls posed for a pic in front of the women’s basketball team’s locker room door. Rob found the spot on the playing surface where he figured Keady might sit during a game and took a seat. All the while, Cheryl was none too pleased by her husband’s willingness to trespass with their girls in tow.

Eventually a maintenance person came across the Stanleys and ushered them toward the exit, but on their way out of the arena, they bumped into Todd Foster, who had played basketball at Purdue several years earlier. Foster chatted with the family about what they were doing in town, then posed for a photo with them and made an offer that even an angry Cheryl couldn’t turn down. 

He asked if they’d like to visit Keady’s office and meet the future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. 

“We’re standing in the office, and I looked over to my wife and wink at her because she is so mad at me, but she’s gonna get to see Gene Keady now, which she’s super excited about,” Rob recalls with a laugh. “We just love Gene Keady.”

Once the longtime Boilermakers coach completed a meeting with a player, he turned his attention to the family waiting outside his office door — specifically the smallest member of the group.

“Gene Keady makes a beeline directly for Beth,” Rob says. “She’s just this little, short thing, and she’s got big old glasses on and her Purdue baseball cap pulled down so her ears are kind of flopped out. And he gets right in her face with the Gene Keady scowl and goes, ‘Where are you gonna go to college, little girl?’ And she looks up at him and said, ‘Uh, Purdue?’ And he says, ‘Come on in.’ So we all got to go into Gene Keady’s office, and he talked to us for about 30 minutes. He was just the nicest guy.”

Perhaps that fortunate turn of events influenced the Stanleys to wander into Mackey again on a visit several years later.

This time, they were camped out in the otherwise-empty arena watching the Robbie Hummel-era Boilermakers practice. All of a sudden, a door opened right behind the Stanleys and out walked Painter, Keady’s former player and successor, who has coached the Boilermakers for the last 19 seasons.

“There’s not another soul in that building except the basketball team, us — who snuck in — and now Matt Painter,” Rob says. “So he came over and talked to us, and that’s how we got a picture with Matt Painter.”

As for the photo of Beth and her friend in front of Tiller’s fireplace, that involves only one of several memorable interactions she had with the former Purdue football coach.

Beth was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, when her dad was stationed at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, so she always felt a special connection to Tiller, who coached at the University of Wyoming before Purdue and later retired to the state. 

They could tell that both of us just came to life anytime we’d go back to Purdue. I’d get so excited that I’d do some pretty stupid things.

Rob stanley BS technology ’88

Just before the start of their sophomore year, Beth and a friend planned to travel from Great Falls, Montana — where Beth graduated from high school when her dad was 341st Missile Wing commander at Malmstrom Air Force Base — back to Purdue. The drive would bring them close to Buffalo, Wyoming, where the Tillers lived, so Beth took a chance. She sent a letter to the couple telling them that she would be traveling through town and inviting them to lunch.

“She never expected to hear back from him, but she put her phone number in there,” Rob says. “So I’m fixing breakfast one Saturday morning, and I can hear the phone ring upstairs. All of a sudden, I hear this rumbling down the stairs, and it was Beth, and she had Joe Tiller on the phone. He invited her and her friend to come stay with him and Arnette there in Buffalo on their way back to Purdue. Sure enough, they put Beth and her friend up in their little guesthouse, and they stayed up and played euchre with them all night. Joe took them to lunch, and then Beth treated them to ice cream afterward.”

‘It’s our happy place’

Maybe you have to be a Boilermaker to fully appreciate these stories, but boy, are the Stanleys ever some Boilermakers. Not only are Rob and Cheryl alumni, but so are Laura (BS apparel design and technology ’12) and Beth (BA mass communication ’16). And so are Laura’s and Beth’s husbands, Vinny and Zach.

Vinny proposed to Laura under the Purdue Bell Tower after her graduation. They were married on a snowy December day in 2013 at University Lutheran.

Meanwhile, Zach and Beth met at Greyhouse Coffee near campus while Beth was working toward her bachelor’s degree and Zach was finishing his PhD, awaiting his Air Force flight training assignment. 

“We’ve got a bunch of Boilermakers, and hopefully our granddaughters will go there, too,” Rob says.

Their professional lives may have taken the Stanleys all over the world, but nothing compares to their bond shared via Purdue — a place where they have a common connection as well as their own individual memories.

They didn’t need to sneak into Mackey for that connection to exist, but thankfully they had a camera on hand when they did so that Rob has visual evidence to back up the Keady story he still loves to tell 20 years later. Same with the time they met Painter or when Beth and her pal snapped a shot with Tiller at his home.

Photographs help folks recall the important events in their lives and happily reflect on the good times they shared. As the photos in the Stanleys’ fan cave indicate, Purdue has been part of many of those family moments.

