The 2023 edition of Purdue Aviation Day will feature presentations by a Navy test pilot and United Airlines captain, both of whom are Purdue alums, plus a demonstration by the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights, a world-renowned team of skilled parachuters. Commercial and military aircraft will also be on display. The free, family-friendly event takes place Saturday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Purdue University Airport.

Purdue Polytechnic’s Julie LaGrange learned that battling cancer can be a cold, isolated experience. Now a cancer survivor, LaGrange created We Fight Together, a non-profit organization that delivers care packages of blankets, lotions and other small comforts with a handwritten letter to current patients. An outpouring of love and surprise donations from LaGrange’s colleagues are helping We Fight Together to build a community around one message: “You’re not alone.”

Purdue University’s Polytechnic Institute and the School of Mechanical Engineering are collaborating to offer Purdue Motorsports’ evGrandPrix program for Indiana high schools, a STEM-rich experience that uses a race competition with electrically powered go-karts to encourage students to consider pursuing either an engineering technology or engineering degree. The season’s first “Test and Tune” event at Allison Transmission in Indianapolis will give high school students a chance to test their electric go-karts and learn firsthand from Allison engineers about future career opportunities.

Purdue Polytechnic’s Andrea Fay Barber-Dansby received the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service.

Purdue Polytechnic and Purdue Motorsports partnered to host “Test and Tune,” an event for high school students to test and improve their electric go-karts, last month at Purdue Polytechnic South Bend. The event provided high school go-kart teams a chance to practice for the Purdue evGrand Prix.

The Food Engineer Adventure summer camp offered in June by Purdue Polytechnic Anderson helped introduce kids to STEM education and career opportunities in the food sector. Participants learned about the food supply chain through hands-on activities, a field trip to a local farm, building an indoor garden, meal budgeting and shopping and a food challenge competition.

A STEM enrichment program offered through a partnership between Purdue Polytechnic Anderson and the Sistas of Royalty, a mentoring program, is building interest in attending college amongst sixth grade girls in the Anderson area.

Purdue’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology has created the Purdue University National Aviation Symposium – Emerging Critical Shortages of Pilots and Maintenance Technicians, a three-day symposium in the fall of 2022 to identify and mitigate challenges to creating a sufficient pool of qualified pilots and technicians. The symposium will feature Stephen Dickson, the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Purdue Polytechnic faculty and students helped bring lessons in robotics and manufacturing to 150 area K-8 students during week-long summer camps.

Purdue Polytechnic’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology collaborated with aircraft manufacturer Pipistrel and the Federal Aviation Administration to convert a glider aircraft into an airplane to provide flight training to disabled, would-be pilots.