It’s still a few months away but PNW will celebrate its 10th anniversary next spring by doing what it’s always done: focusing on students.

Founded in 2016, PNW combined Purdue Calumet in Hammond and Purdue North Central in Westville. The combined institution’s mission is to provide stability through quality education and community for its students. 

“The most important thing … is making sure students understand how many people are behind them, and celebrating them, and want to help lift them up,” said Deanna Hardwick, executive director of Development. “We really want to hear from students.” 

The university wants student input for its anniversary celebrations. Some students have already thrown out suggestions for what they’d like to see to celebrate. 

“I would like to see something that’s inclusive; it brings a lot of the students together,” said Hayley Tsuen, senior and computer engineering major. “I was thinking, maybe a bingo night, maybe a PNW trivia night where prizes are given.” 

Bryce Zamojski is hoping for a festival atmosphere.

“I’d like to see … things outside,” said Zamojski, a freshman Environmental Science major. “The dunk tank from the carnival was fun. It was a good way to bring people together. Anything that celebrates what PNW stands for as a university would be…really cool to have.”

Chancellor Kenneth Holford recently announced the creation of a steering committee to facilitate planning events and activities for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community.

“PNW will plan several university-wide events open to the entire community,” said Holford’s announcement. “In

addition, individual units, colleges and departments are encouraged to plan their own events to celebrate the many

ways we have transformed students’ lives and our community.” 

The announcement emphasized that the university wants PNW’s anniversary celebration to be inclusive, though nothing is set in stone yet.

“A lot of the student-facing events and the things that students will be involved with are not yet set because we’re just starting the planning process with this broader committee,” said Kris Falzone, associate vice chancellor of Marketing and Communications. 

She said the planning group will likely form committees and task forces to work with student organizations on celebration ideas. The university has already allocated funds for the festivities. 

“We want people to understand that it’s accessible to come here to PNW and get your degree, so we are looking for ways to engage our community and support our students primarily through fundraising for scholarships,” Falzone said. “Overall, though, it’s an exciting year to be part of PNW for students who are here and happen to be here during this 10th year of this institution.”