“It’s our happy place,” Rob says of their Boiler Room. “Our lives started at Purdue, as far as I’m concerned, as far as our marriage. Cheryl and I have been married since 1988. Everything goes back to Purdue. We certainly wouldn’t have been able to do some of the things that we were able to do had it not been for the wonderful education, the tough stuff that Purdue does to you. It’s not a gimme school. When you come out of that place, you can feel proud that you’ve actually accomplished something.”

We’ve got a bunch of Boilermakers, and hopefully our granddaughters will go there, too.

rob stanley
BS technology ’88

Family ties can become the ties that bind. In the Colvin family, togetherness takes many forms.

Raven Colvin, a senior on Purdue’s nationally ranked volleyball team, and Myles Colvin, a sophomore on the men’s basketball squad, couldn’t be more different. But in some ways, they couldn’t be more the same.

“Myles has more of my mom’s laid-back personality, while I am more intense and passionate like my dad,” says Raven, a first-team All-Big-Ten performer in 2023. “But we both have parts of our parents and grandparents that make us who we are.”

Elite athletic talent is a common thread; it is the Colvins’ calling card for all Purdue fans and observers. Raven is one of the most potent front-line players in her sport, while Myles is a shot-maker who has the potential to be remarkable.

Dad and Purdue alumnus Rosevelt knows a thing or two about playing at the highest level. He was a vital member of a pair of Super Bowl-winning teams with the New England Patriots and enjoyed a decade-long NFL career as an outside linebacker. That followed a Boilermaker experience as a two-time All-Big Ten rush end during the 1997 and ’98 seasons, which were heady times under the university’s all-time winningest coach, Joe Tiller.

Mom Tiffany flexed her business and culinary acumen by operating a bakery for 14 years. She has been there for all four of the Colvin children and has enjoyed the sporting adventures of her two youngest.

“Our parents are our biggest supporters,” Raven says. “They come to every game. Our grandparents come to most of the games that they can. That’s our family. We’re a sports family.”

And it is Tiffany and Rosevelt who set the tone for their two athletic children. It ranges from a text of support from mom to a note-taking analysis of a play by dad. The parents complement each other in how they interact with their children. But Tiffany and Rosevelt also realize they are getting as much out of their children’s Purdue athletic experience as they are putting in.

“They are great kids and we are fortunate,” Tiffany says. “They saw all the hard work we put into running our family business, and they have benefited from that. It is such a relief for me to have them both at Purdue and see them both thriving.”

Flamboyant goofiness

One could easily assume that the Colvin clan is strictly business. But while that is often true, it isn’t always the case. With Raven and Myles, there is a lighter side.

“When we are together, we can be goofy, laughing and loud,” Myles says. “My time with my sister is when I play around and have fun.”

Raven concurs, admitting that Myles is quiet while she is … not.

“We are different, but our sense of humor is the same,” Raven says. “I have flamboyant goofiness.” But it is clear that the two “get” one another and use that shared comedic sense to weather the stress of attending college while competing in athletics at the highest level.

Yet, like most kids two years apart, they didn’t always get along.

There were parental worries when Myles didn’t start talking until he was nearly 2 years old. Looking back, it was because he had two older sisters who spoke for him. But once Myles started talking, he didn’t stop.

However, their relationship has matured nicely as they aged.

“We didn’t get along all that well when we were young because I was the talkative type that got on her nerves,” Myles says. “But when she left for college, it hit me. I didn’t have her to speak with every day. That is when I knew she was one of the closest people in my life.

“She’s so energetic, and I just feed off of her. She’s the one person I can be myself with.”

That bond solidified in their teenage years. Raven would video Myles’ AAU games, and he was a regular at Raven’s volleyball tournaments. Rosevelt, a salty basketball player at Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis who considered accepting an invitation to walk on to coach Gene Keady’s basketball team, served as Myles’ coach.

“Attending each other’s events was the highest priority growing up, and it still is today,” Raven says.

Rosevelt admits there were times he has come on a bit strong, especially with Myles.

“I thank Myles all the time for forgiving me as a dad-coach because there are times that you say things and you regret what you said,” Rosevelt admits. “Myles has been awesome to me, just to forgive me, and it’s always been love between us, but it hasn’t always been easy.”

How was Rosevelt as a volleyball parent?

Rosevelt and Raven share that outward competitive fire, but it took some learning and listening for dad to become an effective sports mentor for his daughter.

“I started by telling her that if you are going to be an effective hitter, you should just hit the opponent in the face with the ball every time,” Rosevelt says. “But I learned the game’s nuances and think I could be a good coach. But she doesn’t (always) want to listen to me, so I try to be dad, get excited when she plays and hope she does well.

“I stay pretty quiet at home matches, but on the road, not so much.”

Support in the challenging times

It hasn’t always been a smooth road for Raven and Myles at Purdue. Both had to wait their turn in their freshman seasons, and Myles is still battling for playing time and a consistent role for coach Matt Painter’s team.

