Day of Giving Powers Next Giant Leap in University Residences, Dining & Culinary

Students pose for a photo at RHA Day.

Purdue Day of Giving, scheduled for April 26, is a day to celebrate your own experiences, give back to organizations that shaped your time on campus and pay it forward to the next generation of students by creating opportunities for Boilermakers to take giant leaps.

University Residences and Dining & Culinary serve as more than just a place to eat and sleep through leadership development programs, student employment opportunities, clubs, programs and more. These experiences help Boilermakers develop treasured relationships and grow personally and professionally. Day of Giving is your opportunity to join Purdue alumni and students, friends and family, faculty, staff and retirees from around the world to help ensure the continuing quality and growth of programs that contribute to a fulfilling residential campus experience.

This year, University Residences and Dining & Culinary will be focusing our fundraising efforts in the following areas. 

University Residences Student Leadership Programs

The Student Leadership Programs fund supports elite leadership experiences for students living in University Residences, including Men’s and Women’s Leadership Series and the Spring Leadership Institute retreat. This year’s Men’s and Women’s Leadership Series focused on holistic well-being within the context of leadership, including community, financial, social and career well-being. Participants noted takeaways such as increased courage to try new experiences and meet new people, control finances, connect physical and mental well-being, embrace new opportunities and create positive work culture.

Executive in Residence

This unique program, which brings prominent executives and Purdue alumni to campus to live for a week, continues to expand. Executive in Residence now includes a learning community that provides exclusive and unique access for residents to get hands-on experience. A student ambassador program is an additional catalyst for the one-on-one interactions that are the hallmark of the program. Aniya Martin, a member of the Executive in Residence Learning Community, recently spent time with Candice Nash, a Purdue alum and Toyota executive, and wrote the following about her experience:

“I learned so much from her professional experience, but the informal chats we had before events were the most impactful. These conversations allowed us to see each other in a different light and establish a personal connection beyond the typical professional interactions. I think that these informal talks with executives are just as valuable as formal meetings or networking events.”

Hall President Scholarships

This new initiative will provide a financial reward for students pursuing leadership experiences in residence halls. Hall club presidents will be recognized for the significant time they invest and the contributions they make to their residence hall communities to help offset the costs of room and board. 

“Contributing to the club president scholarship will allow our students the opportunity to have a choice in how they continue their leadership journey at Purdue and will provide long-term benefits to both the student and residence hall communities,” says Jen Bannon, associate director of Residential Life.

Dining & Culinary Student Success Annual Fund

This fund supplements the real-world work experience students gain in Dining & Culinary through additional professional development opportunities. Experiences often include guest speakers, training sessions, professional headshots and more.

Dining & Culinary Professional Development Fund

This fund provides opportunities for professional staff to develop leadership skills, learn new culinary skills and more.

To support University Residences and Dining & Culinary with a donation on Day of Giving, visit dayofgiving.purdue.edu on Wednesday, April 26.

We also encourage you to share pictures from your favorite University Residences and Dining & Culinary memories on social media during Day of Giving. Sharing photos on Instagram and Twitter with the appropriate hashtags can also help us win hourly challenges. Use the hashtags for #PurdueDayofGiving and either #PurdueUR for University Residences or #PurdueDining for Dining & Culinary. 

Please follow University Residences on Facebook,Twitteror Instagram, and Dining & Culinary onFacebook, Twitter or Instagramfor more information on social media challenges. 

Writer: Matt Vader | Editors: Tammy Loew, Renee Kashawlic, Danielle Fawbush

Editorial Board: Barb Frazee, Tammy Loew, Renee Kashawlic | Inquiries Contact: studentlifemarketing@purdue.edu

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