The inaugural 38 by 38 awards ceremony, hosted Oct. 17, honored early-career engineers who have made impressive contributions, revealed extraordinary innovations and achieved remarkable success.

One of the most festive events to date in Purdue Engineering’s yearlong 150th anniversary celebration was dedicated to 38 alumni standouts.

The inaugural 38 by 38 awards ceremony, hosted Oct. 17, honored early-career engineers who have made impressive contributions, revealed extraordinary innovations and achieved remarkable success. They are a select group chosen through an extensive nomination and review process, and deemed worthy to hold a title inspired by Neil Armstrong (BSAE ’55, HDR ’70), who was 38 years old when he became the first person to walk on the moon.

Much like the College of Engineering, a common theme in the cohort’s list of triumphs is the use of superlatives: youngest, first, only, best and highest. They are trailblazers in their fields and recipients of many coveted awards. Their publication records rival those of more seasoned colleagues. Their inventions, patents and startups have gained momentum in record time, and they have established themselves as go-to subject matter experts. They are well respected in university classrooms, research laboratories, the nation’s highways, racetracks, construction sites, hospitals, courtrooms, launch pads, oil fields and space. They hail from giants like SpaceX, Boeing, NASA, Bechtel, Raytheon, Virgin Galactic and Northrop Grumman, as well as their own startups and smaller — yet no less important — firms and organizations.

“I am awestruck by their accomplishments,” said Arvind Raman, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering. “They’ve flown to space, founded life-saving companies, tackled many of the world’s most complex construction problems, and rapidly ascended corporate ranks to lead teams shaping the future.”

Recipient Becky Mueller (MSME ’09) is a senior research engineer for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

“The 38 by 38 recognition means so much for my company. We are a small non-profit with under 200 employees. Having my company’s name mentioned alongside large household recognized organizations is a great honor,” she said. “Upon hearing of my acceptance into the inaugural class, the president of IIHS requested that I attend the end-of-year board of directors meeting to share my recognition and how IIHS is making great strides and being recognized in new and different ways. I know there are a few Purdue alumni on the board, so I expect to hear a ‘Boiler Up!’ at the meeting!”

Speaking of alumni, Mueller’s husband, Kevin, also is a College of Engineering graduate (BSNE ’07, MSNE ’09), making the couple’s trip to Purdue especially memorable.

“We both remarked how many incredible changes Purdue has made over the last 15 years to set itself apart, including additional student housing, new Engineering buildings, collaborative spaces for students to work on team projects, and the newest technologies in laboratory spaces, so students can learn from modern experimental setups,” Mueller said.

Honoree Jessica Traver Ingram (BSME ’14, MSME ’17), co-founder and CEO of IntuiTap Medical, said she is truly honored to be among the inaugural awardees.

“My family was able to join me, which made the occasion even more special,” she said. “Sharing the stage with so many talented individuals from diverse fields was both humbling and inspiring. Hearing about their accomplishments and contributions reminded me just how powerful the Purdue Engineering community is.”

Honoree Keith Rhoades (BSMDE ’11), a veteran of the Purdue “All American” Marching Band (AAMB), said he enjoyed bringing his children on their first trip to Boilermaker Country.

“We packed a lot in, seeing an AAMB rehearsal and Hagle Hall (the organization’s new home), the clapping circle, and parts of the Mall and Quad,” said Rhoades, who is global director at Interek RiSE and the founder and operator of Global Injury Research Collaborative. “I especially enjoyed visiting with my former guidance counselor and the current and former directors of MDE. What was most inspiring was meeting many of the other award winners. So many distinguished individuals doing amazing things. Their kindness and generosity in sharing their stories was a highlight for me.”

For Traver Ingram, receiving the award has been surreal.

“Imposter syndrome is very real, and I still struggle with it sometimes, but this recognition reinforces the hard work that my team and I have put into building our company and the impact we’re making,” she said. Reflecting on the School of Mechanical Engineering, she appreciates how it pushes boundaries and is continuously improving its curriculum. “It makes me feel proud to be part of this legacy — and honestly, it almost made me want to go through ME again, despite how challenging and tough it was!"

Honoree Jeff Peters (MSCE ’11) said it was “fantastic to be honored … especially since I pursued an atypical career path for an engineer.”

He earned two other Purdue degrees: a master of science in economics and a PhD in agricultural economics. He is a partner and head of Mobility VC at Ibex Investors, where he often provides venture capital and angel investor support to Purdue alumni startups in areas like electric micromobility, robotics and AI.

"Of course, the best part was returning to Purdue to spend time with the professors who exposed me to the wide range of opportunities an engineering degree unlocks, especially one from Purdue!" Peters said.

“I used to look at it while waiting for my boyfriend (now husband) to get out of a lecture across the corridor,” she said. “For me, the moon rock is a symbol of the great leaps that have been made by Purdue graduates and was a constant reminder that I could achieve the unimaginable, and even gave me a little motivation on tough days to keep pursuing my dreams.”

Being selected for the 38 by 38 award made Rhoades even more proud to be an alumnus.

“Purdue is one of the best universities out there,” he said. “This ceremony wasn’t just about 38 remarkable Boilermakers, but about 150 years of engineering evolution.”

Read more about all of the 2024 recipients and watch a full video recap of the event here.