But even at the college level, the big sister is still watching out for her little brother. Raven is efficient in her comments to Myles, but when she sees body language that needs improvement, she points it out. She even tried to be someone in the stands who could provide encouragement with something as simple as eye contact.

“I try to give him a look, but he never looks at me (during games),” Raven laughs. “But constantly critiquing one another is not who we are as a family. We are about the game, and let’s reflect and support each other after the game is over.

“Myles is a listener and doesn’t go on a rant very often, but when he does, I can tell he has heard me.”

Myles appreciates his family’s straightforward approach.

“One thing I love about my family is they tell me how it is,” Myles says. “I have realized they do that because they care about me.”

Post-college aspirations

The Colvin clan is from a long line of educators. Myles’ and Raven’s grandparents and great-grandparents were educators and established a legacy of making the most of educational opportunities.

Raven and Myles have big aspirations after their days at Purdue end. Myles would love to develop his game and play professionally. Raven is a few months away from getting an opportunity to make a living playing the sports she loves. Academically, Raven has navigated her rigorous accounting major and has helped Myles as he is introduced to accounting and other business courses.

Rosevelt and Tiffany understand business and entrepreneurship and have laid that foundation for the children. Both stress the importance of looking past their athletic careers with the best possible academic preparation.

“We try to help them be humble with their everyday thought process and develop a work ethic because things in life aren’t always easy,” Rosevelt says. “We tell them that as soon as you figure out you don’t have to appease people, you can be polite and do your business without worrying about what they think of you. You will have inner peace and smooth sailing if you can do that. I realized that 10 years ago, and I am lucky to have imparted that to them now.

“I get emotional because I know what I did at Purdue and how much I loved my college experience. To have Raven be as successful as she is and Myles on the cusp of having similar success and each trying to create their legacy is an awesome feeling.”

Written by Alan Karpick, publisher of GoldandBlack.com

Find out Purdue Global alum Daniel Aveline’s best advice and tools to help you meet your education goals 

For all the working adults, parents, first-generation students or those simply looking for some guidance while pursuing an online degree, we have the perfect list to help get you started. And there’s no one better to share what works than a recent Purdue Global graduate. 

Daniel Aveline climbed his way up at Bob Rohrman Auto Group, from cleaning cars to his current position as a finance team lead manager. Outside of his day job, he’s dad to his 3-year-old daughter and co-owns a craft alcohol company called BuzzWorthy Mead. Inspired by the thought of becoming an example to his then-newborn daughter while advancing his career, Aveline decided in 2021 that it was time to earn his bachelor’s degree in data analytics from Purdue Global. When his wife saw how flexible her husband’s program was, she decided to earn her degree with Purdue Global, too. As first-generation graduates, the couple walked across the stage together during fall 2024 commencement.  

Having blazed a trail in his own family as a working parent, business owner and first-generation graduate, here are Daniel Aveline’s top 10 biggest pieces of advice for fellow online students: 

1. Time management

 “The biggest piece of advice I have is the importance of time management. Make sure you have a plan.” 

Aveline made it clear that with his busy personal and professional life, nothing is more important than time management. It can be hard balancing everything, but it’s possible if you prepare, plan and adapt.  

2. Locate all the pieces

 “Another one of my biggest tips is just learning where things are at. Your books, how to access rubrics and seminars. I would do that before anything else.” 

You start out stronger when you know where things are located. Being familiar with an online platform can be a challenge, so if you tackle that first, you are set up for success throughout your program.

3. Do your research and be realistic 

“If I could tell my past self one thing, I would say to look into the curriculum, future classes and the different concentrations within the degree so you know how to manage your time. I was taking four courses at first, but that was too much with my job and daughter.” 

Make sure you are taking full advantage of the path you have chosen. Purdue Global offers many concentrations that can move you forward, so it’s beneficial to know what’s offered before settling on a degree path. It’s also important to look ahead at the course load. Be honest with yourself about how much your schedule can handle; it’s OK to slow down or speed up.

4. Be assured you’re in good company 

“Purdue Global is set up perfectly for parents.”  

Aveline emphasized how important it is for parents to use the available tools. His decision to go back to school was fueled by his desire to be a role model for his daughter, so he appreciated that Purdue Global was built for working parents like him. He could guarantee he had family time before focusing on seminars that started at 8 p.m.

5. Devote an hour every day 

“I always set aside at least an hour a day — even if it’s when I have everything done. It helped me stay on track.”  

Aveline always made sure he had an hour a day to focus on his schooling. If he had all of his assignments done, he would use it to plan his week or get ahead on the next one. It’s easy to fall behind with life’s many distractions, so setting aside time like this could help you stay motivated and on schedule.  

6. Set goals, no matter how small 

 “I always wanted to get everything done before Saturday. Planning my schedule out every week helped me not be overwhelmed. Do what is attainable for you.” 

