Longtime Purdue Fort Wayne chemistry professor Art Friedel establishes award to support honors students

The educational pursuits of students in the Honors Program at Purdue University Fort Wayne will soon get a boost thanks to a former faculty member and major supporter of PFW. The Art Friedel Honors Experiential Learning Award is named after the professor emeritus who taught chemistry at the university between 1967 and 2018.

Starting this academic year, the award will be granted through a three-year pilot program to one or multiple recipients, with a total amount of up to $6,000 per year to provide funding to help provide transformative experiential learning opportunities. Examples include internships, research projects, service learning, study away programs, and other immersive educational experiences, especially those that may present financial barriers to the student.

“Since arriving at PFW in 1967, I have devoted my efforts to making this university an exceptional place for students to learn and grow,” Friedel said. “My hope is that this award enables the selected honors student to deepen their understanding of the world beyond PFW and to carry those experiences forward in meaningful ways.”

Applications for the award are being accepted now through Feb. 27. To qualify, applicants must:

• Be a full-time student enrolled at Purdue University Fort Wayne
• Have a GPA of 3.5 or higher
• Be a sophomore or junior in the Honors Program
• Have completed at least nine (9) honors credits
• Demonstrate strong engagement and good standing in the Honors Program

Award amounts will vary depending on the scope of the proposed experience and available funding.

“Dr. Friedel has dedicated over 50 years of service to Purdue University Fort Wayne as an esteemed chemistry professor, mentor, and devoted supporter of student success and athletics,” said Farah Combs, director of the Honors Program and experiential learning, Purdue University Fort Wayne. “His enduring legacy continues through this award, which reflects his lifelong commitment to our students. We are grateful for his amazing support.”

Friedel came to Purdue University, Fort Wayne Campus, as it was called in 1967, to join the chemistry faculty. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science in secondary education, physical science in 1959. He earned a master’s degree in education from Pittsburgh in 1963, and a Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1968.

Before arriving in Fort Wayne, Friedel taught junior high math and science in the Pittsburgh Public Schools from 1959 to 1963. He was a graduate assistant from 1963 to 1967 while he worked on his doctorate at Ohio State. After he began his tenure in Fort Wayne, he spent 1975–76 abroad as an exchange professor at Trent Polytechnic in Nottingham, England.

Students who meet award criteria and eligibility may click here to find additional instructions and an application.

Contact Combs at [email protected] or call 260-481-0247 with specific questions.