70 Years of Co-op Celebrated at 2024 Professional Practice Hall of Fame

As Purdue University marks the 70th anniversary of its co-op program, this year’s Professional Practice Hall of Fame celebration takes on a deeply personal significance. Since its establishment in 2010, the Hall of Fame has honored individuals who have made a lasting impact on Professional Practice programs and recognized alumni who shine as beacons of excellence in their industries. These inductees serve as inspiring examples of the transformative power of experiential education, and their stories are woven into the very fabric of Purdue’s rich history.
 
This milestone anniversary not only reflects the program's enduring legacy but also celebrates the remarkable journeys of its inductees—each one with a unique narrative that illustrates how the co-op program has shaped their careers and lives. From learning resilience in bustling city environments to applying classroom theories to real-world challenges, their experiences resonate with current students navigating their own paths. As the Hall of Fame honors these trailblazers, it becomes a living testament to the program’s role in launching countless successful careers, reminding us of all the profound impact that hands-on learning can have on the future of Boilermakers.
 
The Office of Professional Practice honored 14 distinguished alumni and celebrated a milestone in experiential education during the 14th annual Professional Practice Hall of Fame held October 17-18. The ceremony included the first-ever induction of the inaugural GEARE cohort, making it the first-ever Hall of Fame that recognized GEARE alumni highlighting the impact of Purdue’s Cooperative Education and GEARE programs in shaping graduates’ careers and strengthening industry ties. This multi-day event also featured a Q&A panel where inductees shared insights into their co-op experiences at Purdue, detailing how these experiences shaped their careers and helped them find success. Additionally, an intimate breakfast with inductees and OPP staff and students fostered connections and opened discussions on the future of co-op, giving inductees a glimpse into the program's evolution and its current impact on students.
Pharma Career Fair
2024 Hall of Fame inductees, OPP staff, and undergraduate teaching assistants gathered for breakfast to discuss the evolution of co-op.
 
Bringing together families, co-op coordinators, students, alumni, and distinguished faculty members, the event highlighted Purdue’s commitment to providing students work-integrated learning opportunities.  Speakers included Phillip Dunston, Director of the Office of Professional Practice and Professor in the Lyles School of Civil & Construction Engineering; Arvind Raman, John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering and Robert V. Adams Professor of Mechanical Engineering; and Eckhard A. Groll, William E. and Florence E. Perry Head of Mechanical Engineering and Reilly Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Distinguished faculty members, including Purdue President Mung Chiang and Roscoe H. George Distinguished Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, were also in attendance.
 
This year marked the first induction of alumni from Purdue’s Global Engineering Alliance for Research and Education (GEARE) program. The inaugural GEARE cohort, all Mechanical Engineering majors, embarked on their international journey in 2003, traveling to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Karlsruhe, Germany. This immersive experience was foundational for GEARE, a program designed to combine global work experience with academic study, helping students develop cross-cultural engineering skills. The inclusion of GEARE alumni highlights the Office of Professional Practice’s commitment to fostering global perspectives in engineering education.
 
Hall of Fame
Three members of the inaugural GEARE cohort were recognized during the induction ceremony. From left to right: Eckhard Groll and GEARE alumni Katie Boor Ramos, Kevin Hess, and David Bowes.
 
Reflecting on her co-op experience, Melanie Sprague, a 2023 Hall of Fame inductee and Senior Vice President for Interventional and Surgical Technologies at Spectrum Plastics, credited Purdue’s program with launching her career in biomedical engineering. “The co-op program allowed me to apply my coursework to real-life situations and customer needs,” she said, adding that the experience also provided a lifelong professional network.
 
For Bechtel’s Chief Innovation Officer, Keith Churchill, also a 2023 Hall of Fame inductee, the program’s diverse rotations were foundational to his career, exposing him early to key facets of the construction industry. "My rotations took me from project estimation to being a member of the survey crew, performing concrete quality control, and advanced construction planning,” he said. “These experiences forced me to innovate on the spot." Today, Churchill’s Purdue-born ingenuity continues to shape the future of sustainable construction.
 