To ensure he could graduate on time, Aveline set goals every week. While everyone’s work and home life are different, it’s critical to set goals for the day, week, month or whatever works best for you. Even setting small goals can have a big payoff.  

7. Use Purdue Global’s tools 

“Make sure you take advantage of Purdue Global’s tools, like career advisors. They do things like look at your résumé, help you improve it, help you look for jobs and improve your LinkedIn. Before my advisor looked at mine, I had nothing on my LinkedIn.”

Purdue Global knows working adults. Aveline made use of his advisors, who were there to help make the journey easier. Also be sure to check out the Center for Career Advancement, Center for Prior Learning Recognition, Academic Success Center and Student Services. 

8. Don’t be afraid to ask for help 

“Work with your advisors and check in with them regularly. They want you to succeed. They even congratulated me when I graduated!” 

Your academic journey doesn’t have to be undertaken alone, so be sure to speak up and reach out if you need that extra helping hand or motivational boost.  

9. Have a dedicated workspace 

“I worked in offices at work or used my home office. Anywhere you can limit distractions and have some quiet will help you get the work done.” 

Aveline stressed the importance of having a dedicated workspace. Focus is something any working adult struggles to maintain, and a space at home can serve you well in the midst of life’s distractions. 

10. Time management … again 

When asked if he had a final piece of advice for adults earning their online degree, Aveline only wanted to reiterate his No. 1 tip: Manage your time and don’t waste it! It’ll be worth it in the end. 

“It can be hard to separate family time and work from online school, but it’s important. When you’re devoting three to four years of your life to a degree, you want to be sure you’re dedicated to it and that it is worth it.”

When you’re devoting three to four years of your life to a degree, you want to be sure you’re dedicated to it and that it is worth it. 

Daniel Aveline BS data analytics ’24, Purdue Global 

Learn more about Carina Ferguson’s role in entertainment systems engineering

There are so many ways to pursue your path with a STEM degree. Carina Ferguson earned her bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary engineering from Purdue. After graduating in 2019, she moved to Florida to be an entertainment systems engineer. She now works for TAIT, a company that engineers experiences for theme parks, concerts — including Taylor Swift’s — and more. At TAIT, she designs show control panels for theme park attractions and experiences her team’s efforts come to life (which is to say: riding roller coasters). Learn about STEM opportunities at our upcoming “In Our STEM Era” Makerspace.

Q: What’s your favorite way to start the day?

A: In my industry, my colleagues are very social. Entertainment attracts a diverse, welcoming group of people. I tend to start my workday by chatting with whoever’s in the office: “What were you doing on-site yesterday? What’s going on?”

Q: Who’s one of your most influential role models?

A: My managers have contributed toward that feeling of community in my role and shown me how to treat others well. I can come to the table with my own ideas, and my current manager advocates for me. The office doesn’t have cubicles — it’s really collaborative. You can’t do what we do in a vacuum.

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?

A: Previewing the finished product — riding the roller coaster! We have a family and friends day before official openings. After being behind the scenes for so long and having to keep my work a secret, it’s great to hop on and enjoy the ride.

Q: What cause is top of mind for you lately?

A: Sustainability is a topic that comes up for us a lot and it always tugs at my heartstrings. The steel and silicone we use have a cost on our planet, so my biggest concern is finding better ways to operate.

Q: Where do you find inspiration?

A: The difference between magic and science is that you know how you get to the result with science. My whole industry is focused on inspiring people, and I love getting to make magic reality. My biggest sources of energy are nature (I love taking walks in the woods) and fantasy (“Lord of the Rings,” “Harry Potter”).

Q: What does persistence mean to you?

A: I go with the flow, so when I’m facing a problem, I know to take a step back and look at it from a new perspective. What do I need? Or who do I need to talk to, to figure it out?

Q: What’s one of your top mottoes?

A: My team always goes, “It’s gonna be great!” It’s become a joke, but it’s one of those things that bands us together. 

Q: What advice would you give your teenage self?

A: This is more for me at Purdue than in high school: Focus on getting the most out of your classes. I was learning so many things that are directly applicable to what I’ve done in my career, especially with microelectronics.

Q: What’s one of your favorite Purdue memories?

A: Walks to class after a night of snow. It was like a little meditation. It’s a beautiful campus! The serenity of fresh snow and being around everyone peacefully heading toward their classes was always the best.

Q: What are you most excited for next?

A: I’m looking forward to branching out and learning about a broad range of projects. My former company was purchased by TAIT, so now I’m wrapping my head around what they specialize in — like huge concert tours, including Taylor Swift’s.

Find out how Anika Bhoopalam envisions her future in renewable energy sources

There are so many ways to pursue your path with a STEM degree. Anika Bhoopalam, a senior at Purdue University studying chemical engineering, can combat the climate crisis through advancing semiconductor research. Learn about STEM opportunities at our upcoming “In Our STEM Era” Makerspace.

