Purdue University Fort Wayne Honors Program

09/04/2026

PFW students, this is a great opportunity to connect directly with local organizations and community leaders and explore internships, projects, research, and other hands-on opportunities!

Join us for the PFW Experiential Learning Summit: Connecting Students & Community on Friday, October 30, from 10:00–4:00 in the International Ballroom.
Come ready to meet people, ask questions, make connections, and show our community what PFW students have to offer!

Open to all undergraduate and graduate students. Seats are limited, so register early!

Use this link to register: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7QcsoNoyX2dFodo

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08/21/2026

Day 4! The last day of the Honors Freshman Seminar!

Today, the students had sessions with ROTC, the Writing Center, and Campus Safety. They also had an interactive session with the Purdue Fort Wayne Library, “Inquiring Minds: Research with Purpose,” which helped them find supporting information and better understand the research process so they can get off to a great start to the school year.

To round out the day, students joined the CELT Fall Teaching Conference and were able to sit in on sessions such as “Building Learning and Wellbeing Together” and “The Heart of Teaching.”

We are so excited to have had so many amazing students participate in the seminar. We look forward to seeing you on campus and watching all that you accomplish this year!

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08/21/2026

Wednesday was the big day in Honors Freshman Seminar! Students participated in a variety of engaging experiential opportunities, including:

“Ecology of the Forest” — Dr. Jordan Marshall and Dr. Scott Bergeson
“Photochemistry in Art: Cyanotypes and Prussian Blue” — Dr. Michael Columbia and Dr. Ronald Friedman
“Human Memory & Cognition” — Dr. Michael Bendele
“Cyber Security...Past, Present, Future” — Professor Michelle Parker

The students also attended a Civics Literacy prep session to help them get ready for the Civics Literacy Knowledge exam.

Another busy day of learning, exploring, and experiencing all that Honors Freshman Seminar has to offer!
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08/21/2026

This past Tuesday, our scholars continued day two of the Honors Freshman Seminar with another day of engaging conversations, thought-provoking topics, and opportunities to explore new ideas.

The opposite cohorts attended “Slaying the Imposter Dragon” and “Politics and Law: What They Are and Why They Matter.” They also participated in “Michelangelo’s Sistine Ceiling: Art, Religion, and the Human Condition,” presented by Dr. Steven Cody; “Meanings of Music for Space,” presented by Dr. Jacques Dupuis; and “Communication Conundrum or Cultural Crises: An Exploration of Contemporary Society,” presented by Dr. Assem Nasr.

It was another great day of learning, discussion, and discovery for our scholars!

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08/18/2026

Day 1 of the PFW Honors Freshman Seminar is officially in the books! 💛🖤

Yesterday, our incoming Honors students got an early start on their Purdue Fort Wayne experience with a full day of interactive sessions, new ideas, and opportunities to connect with faculty and one another before the semester begins.

We were honored to begin the day with a welcome from Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Carl Drummond and a special message from Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker.

From politics and law to imposter syndrome, contract law, learning, hospitality and sports management, the larynx, and artificial intelligence, our students had the chance to explore a little bit of everything:

• Politics and Law: What They Are and Why They Matter — Dr. James Toole and Dr. Staci Bougher
• Slaying the Imposter Dragon — Prof. John Kaufeld
• Key Questions from Contract Law, like “Is Agreeing to Go on a Date a Contract?” — Dr. Kent Kauffman
• Building Ideas: What Children Know About Learning that College Students Forget — Dr. Elizabeth Christian
• The Business of Experience: Creating Memories in Hospitality and Sports Management — Dr. Alanna Olah
• The Larynx: A Key Player in Breathing, Talking, and Eating
• Mind Meets Machine: AI Skills for Future Learners — Dr. Amal Khalifa and Dr. Romael Haque

The Honors Freshman Seminar gives students a chance to experience campus the week before classes begin and take “small bites” of the many subjects, people, and possibilities Purdue Fort Wayne has to offer.

A huge thank you to our faculty presenters for sharing your time, expertise, enthusiasm, and creativity with our students. You helped make their first day as part of the Honors community welcoming, thought-provoking, and fun.

And this was only Day 1! 💛🖤

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07/30/2026

Way to go Mahlan 🇲🇦

07/17/2026

Congratulations to PFW Honors student Matilda Radcliff on being named the 2026 Chalk Walk People's Choice Award winner!
Matilda's breathtaking 18-foot chalk artwork featuring a bald eagle soaring with a fish against a vibrant sunset captured the hearts of the community and earned the most public votes. We are proud to celebrate Matilda's incredible artistic talent and creativity.

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Matilda! 👏🦅🎨

Drumroll please... 🥁 The Chalk Walk 2026, presented by Partners 1st, award winners are finally here! 🎉

Congratulations to Matilda Radcliff, the 2026 People's Choice award recipient. Her exceptional artwork featuring a bald eagle snatching a fish from the water in front of a stunning sunset stretched 18 feet wide! The public was impressed by her talent, even on Saturday as she worked on her piece, and voted accordingly. Well done, Matilda, and thank you for all your chalking efforts!

07/08/2026

🌍 Welcome home Zach Hartz!

We are excited to welcome Honors student and Spanish major Zach back after an incredible year studying abroad in Spain. What an amazing opportunity to experience a new culture, broaden his perspective, and continue his academic journey on an international stage.

We are proud of Zach and all he has accomplished during his time abroad. Enjoy a few highlights from his adventure, and stay tuned for a feature article where he'll share more about his experience!

Welcome home, Zach, and we're glad you're back!

College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University Fort Wayne

06/18/2026

This summer, Honors student Ish*ta Gupta is helping welcome the next generation of Mastodons to Purdue Fort Wayne.

Through her work with incoming students, Ish*ta is helping them learn more about campus, find the resources and connections they need, and begin building confidence for the semester ahead. Starting college can bring a lot of questions, and it is students like Ish*ta who help make that transition feel more welcoming and manageable.

We are proud of the care, energy, and leadership she is bringing to this important work. Thank you, Ish*ta, for helping incoming students feel at home at PFW before their first day of classes even begins!
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06/17/2026

We love seeing our Honors students use their creativity to help others experience campus in a new way.

Purdue Fort Wayne recently shared this video highlighting some of the animals found around campus, and we want to give a special shoutout to Doermer Scholar Mahlan Dircksen, who shot and developed the project.

It is a thoughtful reminder that our campus is more than classrooms, buildings, and walkways. Sometimes, there is so much to notice when we slow down and pay attention to the life around us.

Wonderful work, Mahlan. Thank you for sharing your talent and perspective with the PFW community.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BK6TH5xxp/

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