The idea began as a senior class project. The goal was to create a perpetual class gift of a scholarship endowment for juniors in the program, since there were no existing scholarships for junior-level students at the time. It is called the Weldon School Senior Class Scholarship.

“We came up with the idea to leave a lasting mark as the first class of biomedical engineering at Purdue,” says Arjun Ishwar (BS ’07, MS ’09). “We want to invest in students who will use the support they receive to make a difference in the lives of others, whether that’s here at the University or across the globe.”

It has become a tradition. Each year since 2007, the senior class puts on a special dinner with a Weldon alum as a featured speaker. Last year, there was enough money in the endowment to award the first two scholarships. The $1,500 awards are given to outstanding Weldon School juniors for their excellence in academics, research and service to Purdue and the school.

The scholarship has allowed the winner for the 2015-16 academic year, Andre Woloshuk, to cover the costs of traveling to medical school interviews and to spend more time editing his med school applications.

Woloshuk was able to shadow physicians at IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where he observed firsthand the collaboration of engineers and doctors in clinical settings. “I hope to incorporate my engineering background into my career as a physician by participating in research endeavors and bringing a problem-solving approach to the field of medicine,” he says.

Woloshuk was recognized for his service to the school, including his work as a school ambassador to connect prospective students and business leaders with the world-class research being done at Purdue.

“Being recognized for my service to the program is extremely humbling because the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering develops such an incredible group of engineers each year,” Woloshuk says. “It’s also very rewarding to know that my time in the program has impacted my peers and faculty.”

Woloshuk says the small class sizes at the Weldon School have allowed him to form strong relationships with his peers through classes and extracurricular activities, along with mentorship opportunities with the dedicated faculty of the school.

Woloshuk is grateful for the former students who made his scholarship possible. “I think it speaks volumes about the Weldon School and Purdue in general that scholarships are consistently funded by alumni and generous donors,” he says. “These individuals recognize that Purdue is a special place where students develop the skills to become future leaders.”

A celebration of the tenth anniversary of the first class of undergraduates to graduate from the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering will be held at the annual tailgate party in 2017. It will be an opportunity for students and alumni to connect and share stories of their successes made possible by their Purdue education.

Photo: Andre Woloshuk