Q: Who’s one of your most influential role models?

A: One of my aunts is the kind of person I aspire to be: knowledgeable, caring and hardworking. She was the first of her siblings to immigrate to the U.S. from India. Now she’s retired, but throughout her career as a doctor, she took good care of her family (including watching me when my parents were busy!). She’s also committed to gaining knowledge. I’ll talk to her and she’ll be like, “Yeah, I’m reading about the Ottoman Empire right now.” She’s shown me how to always learn new things, be there for people and do well in your job.

Q: What is your favorite part of your major?

A: Chemical and electrical engineering can be used to solve a lot of different problems that affect our planet. Through contributing to solar research, I learned about the role semiconductors play in solar panels. It’s been so interesting to me, and I’m excited to use my engineering knowledge to help contribute to technological innovations.

Q: What cause is top of mind for you lately?

A: My biggest motivating factor is advancing solar energy and other renewable sources. The climate crisis affects every living thing. Knowing I can apply what I do to help our environment is so motivating.

Q: Where do you find inspiration?

A: Seeing people progress in what they’re passionate about is so energizing! It could be reading about someone’s new technique in a research paper or watching someone volunteer for a cause that resonates with them. Because I love to learn, I find inspiration in a lot of places.

Q: What does persistence mean to you?

A: Keep going. When things are done in only one way for a long time, people forget there are infinite possibilities that can be tried. I think it’s important to try different approaches. Learning from mistakes and responding to them is how you move forward.

Q: What’s one of your top mottoes?

A: Just by being human, you can grow into the person you want to become. I used to be harder on myself, but now I remind myself that one of the defining characteristics of what makes us human is adaptability. It’s in our DNA. By definition, I am able to adapt. I can try new things and get better.

Q: What advice would you give your teenage self?

A: You can learn from anything. Even if you have a bad result, you can respond to that and transition to make the situation better.

Q: What’s one of your favorite Purdue memories?

A: I loved traveling with the Global Engineering Alliance for Research and Education (GEARE) program. Engineering students can complete a domestic internship, a study abroad session and then an international internship. I interned with SkyWater Technology in Florida, studied abroad in Ecuador and interned with ASML in the Netherlands. GEARE is one of the reasons why I chose Purdue. It was so fun!

Q: What are you most excited for next?

A: Next up, I’m applying to graduate schools. I want to earn a PhD in chemical engineering, materials engineering or electrical engineering to progress the work happening in semiconductors and renewable energy sources. I cannot wait to deep dive into research in a lab.

Two Mackey Arena appearances set to break Big Ten volleyball attendance record

For Purdue volleyball coach Dave Shondell, the mission is always to take his program to the next level. Winning teams and high-achieving student-athletes on and off the court are the goal, but so is helping the sport continue its meteoric rise in popularity.

October 19 and 26 are days that will reside in collegiate volleyball history. On those dates, Purdue volleyball will smash the attendance record for a Big Ten Conference regular-season match that has lasted 19 years with capacity crowds when Indiana and Wisconsin, respectively, come to West Lafayette.

There will be 14,876 in attendance for both matches in Mackey Arena, bettering the previous standard by nearly 4,000 fans. They have been sold out for weeks.

“We want to be part of the volleyball explosion that we are seeing in this country,” Shondell says. “I know the excitement in Mackey on those nights will be off the chart. It’s a great time to be part of the sport’s growth, and we are glad to do our part in raising the bar.”

In 22 seasons at Purdue, much has been accomplished on Shondell’s watch. His standards and expectations have always been high. Eighteen NCAA Tournament appearances, including four regional final berths and 20 All-Americans coached, are just a few of his chops as the Boilermaker boss. He became the winningest coach in school annals earlier this month with a triumph over Michigan State.

But the coach is always striving for more and more for his sport. Some thought it was a risk to bring matches back to Mackey. After all, Holloway Gymnasium is the proverbial bird in the hand, selling out every night at over 2,400 fans. It would take 3,500 fans in Mackey to break even, due, in part, to some additional expenses necessary to play there.

Not only did it take a matter of hours to smash through the break-even level, but the lower bowl was nearly sold-out through John Purdue Club members before tickets went on sale to the general public. Then, just days after the July 29 announcement that the historic basketball venue would be volleyball’s temporary home, 12,000 tickets were sold for each contest. In fact, in less than a week, the Wisconsin match had less than 2,000 tickets remaining.

In terms of a successful venture, it was no contest.

The time is right

With three returning All-Americans in Eva Hudson, Chloe Chicoine and Raven Colvin, a top-10 ranking all season long and sellout matches the norm, not the exception for years now, there was no better time for the program to make its return to Mackey Arena.

And when the pageantry and traditions of Holloway merge with the historic venue that is Mackey Arena for two of the biggest matches this season? Well, fans are in for a treat.

