PNW Celebrates Student, Faculty and Staff Achievements
A PNW cheerleader walks in with a "40" sign to honor 40 years of service for lead service maintenance worker Tommy Sanchez at PNW Founders Day 2024.
Purdue University Northwest recognized several exemplary students, faculty and staff members, nominated by their institutional peers, for accomplishments relating to their on-campus community-building and leadership.
The awards were announced at the university’s 2024 Founders Day celebration. PNW’s Founders Day is an annual campus tradition celebrating the anniversary of the university’s founding and the institutional mission of delivering transformational change for the metropolitan region.
Founders Day serves as an opportunity to recognize nominees who advance the university mission of academics, scholarship and service to the campus and Northwest Indiana communities. PNW also honors select employees for their years of service.
Award Winners
McKenzie Dinga received the Outstanding Graduate Student award at Founders Day 2024.
Two PNW students received awards for their service in the following categories:
Outstanding Undergraduate Student
- Dikshant Sharma, fourth-year Mechanical Engineering major
Outstanding Graduate Student
- McKenzie Dinga (right), Technology master’s student
Three PNW faculty members were honored with outstanding faculty awards in the areas of scholarship, teaching and engagement. They are as follows:
Outstanding Faculty Awards
- Julia Rogers, assistant professor of Nursing — Scholarship
- Hubert Izienicki, associate professor of Sociology — Teaching
- Jodi Allen, assistant professor of Nursing — Engagement
PNW’s Founders Day 2024 Outstanding Faculty award recipients: Julia Rogers, Hubert Izienicki and Jodi Allen.
PNW administrators and staff members who received awards in each of the following categories are as follows:
Outstanding Academic Administrative Leadership Award
- Shuhui (Grace) Yang, department chair of Computer Science and professor of Computer Science
Outstanding Administrative Leadership Award (Staff)
- Karen Sullivan, director of Building Services
Outstanding Clerical Staff Award
- Joan Buss, administrative assistant, department of Construction Science and Organizational Leadership
- Mary Rose Sicinski, graduate program coordinator, College of Technology
Outstanding Service Staff Award
- Dianna Vaughn, Print and Mail Services Coordinator
Outstanding Management and Administrative Professional Award
- Noemi Elizalde, Graduation and Records Manager, Office of the Registrar
- Salvador Cordova, assistant director for Programming and Administration, Office of Student Life
PNW administrators and staff on hand to receive their awards at Founders Day 2024 included: Shuhui Yang, Karen Sullivan, Mary Rose Sicinski, Noemi Elizalde and Salvador Cordova
Additional Recognitions
Gisele Casanova, interim chair of PNW’s department of Psychology and associate professor of Psychology, was recognized for her 2024 Purdue University system-wide Dreamer award. Purdue’s Dreamer awards annually recognize individuals and organizations who further the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of service and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Shontrai Irving, clinical associate professor of Business Law, was recognized for his 2023 Purdue Special Boilermaker Award. The award is provided to faculty and staff members from throughout the Purdue University system that have contributed to the improvement of the quality of life or the betterment of the educational experience for a substantial number of students.
Kwangsoo Park, associate dean of the College of Business and director of the White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, was recognized for recently receiving the 2024 Purdue Focus Award. The award is given annually in honor of individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to furthering the Purdue system’s commitment to disability accessibility and diversity.