200+ Ambassadors Club Members
$1000+ DONATED BY EACH MEMBER

Philanthropy at the Forefront

Established in 1995, the Chemical Engineering Ambassadors Club was founded by six alumni, Dick Hazelton, Phil Krug, Don Orr, David Rea, Jim Schorr, and Bill Wishlinski. One of its primary objectives at inception was the establishment of an endowment to ensure continual funding for scholarships and other school needs. Today, the Ambassadors Club boasts over 200 members and maintains a mission of providing a platform for alumni leaders to convene socially, maintaining periodic communication with the school for updates and discussions, and collectively contributing financial support to bolster the institution's endeavors.

Because of the generous support of these Ambassadors, the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering has been able to strategically invest in areas that create sustainable competitive advantages for our students and faculty.

The Ambassadors Club Commons

In 2023, Founding member Jim Schorr (BSChE '54, HDR '87), provided a generous gift to name the Chemical Engineering Ambassadors Club Commons to celebrate the impact philanthropy has on the school. This space will be dedicated on May 10th, 2024.





"Work makes you feel good." - Jim Schorr






Ambassadors Club Founding Members

Dick Grabham

BSChE '70

  • Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award '99
  • Distinguished Engineering Alumnus '03

Dick Grabham began his 30+ year career at Exxon as a Project and Process Engineer. He later relocated to Antwerp, Belgium, with the company. He then transitioned to Saudi Arabia, where he became the Director of Manufacturing for Al Jubail Petrochemical Company, transforming it into one of the largest chemical sites in the world. Grabham held several other management positions at ExxonMobil before becoming Vice President. Throughout his career, he significantly contributed to his alma mater and the broader community by serving on multiple advisory councils at Purdue, the Children's Museum in Houston, and the American Plastics Council Executive Committee. Grabham is active in the Purdue Chemical Engineering community, demonstrated by his dedication to expanding opportunities for its students.

 

Dick Hazelton

BSChE '64, MSChE '66,  HDR '98

  • Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award ' 94
  • DEA Award in '94
  • President's Council Distinguished Pinnacle Award '07
Dick Hazleton's career trajectory at Dow Corning began as a process engineer after earning his MS from Purdue. He successfully held various positions such as controller, manager, and vice president, before eventually becoming President and CEO of Dow Corning in 1993. Hazleton's Purdue experience equipped him not only with technical knowledge but also with a valuable analytical mindset. His involvement in student government and various campus organizations honed his leadership skills, which he later found crucial in his professional journey. Hazleton has remained connected to Purdue, contributing to its development and receiving awards for his achievements, reflecting on the enduring value of his education and the impact it had on his career success.

Phil Krug

BS '52

  • Oustanding Chemical Engineer Award '94

Phil Krug joined Lubrizol in 1954 and advanced through the ranks in manufacturing spending time both in Cleveland and Houston. While at Lubrizol he received a graduate degree from Case Institute of Technology in 1959. He became an officer of Lubrizol in 1975 and became the Executive Vice President of Lubrizol in 1985. He retired from this position in 1992. He served on the Board of the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company. He received the Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award in 1994. Throughout his life, he was active in YMCA, Rotary and United Way. Philip Krug passed away December 6th, 2023.

 

Gordon Mounts

BSChE '57, MSChE '59
  • Outstanding Chemical Engineering Award ('93)

Don Orr

BSChE '61,  HDR '06

  • Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award '90
  • Oustanding Engineer Award '93
  • Distinguished Krannert Alumni '95
  • Purdue Engineering Alumni Association Service Award '04
 
Don Orr began his professional journey with Standard Oil of California before serving as a lieutenant in the Army and gaining experience in the natural gas pipeline sector. After returning to Purdue to earn his Master of Science in Industrial Administration (MSIA) from the Krannert School of Management, Don joined Air Products & Chemicals in 1965. he eventually reached the esteemed position of senior vice president before retiring in 1997. Throughout his career, Don remained deeply connected to Purdue University, actively participating as a recruiter, committee member, and supporter of various university initiatives. His exceptional service and achievements earned him numerous accolades, including being named a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus in 1990 and an Outstanding Chemical Engineer in 1993.
 

 

Michael (Mike) Ott

BSChE '74

  • Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award '07
  • Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award '02

Michael H. Ott received his BSChE from Purdue University in 1974 and an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1980. After beginning his career at Rohm & Haas Company, he worked his way up through various roles in the U.S. and overseas, gaining valuable business and technical experience. In 1993, he became the President and CEO of Polysciences, Inc., purchasing the company from its founder, Dr. David Halpern. Under his leadership, Polysciences has grown significantly, with sales exceeding $25 million annually. In addition to his successful career, Ott is very active in the Purdue community. He was named an Outstanding Chemical Engineer in 2002 and a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus in 2007.

David Rea

BSChE '62

  • Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award '96
  • Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award '96

David Rea joined DuPont in 1966 and retired from DuPont in 2001 as Global Vice President, Nylon Technology. Dr. Rea is noted for bringing attention to risks in toxic and bioaccumulative materials. He is past chair of the Council for Chemical Research (2000) and past chair of TRI/Princeton. In addition to providing critically important service on the Capital Campaign, David served on the College of Engineering's Advisory Council and is a ChE Ambassador. The Reas named Room 3007 in the Armstrong Hall of Engineering (currently Associate Dean Mike Harris' office) and classrooms 2152 and 2154 in Forney Hall.