“We see what has been done at other places and the crowds they are drawing,” says Shondell, one of the great ambassadors for volleyball. “And the television exposure has grown so much in recent years. Just about every night, you can watch volleyball on TV. We can’t wait to showcase our crowd, our team and our program to that NBC audience.”

An added benefit is that Mackey Arena will be good preparation for the NCAA Tournament, which is usually played in venues more spacious than Purdue’s cozy Holloway Gymnasium.

“It is a little different feel playing in a bigger building,” Shondell says. “It can’t hurt as we look towards the postseason.”

The players are pumped

For seniors Raven Colvin and Ali Hornung, the bright lights of Mackey Arena will provide some extra juice.

“I am so excited; it’s the perfect event for my senior year and allows us to go out with a bang,” says Hornung, a defensive specialist from New Albany, Indiana. “I definitely will get goosebumps when I run on the court.

When I was a little girl, I would watch these big matches on TV, and I dreamed of playing in front of that many people. But I never really thought I would get to that point where I would be on TV and in this sold-out arena with all these little girls watching.

That’s just so special to me. Those little girls look up to us, and it’s honestly just an honor to be able to represent the sport.”

raven colvin, senior middle blocker for purdue volleyball

For Colvin, who was in Mackey Arena many times last year watching her brother, Myles, play for basketball coach Matt Painter, she had been pushing Shondell to get a match scheduled in the basketball facility. It has been eight seasons since volleyball has been played in Mackey, and Colvin thought it was about time.

“I’ve seen the pictures of the big crowds for volleyball in Mackey and always thought we should do it,” says Colvin, one of the nation’s premier frontcourt players. “People come up to me all the time and say that they can’t get tickets to our home matches because they are always sold out, so it doesn’t surprise me that we were able to sell Mackey out.

“Myles and I have talked about what it would be like for me to have the lights and big introduction that goes on in Mackey for basketball. It will be a neat experience to have our roles reversed for those two nights.”

More down the road?

Long-time fans will remember that Purdue broke the NCAA volleyball attendance record by drawing 10,645 fans for a “Pac-Mac” promotion in 1985. That has been the school standard for 39 years, dating to the halcyon days of coach Carol Dewey’s program. But will the big crowds and the extra revenue generated by playing in a facility with six times the capacity be enticing, especially in the days of revenue sharing and financial pressure on college athletics? The answer is yes, but Purdue will pick and choose its opportunities to play in Mackey in future years as logistical challenges are plentiful, with men’s and women’s basketball being the primary tenants.

“The time was right to return to Mackey this year, and we’ll look for future opportunities,” says Chris Peludat, associate athletics director for marketing and fan experience. “We will look to get in Mackey once or twice a year but also want to keep maximizing our home court at Holloway Gym. It’s a credit to our fans and our program, and we always want to expose the sport to more fans and kids.”

Later this week, the mission of getting the program to another level will be accomplished.

Written by Alan Karpick, who is in his 29th year as publisher of GoldandBlack.com.

Purdue construction management alum hopes to give other unlikely construction professionals a seat at the table

Carlyn McClelland knows that success does not follow a predictable path. After all, her own career journey has had more than its fair share of twists and turns. 

From going to trade school as a stay-at-home mom to pivoting her construction career and earning her master’s degree in construction management online after a life-altering injury, McClelland’s unlikely journey has made her a voice for change within the construction industry. 

Now she wants to build a more inclusive future for construction professionals — one brick at a time. And she is using what she learned in Purdue University’s online Master of Science in construction management program to help her do it. 

“Purdue’s program changed my perspective on what construction can be,” says McClelland, director of preconstruction for Final Phase Electric in Elkhart, Indiana. “The traditional way is not always the best way.”  

McClelland knows a thing or two about bucking tradition — her journey to becoming a construction professional was anything but traditional. It started with earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She did well in college and enjoyed her studies, as well as her postgraduation career as a probation officer. But, looking back, she can see how social expectations shaped her college experience.  

“I went to college because that’s what was expected of me,” McClelland says. “I didn’t know much about (trade school and other options) at the time.”  

A few years after graduation, McClelland decided to leave her career as a probation officer to focus on being a mom. During this time, McClelland experienced a lot of change — she had a stillbirth and then she lost 150 pounds. Her journey with grief inspired her to focus on her health, and through those efforts, she developed new interests. 

One was home remodeling.  

“Starting off, I got into home remodeling because I wanted to teach my sons some useful skills, and I wanted to help other moms fix their houses,” McClelland says. “But then I fell in love with the entire construction industry. My hobby got out of control.”  

So, at 36 years old, McClelland enrolled in a trade school to learn more about construction. This hands-on educational experience taught her the value of pursuing a trade, and her unlikely journey from stay-at-home mom to construction worker attracted national attention.

Purdue found me at the perfect moment in my life. I made the choice to throw my heart and soul into the program so I could make the best out of a not-ideal situation.

