Purdue Northwest celebrates a decade of changing students’ lives at 10th anniversary gala

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) celebrated 10 years of transformative education,
accomplishments and community impact with a gala at Hard Rock Casino Northern
Indiana on Friday, May 29. The gala served the dual purpose of recognizing the lives
Purdue Northwest has changed over the past decade, as well as raising funds for
scholarships that will allow the university to keep education accessible for its students.

The evening began with hors d’oeuvres and a cocktail hour during which guests could
mingle and place their bids on over 50 items during a silent auction. The sold-out gala
saw alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university connect as they raised money for
current and future Purdue Northwest students.

The night’s program, emceed by PNW Chief Engagement Officer Matthew Wells,
emphasized the impact the university is making directly in the region and beyond,
something that wouldn’t be possible without the support of the local community and
businesses.

“This has been a remarkable 10 years,” PNW Chancellor Kenneth C. Holford said.
“PNW has grown over the last decade to become the anchor institution of Northwest
Indiana. Northwest Indiana helped build America through its strength in steel,
manufacturing and energy. As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, regions like
ours continue to play a vital role in shaping the future of the country. Purdue University
Northwest is proud to contribute to that future by educating leading graduates,
supporting innovation and partnering with industries and communities to create lasting
impact in our region and beyond.”

Guests also had the opportunity to see the students that their contributions were helping
to create. PNW alumni Vasanthan Ramakrishnan of Ascend HSI Advisory Partners,
Rick Calinski of NIPSCO, and Deno Yiankes of Chimera Hospitality Group all spoke to
the impact Purdue Northwest had on their education and careers.

“It’s truly an honor to be here tonight not only representing NIPSCO but as a proud
alumnus of Purdue Northwest,” Calinski said. “Purdue Northwest has always stood out
because of its incredible faculty, the strong commitment to the communities it serves
and the partnerships it creates. Purdue Northwest truly has its fingerprints all over the
region. Whether it’s leadership roles across organizations or involvement in vital
community initiatives, PNW continues to shape Northwest Indiana in meaningful ways.”

Purdue Northwest also honored several alumni with awards during the gala. Ryan
Elinkowski, Spencer Summers and Erin Okamoto Protsman were awarded the Pride of
PNW Alumni Award, Power Onward Emerging Leader Award, and the PNW Campus

Pride Alumni Award, respectively. Yiankes was officially inducted into the PNW Alumni
Hall of Fame for his legacy of leadership and generosity.

“My dad immigrated from Greece, my mother raised five children, and they both did an
incredible job instilling in us that we needed to get an education,” Yiankes said. “These
kinds of upbringings and backgrounds, in many ways, are commonplace at Purdue
Northwest. That’s why it’s so inspiring to keep supporting what we’re about.”

Over the past decade, PNW has educated thousands of skilled workers, innovators and
leaders, and raised millions of dollars supporting student education. Through the gala
alone, the university raised $450,000 for scholarship funds that will help alleviate
financial burdens for current and future PNW students.

“At PNW, we like to say that changing students’ lives starts with all of us, and with your
generosity, we are able to achieve that mission,” Holford said. “These scholarships allow
students to earn their degrees, many of whom might not be able to persist without this
support.”

The evening’s program concluded with the unveiling of a South Shore poster
commemorating the university’s 10th anniversary, with copies signed by artist Kristina
Knowski available after the program as gifts for scholarship donations. Scholarship gifts
can be made by visiting pnw.edu/gala.

Guests were then able to dance to a live musical performance from Talk of the Town
and celebrate the achievements made possible through their dedication to higher
education.

“We celebrate not only the accomplishments we have made over the last 10 years but
also the promise of what comes in the future,” Holford said. “Thank you to everyone for
joining us in this celebration and for being a part of this important Purdue Northwest
story.”

Learn more about PNW’s 10th anniversary celebration by visiting pnw.edu/10th-
anniversary.