Purdue Fort Wayne announces Exemplar and Top 50 recipients for 2024

Purdue University Fort Wayne has chosen its next classes of Exemplar and Top 50 recipients. These students not only excel academically, they go above and beyond in their communities.

Each year, college and school deans, department chairs, and/or faculty select students to be Exemplars. Those receiving this honor must complete an undergraduate degree in December, May, or during the summer semester of the current academic year; have graduated with or be tentatively qualified to graduate with distinction; demonstrate excellent in their areas of study; and have a record of community outreach in their field.

The following students are the proud members of Purdue Fort Wayne’s 2024 Exemplar class:

Jordan Burns | Human Services | Senior | Pleasant Lake

Olivia Schowe | Women’s Studies | Senior | Auburn

Taylor Norman | Psychology | Senior | Bedford

Katherine Marx | Music Performance | Senior | Boise, Idaho

Ben Vandenberghe | Accounting | Senior | Fort Wayne

Yashi Yadav | Computer Science | Graduate | Delhi, India

Since 2016, Purdue University Fort Wayne has also recognized a larger group of Mastodons for their enthusiasm and success in making the most of the full student experience. Called simply the Top 50, these individuals not only have high GPAs, they also excel in university activities, events, and organizations – and through community engagement both here in Fort Wayne and in their hometowns.

Students must meet specific qualifications and apply to be considered in the selection process. The final recipients are chosen by the Top 50 Committee. Purdue Fort Wayne’s 2024 Top 50 class includes:

Olamide Adekoya | Mathematics | Graduate | Lagos, Nigeria

Ay Ajiboye | Mathematics | Graduate | Aiyetoro Gbede, Nigeria

Manal Ali | Biology | Senior | Kendallville

Hyein Back | Biology | Graduate | Icheon, South Korea

Laney Blevins | Professional Communication Studies | Graduate | Hamilton, Ohio

Ben Burkle | Political Science | Senior | Fort Wayne

*Luke Bushur | Computer Science | Senior | Fort Wayne

Josie Butler | Biology | Junior | Fort Wayne

Stephanie Case | Physics | Junior | Fort Wayne

Yi Wynn Chan | Biology | Graduate | Northfield, Minnesota

Karen Chaparro | English | Senior | Rochester, Michigan

Drew Clem | Electrical Engineering | Senior | Brownsburg

Owen Counterman | Popular Music | Senior | Fort Wayne

*Sydney Coyne | Anthropology | Senior | Payne, Ohio

Ellie Dart | Psychology | Senior | Fort Wayne

Emily Doctor | Anthropology | Junior | Fort Wayne

Drew Dunham | Biology | Junior | Angola

Laraib Fatima | Computer Science | Graduate | Hyderabad, Pakistan

Madison Foreman | Fine Arts | Senior | Fort Wayne

Kaliyat Gamba | Counseling | Graduate | Kaduna, Nigeria

Cass Geise | Elementary Education | Junior | Churubusco

Amanda Gerardot | Special Education | Graduate | Payne, Ohio

JaNia Guy | Human Services | Senior | Fort Wayne

Mikayla Haggarty | Organizational Leadership | Junior | Fort Wayne

Makaylah Hamm | Biology | Senior | Monroe

Olivia Liv Hope | Psychology | Junior | Albion 

Toko Htay | Biology | Graduate | Fort Wayne

Stephen Jones | Mechanical Engineering Tech | Senior | Fort Wayne

Furqan Kahn | Computer Science | Graduate | Bangalore, India

Claire Kitchel | Psychology | Senior | Logansport

Mariah Landeros | General Studies | Senior | Hammond

*Cag Loveless | Theatre | Senior | LaPaz

*MaeAnna Marteen | Theatre | Senior | Angola

Kaleigh Mays | Marketing | Sophomore | Fort Wayne

Alex McCrory | Mechanical Engineering | Senior | Aurora, Illinois

Jeremiah Miller | Accounting | Senior | Rochester, Michigan

Sammie Miller | Mechanical Engineering | Senior | Dallas

Kendall Moore | Mechanical Engineering Tech | Junior | Detroit

Taniya Naskar | General Administration | Graduate | Kolkata, India

Carolyn Pang | Counseling | Graduate | Mishawaka

Samiya Qasmi | Computer Engineering | Junior | India 

Khusbu Rahman | General Administration | Graduate | Dhaka, Bangladesh

Brady Ream | Psychology | Junior | Peru

#Olivia Schowe | Women’s Studies | Senior | Auburn

Davey Singer | Finance | Senior | Huntington Beach, California

*Sean Tierney | Computer Science | Senior | Barrington, Illinois

*Parker Tysinger | History | Senior | Urbana

Elliot Valfreyja | Theatre | Senior | Hanna

Allison Velie | Biology | Junior | Elkhart

Bobby Way | Political Science | Junior | Fort Wayne

*Isaac Wendel | Mechanical Engineering | Senior | Saint Henry, Ohio

*Emily Wentland | Biology | Senior | Hicksville, Ohio

# Denotes Exemplar and Top 50

*Denotes returning Top 50

Notes to editors: All Exemplar and Top 50 honorees have been invited to dinner and awards ceremony on Friday in the International Ballroom at Walb Student Union. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. Members of the media are welcome to cover the activities.

The Exemplar and Top 50 website includes a page with photos of the recipients. To request a high-resolution, full-color image of the recipient, or for more information on the Exemplar and Top 50 classes, email [email protected].

For additional information, contact Blake Sebring at [email protected] or 260-385-0092 (mobile).