Carlyn McClelland

MS construction management ’23
Director of preconstruction for Final Phase Electric

In 2017 she applied for and won a mikeroweWORKS Foundation Work Ethic Scholarship, which helps students fund their trade school educations. Winning the scholarship and meeting Mike Rowe, the “Dirty Jobs” star who has long championed the importance of trades, helped her inspire other women to follow her lead. She even appeared on “Good Morning America,” where she spoke about the importance of female representation in the trades.  

“In the media, I became a spokesperson for why trade school is a great option,” McClelland says. “Those media experiences are what prompted me to start thinking about opening my own business.”  

The money from the mikeroweWORKS Foundation scholarship paid for McClelland’s last year of trade school. She earned an Associate in Applied Science in construction trades and green technology in 2018 and then began building a residential construction business: Proverbs 31 Construction. 

The business was a huge success — she was doing hands-on work every day and taking on projects big and small. But then, suddenly, things changed. While doing routine work, she had a ladder accident that resulted in a catastrophic injury to her right ankle. She realized almost immediately that her future — and the future of her business — was irreparably changed.   

“After the accident, I realized that I couldn’t do the hands-on work I set out to do, and I couldn’t continue running my business,” McClelland says.   

“It was really hard,” she continues. “But then I picked myself back up and decided to change direction.”

Turning a corner

One of McClelland’s construction mentors encouraged her to consider construction management, where instead of doing hands-on work, she would control a project’s scope, time and cost to produce the best quality outcome. She became interested in pursuing this career path and soon found Purdue’s online Master of Science in construction management program, which seemed like the perfect jumping-off point for a career pivot.  

“Purdue found me at the perfect moment in my life,” McClelland says. “I made the choice to throw my heart and soul into the program so I could make the best out of a not-ideal situation.”  

At Purdue, McClelland took classes from professors with extensive industry experience and who loved the field. They challenged her to think about construction in new ways and to build additional skills, like commercial construction management, risk management, value engineering and operations science. They also emphasized the importance of collaboration. 

During her time in the industry, McClelland experienced how adversarial the construction field can be. But in working with her professors, she came to understand that collaboration, not competition, is the key to sustained success.   

“What I learned about incentivizing collaboration through contractual arrangements and the project’s delivery method solidified my belief that bringing everyone on the project together is the key to improving productivity,” McClelland says. “From owners to field staff to project managers and administration, everyone has a role to play.” 

McClelland also enjoyed the program’s project-based curriculum. Each course was based around a hands-on project, which she usually completed with a group of other construction professionals. These projects helped McClelland put the principles she was learning into action — like the class she took on value engineering, which helps managers prioritize what owners want out of a project while maximizing value.

Her group projects also helped her form lasting relationships with her classmates — many of whom are still part of her life today.   

“I still have a text thread going with a lot of my classmates, and we help each other navigate the construction industry,” McClelland says. “If I have questions, I can reach out to my classmates or professors and have that support network.”  

Over the course of her studies, McClelland developed a passion for lean construction, a movement in the industry that focuses on maximizing value and minimizing waste by encouraging collaboration and continuous improvement. Among construction’s old guard, lean construction is still considered a nontraditional method, but, at Purdue, McClelland was always encouraged to think outside of the box. 

That lesson stuck with her, and it’s become a central part of her new career as the director of preconstruction and acting project manager for Final Phase Electric.  

“I believe strongly in the tenets of the lean construction movement,” McClelland says. “One of the core tenets of that movement is respect for people. In my career, I’ve learned that there’s no real separation among different kinds of construction professionals, whether you’re a manager, out in the field, or working in the office. No matter your identity, no matter your background, no matter if you don’t think you fit in — we all have a place at this table.”  

In the future, McClelland would like to continue creating space for a new generation of construction professionals. She hopes her story can encourage other women to pursue construction jobs, and she’d love to influence the future of the field through teaching and consulting. 

From her perspective, change is good. It’s something the industry should embrace, just as she has.

“Purdue’s program taught me to never settle for good enough,” McClelland says. “And I believe that. It carries through in my faith and my work.”  

Learn more about Purdue’s online Master of Science in construction management on the program’s website.

By RM Barton, barton53@purdue.edu

Purdue football legend Mark Herrmann has quickly settled into a role as the Boilermakers’ radio color analyst

Intelligent, humble and straightforward.

In the broadcast booth, on the playing field and in Purdue’s athletics department, that is Mark Herrmann.

The former Purdue consensus All-American quarterback (1980) is the newest addition to the Boilermaker football radio crew working with play-by-play announcer Tim Newton. He replaced Pete Quinn, who held the color analyst spot for the previous 32 seasons.

“Mark would never admit it, but he’s a legend,” says Bart Burrell, Herrmann’s boyhood friend, teammate and wide receiver who caught 140 passes — nearly all from Herrmann — during their Purdue careers (1977-80) as the famed Carmel Connection. “He’s our Leroy Keyes now — an approachable, likable Hall of Fame-level football alum working in the athletics department.”

