John Weitlauf was driven by the “hands-on” side of science, technology, engineering and math and chose the College of Technology for his undergraduate degree in Engineering/Technology Teacher Education (ETTE). “I appreciated that the college had a genuine focus on the application of theory, and provided opportunities to gain knowledge within a multitude of disciplines.”
Weitlauf has turned his love of technology into a teaching career. As an engineering/technology instructor, he teaches several courses in engineering and architecture and 3-D animation and visualization in a Project Lead the Way classroom at Benton Central Junior-Senior High School in Oxford,
Indiana. Weitlauf’s exemplary work in the classroom has been recognized by the State of Indiana, Engineering/Technology Educators of Indiana, Independent Colleges of Indiana, and Benton Central School Corporation.
Weitlauf remains involved with Purdue professionally by serving on the Technology Leadership and Innovation Industrial Advisory Board, Soft Robotics Advisory Board and TECHFIT Advisory Board. He also works with ETTE faculty to assist in research projects and serves as a cooperating teacher for current ETTE students.
In addition to an impressive array of volunteer and community commitments, Weitlauf also serves as advisor to multiple clubs and teams at Benton Central. But Weitlauf says his “most important task is to inspire the young people of Benton County to think differently, love to learn, and become the best version of themselves.”
Weitlauf lives in West Lafayette with his wife, Brianna.