Continuing a Boilermaker family tradition, longtime benefactors Christopher and Susan Burke recently established a named graduate program for the Lyles School of Civil Engineering. The gift for the Christopher B. and Susan S. Burke Graduate Program, one of the nation's first named CE graduate programs, is part of Ever True: The Campaign for Purdue University.

I am often asked what I love most about serving as Head of the Lyles School of Civil Engineering, and my answer is always the same: the people. Our students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends truly make my position a pleasure. These past 12 months only further cemented this feeling for me.

The Purdue Women's Basketball season is underway and star guard Dominique Oden will play a key role in the team's success. Dominique, a sophomore, also joined the Lyles School of Civil Engineering this year. Before the season started, she joined us for a Q&A. Read on and be sure to cheer on Dominique and the Boilermakers this season!

Loyal Purdue alumnus Jack Hockema (BSCE '68, MS Management '70) and his wife, Kay, want the University to hire and retain the best possible professors. To that end, Jack and Kay recently announced one named professorship and created another for the Lyles School of Civil Engineering. The endowments double their support for high-quality researchers and educators.

For decades, the Ross Summer Surveying Camp was a staple of the Purdue Civil Engineering program. For four particular alumni, the camp was the foundation for a lifelong friendship. Lou Antoine (BSCE '58), Bob Elsperman (BSCE '59), Ed Johnson (BSCE '58) and Don Norton (BSCE '58) have been best friends for over 60 years. The four first came together in the mid-1950s through Purdue's surveying camp.

In the fall of 2017, the school began renovations to the Delon and Elizabeth Hampton Hall of Civil Engineering. The first phase of this $5 million project is set to be complete by the fall 2018 semester.

When the five children of Margaret Julia Ward and Bevan Blau Lewis (both CE '21) wished to honor their mother and father, they decided that 2017, the anniversary of their parents' entering Purdue University, was great timing. Recalling the pride their parents took in Purdue and the Class of '21, the siblings created awards to recognize academically outstanding Civil Engineering students.

The current theme for the Lyles School of Civil Engineering is "celebration." And prepare yourselves: 2019 will be another momentous year for celebrating. That may sound far away, but I don't want anyone to underestimate the significance of helping Civil Engineering — and all Boilermakers — celebrate Purdue's 150th Anniversary!