And like Keyes, who passed away in 2021 after working in the athletics department for 26 years, people tend to gravitate to Herrmann despite his laid-back persona.

Herrmann graduated from the Boilermaker program as the NCAA’s all-time passing leader. He could be excused for being a bit full of himself in the football world. But nothing could be further from the truth.

“When he is in our internal meetings, he brings a humble calmness, belief and optimism to everybody,” says Tim House, executive senior associate athletics director/associate vice president for development. “And when he is in front of people externally, it is the same thing.”

Shy at first, leader at last

Herrmann is not a natural broadcaster. He has had to develop his leadership and communication skills since arriving on Purdue’s campus in the fall of 1977 as a skinny but highly regarded quarterback.

“He was a little bit reticent as an 18-year-old quarterback, but he took a lot of responsibility starting all but his first game as a freshman,” recalls Hall of Fame head coach Jim Young, whose first objective when he took the Purdue job in December 1976 was to convince Herrmann to pick Purdue over schools like Notre Dame.

“But I have listened to him broadcast games back in his days with the (Indianapolis) Colts and now Purdue, and among the many things I like about him as a broadcaster is he doesn’t over-talk. And that is absent from many former players in the broadcast booth.”

Herrmann concurs on not being ready for the forefront when he arrived in West Lafayette.

“I think back to my freshman year when somebody interviewed me, and I sounded like the most timid thing; quiet, shy, and I could barely get three, four words out,” Herrmann says. “But by my senior year, I was much more polished and confident.”

Herrmann, who as a Boilermaker was MVP of three straight bowl victories, was always self-assured of his knowledge of the game — his 50-plus years in the game allow him to know it like few others. A decade-plus NFL career, another decade in the broadcast booth with the Colts, and six years doing college games for ESPN have honed Herrmann’s analyst skills.

Taking the reins

[Herrmann has] played the game at the highest level, and he is good at translating that experience and point of view to the listener.

Tim Newton, play-by-play commentator and Director of External Relations & Communications for the mitch daniels school of business

But it was his unique experience in 1980, his senior year, that catapulted his leadership and communication acumen forward.

The Boilermakers were off to a disappointing 1-2 start to the season. In the first half against Miami (Ohio), Herrmann threw a couple of interceptions and Young considered replacing him with freshman Scott Campbell.

Instead, Young chose to do something almost unthinkable in the modern era of college football. He relinquished the play-calling reins to Herrmann, and the Boilermakers responded by winning eight of their last nine games. Subsequently, Herrmann became a consensus All-American and finished fourth in Heisman Trophy balloting.

“He was on his way to becoming college football’s all-time leading passer, and he was our team leader, so I realized I couldn’t bench him,” Young says. “He was, in effect, our offensive coordinator for the rest of that season, and when one thinks about how coordinators now earn over $1 million a year, I guess he could have earned some serious NIL money.”

Yes, Herrmann’s experience as a football radio analyst from the quarterback position makes him uniquely qualified. He knows what everyone’s job should be on the field and can articulate that to his listeners, which makes work easier for his broadcast teammate, Newton.

“He’s played the game at the highest level, and he is good at translating that experience and point of view to the listener,” says Newton, who serves as director of external relations and communications for the Mitch Daniels School of Business.

Herrmann and Newton’s chemistry predates their time in the radio booth. They previously teamed up at the business school, where Herrmann was raising funds before moving to the athletics department in 2020 as director of leadership and alumni engagement.

“He knows it is my air when the play happens and his air to explain what happened once the play is over,” Newton says. “He understands how to fit in, complement and add to what I’ve said. He does that seamlessly.”

Rooting for the Old Gold and Black

As a member of the Boilermakers’ broadcast team, Herrmann has a strong sense of the appropriate amount of fandom to project while being honest with the audience.

“I go back to what (Purdue Hall of Fame broadcaster) John DeCamp told me years ago, and that is when you do a game, you should show people that you want Purdue to win; that’s OK,” Newton says. “But you have to be honest and credible. Mark does that well in both areas.”

Herrmann has no problem calling it as he sees it, in good times and challenging ones.

“In radio, you are virtually the fans’ eyes and ears on what is going on,” Herrmann says. “So the most enthusiastic we can be, the most insightful, the most honest, and the best timing make for a quality broadcast. We work to deliver that every week, and that is what makes it fun. That is the beauty of radio.”

For House, Herrmann’s radio contributions are just one of the many ways he has helped to advance his alma mater.

“Mark is a complete gentleman,” House says. “He is a good human being and treats everyone with respect. He is where he belongs at Purdue and was a catalyst for a great era of Purdue football (when he played). All he has done since is work to make Purdue better every day.”

Written by Alan Karpick, publisher of GoldandBlack.com.