Weldon School student named Purdue’s ‘Outstanding Graduating Senior Man’

Purdue Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering senior Daniel Romary has received the prestigious 2018 G.A. Ross Award. This award acknowledges Romary's high academic achievements, outstanding leadership, strength in character, and overall contributions to Purdue. Named for a 1916 alumnus, the award is given annually to Purdue’s outstanding graduating senior man.
Danial Romary is the recipient of the 2018 G.A. Ross Award
Danial Romary is the recipient of the 2018 G.A. Ross Award

Romary is from New Haven, IN and is completing his BS degree in biomedical engineering.  He will remain at Purdue in the 5th-year master’s program, earning his MS degree next May, before entering medical school.  Romary has maintained a near-perfect GPA while immersing himself in academic research and campus activities.  He is passionate about enhancing the mental health resources for students on campus and was instrumental in securing funding to provide after-hours and telephone mental health counseling through the Counseling and Psychological Services Center.

Romary was appointed by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb to a two-year term as the only student trustee representative on the Board of Trustees.  He serves as a full member of the board and his voice is heard and respected by his fellow trustees. This year Romary provided insight on projects such as Purdue University Global and the construction of the new STEM building on campus.

Beth McCuskey (left), Vice Provost for Student Life, and Katie Sermersheim (right), Dean of Students were among the entourage of VIPs who surprised Romary with the announcement that he’d won the Ross Award.
Beth McCuskey (left), Vice Provost for Student Life, and Katie Sermersheim (right), Dean of Students were among the entourage of VIPs who surprised Romary with the announcement that he’d won the Ross Award.

Here are a few quotes from the faculty and staff who nominated Romary for this award:

  • “We all benefit from Daniel’s commitment and understanding of what it means to be a Boilermaker.”
  • “The strongest recommendation I can give to a student is to state that I would one day hope to work with them as a peer and a colleague. This is certainly the case with Daniel.”
  • “Daniel is definitely among the top 1% of all the students I have ever worked with.”
  • “Daniel’s senior design project team delivered an accurate and functional simulation device that blew their clinical partner away.”

His team’s senior design project is called “Martina: A Breastfeeding Simulation System,” and it allows medical professionals an opportunity for hands-on training. Romary and his team are currently working to secure intellectual property for their invention and potentially develop it further.

Romary also remains busy outside of the classroom, having held several positions on Student Government, serving as a small group leader for the annual Boiler Awakening retreat and substitute teaching when he is available in his hometown of New Haven. Seeking even more experience, Romary participated in a summer Cardiovascular Research Fellowship at the University of Michigan. He has been bestowed with many honors and awards at Purdue including the OnePurdue Scholarship, Purdue Emerging Leader Award, the Sullivan Outstanding BME Sophomore award, and was tapped into the Purdue Mortar Board Senior Honor Society.

Romary will receive a medal, a certificate, and a monetary award of $2000. His name will be inscribed on the permanent awards marker on the Purdue Engineering Mall.