 

Rick Roberts

BSChE '76, MBA '80

  • Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award '04
  • Distinguished Engineering Alumnus '07

Rick Roberts, an Indiana native, launched his career at Chevron Corp, earning his MBA shortly thereafter. He attained the title Vice President of Operations for Chevron Corp, then held several management positions across the United States, from California, to Hawaii, to Texas. Roberts finished his career as Senior Vice President of Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., remaining very active at Purdue and in his industry throughout the course of his career. He has served on numerous committees dedicated to advancing the School of Chemical Engineering, in addition to the Texas Chemical Council. Roberts' dedication to Purdue and his community earned him several recognitions, including the Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award in 2004 and the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award in 2007. 

 

 

Jim Schorr

BSChE '61, HDR '87
 
  • Purdue Distinguished Engineering Alumnus ('74)
  • President's Council Ambassador Award ('86)
  • Honorary Doctorate ('87)
  • Dean's Krannert School Advisory Council ('87-'90)
  • Chair on the President's Council ('88-'89)
  • College of Engineering Dean's Advisory Council ('90-'93)
  • President's Council Distinguished Service Award ('91)
  • Outstanding Chemical Engineering Award ('91)
  • President's Council Lifetime Achievement Award ('00)
  • School of Chemical Engineering Centennial Award
  • Charter Member - Purdue Athletic Varsity Club
  • 12th Annual Athletic John Wooden Alumni Award
 
Jim Schorr's career began Dow Chemical Company, where he held various positions including vice president and director of operations of Dow Chemical Latin America. Later, he became the president of Chemplex Company, significantly improving its efficiency and attracting potential buyers. Following mergers and acquisitions, he continued to hold key leadership roles, eventually becoming president of Quantum Chemical. After retiring in 1989, Schorr remained actively involved with Purdue University, supporting initiatives such as New Directions and the Capital Campaign Committee. His contributions were recognized through numerous awards, including the Purdue Distinguished Engineering Alumnus award and the President's Lifetime Achievement Award of the Purdue Engineering Alumni Association. Schorr's dedication led to the establishment of the School of Chemical Engineering Centennial Award in 2011, further acknowledging his significant impact on the university and the field of chemical engineering. 

 

 

Jerry Skidmore

BSChE '54, MBA

  • Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award '11

Jerry Skidmore spent the first part of his career working at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) before starting his own business, Skidmore Sales & Distributing. He dedicated much of his time to the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), contributing to multiple committees, assisting in leadership roles, and founding pivotal divisions within the organization. Skidmore remained active in the School of Chemical Engineering; he has spoken on panels, providing important advice for students considering entrepreneurship. His work and dedication to Purdue earned him the esteemed Outstanding Chemical Engineer award in 2011.

 

Bill Smith

BSChE '69, MBA '76

  • Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award '96
  • Distinguished Engineering Alumnus '98
  • Engineering Alumni Association Service Award '00 
Bill Smith began his career at Ceilcoate Corporation, then transitioned to Eli Lilly & Company working in several different engineering positions. Smith earned his MBA from Baylor and was promoted to Projects Manager. He was pivotal in providing engineering and technical support for manufacturing basic active ingredients and spearheading short- and long-term planning for new manufacturing facilities. Smith held various other positions at Eli Lilly, in which he drove enormous change and helped millions of people, before becoming Executive Director of Global Manufacturing Services. In addition to his career at Eli Lilly, Smith was involved in advisory boards for the arts, the School of Chemical Engineering, and research initiatives. He has recieved numerous awards for his contributions to the field of chemical engineering, including the Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award in 1996 and the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award in 1998.

Bill Wishlinski

BS '68

  • Dinstinguished Engineering Alumni Award '90
  • Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award '93

Bill Wishlinski began his career at Amoco Chemical as an associate engineer and steadily progressed through various roles in engineering. In 1977, he assumed the position of process supervisor at the Amoco Texas City facility in Texas. After obtaining an MBA from the University of Houston in 1980, he transitioned into marketing positions. Wishlinski was appointed general manager of Operations Planning and Product Logistics at Amoco Chemical in 1989, overseeing transportation, marketing services, information services, and economic analysis functions. He further advanced to Vice President and General Manager of Amoco Chemical Europe in 1990. Wishlinski retired from BP Amoco as a Vice President. In addition to his career, Wishlinshkl was actively involved in Purdue initiatives such as New Directions, the Capital Campaign Committee, and the Ambassadors Club. 

Ambassadors Club Scholarship

Recipients of the Ambassadors Club Scholarship:

  • 2012-13 Paul Littlejohn
  • 2013-14 Paul Littlejohn
  • 2014-15 Pedro Lodise 
  • 2016-17 Austin Timmerman
  • 2017-18 Samuel Mitchell 
  • 2018-19 Samuel Mitchell
  • 2019-20 Kristyn Webb 
  • 2020-21 Dylan Fortney and Andrea Copeland 
  • 2021-22 Dylan Fortney and Andrea Copeland
  • 2022-23 Alyssa Mcnarney
  • 2023-24 Casey Gooden

Become a Member

Benefits to becoming a member of the Chemical Engineering Ambassadors Club:

  • Invitation to two ChE Ambassadors Club weekends: One on campus for the first home football game of the year and the other in Naples, Florida as part of the annual Presidents Council Naples Weekend
  • Annual updates from the Head of the School of ChE on the School's advancements
  • Invitation to ChE Ambassador events
  • Invitation to the Outstanding Chemical Engineer Alumni Awards

BECOME A MEMBER BY DONATING TODAY!

Contact Us

Osra Delong

Director of Development

Email: ocdelong@purdueforlife.org
(765) 494-4811