Purdue alumni like Churchill and Sprague have made an impact across sectors, including engineering, construction, technology, and healthcare, each with a unique story of how the co-op program shaped their careers. Steve Downer, a 2024 inductee and Vice President of Consumer Electronics at Amazon, shared that the program influenced both his career and personal life. “The program taught me leadership skills, effective communication, and problem-solving techniques,” he noted, adding that it also connected him with his future wife, a Purdue graduate and fellow co-op student.
Pharma Career Fair
Keith Churchill (CE '06), pictured right, was inducted into the Professional Practice Hall of Fame in 2023.
 
At Purdue’s Hall of Fame event, Thomas “Tom” Clement, ME ’58, was posthumously honored as the university’s first co-op student, a visionary who, 70 years ago, pioneered the co-op program that has since propelled generations of Purdue engineers. Growing up during the Great Depression, Clement worked a series of jobs to support his family. When he began college, he faced financial obstacles and couldn’t afford to complete his degree without working. Determined to continue his education, Clement approached his professor with a bold proposal: to alternate semesters between school and work. This request led him to Ford Motor Company and effectively established Purdue’s co-op program, creating a model that would open new paths for students to earn a degree while gaining hands-on experience.
 
During his co-op at Ford in Dearborn, MI, Clement quickly demonstrated his engineering skills, contributing to key projects, including designing lock washers for Ford’s 1956 models and innovating ventilation systems for Lincoln engines. After graduating, Clement returned to Ford full-time, where he worked on the 302-engine platform and proposed early turbocharging methods—ideas that laid groundwork for Ford’s future EcoBoost technology, a major advancement in fuel efficiency and engine performance.
 
Clement’s legacy endures not only through his technical contributions but also through the transformative co-op program he initiated, which has become a cornerstone of career-focused education at Purdue. His induction into the Professional Practice Hall of Fame celebrates both his groundbreaking engineering work and his pivotal role in shaping the co-op program—an educational model that, 70 years later, continues to empower Purdue students to bridge academics with impactful careers. Click here to learn more about Tom's impact.
Hall of Fame
Members of Tom Clement's family were in attendance to honor his legacy and impact on the co-op program.
 
Similarly, the program has profoundly influenced alumni like Ted Tharp, a 2024 inductee and Associate Director of Operations Science & Technology at AbbVie, who recalled how it built his resilience and independence. “At 18, I moved to downtown Chicago, learned to cook for myself, and explored the city on my own,” he shared, crediting the experience with developing self-reliance and adaptability that have been crucial in his career.
 
Kunal Sethy, a 2024 Hall of Fame inductee, has worn many hats throughout his career, including founder, entrepreneur, advisor, and CEO. He credits Purdue's co-op program with shaping his professional values and leadership style. "My co-op experience allowed me to apply classroom theories to real-world challenges and develop key skills like teamwork and resilience," Sethy reflected. He added, “Being inducted into Purdue’s Professional Practice Hall of Fame is an unexpected honor and a humbling recognition of my journey. I hope my experience inspires current and future students, just as my mentors at GE inspired me to reach my full potential.”
 
Joining Kunal Sethy and Steve Downer as 2024 Hall of Fame inductees were other remarkable alumni whose careers embody the values instilled by Purdue’s co-op program. This year’s complete list of honorees included:
 
  • Alicia Gardner - CHE '01, Vice President & Franchise Lead Covid-19, Genentech
    • Completed a five-session co-op with Hoffmann-La Roche in Nutley, NJ.
  • Ted Tharp - CHE '98, Associate Director of Operations Science & Technology, AbbVie
    • Completed a five-session co-op with TetraTech EMI.
  • Steve Downer - ME '96, Vice President, Amazon
    • Completed a five-session co-op with General Electric in Louisville, KY.
  • Patricia "Patty" Sorenson - MSE '93, Associate Director of Global Performance Excellence, PG Technologies
    • Completed a six-session co-op with Praxair Surface Technologies in Indianapolis, IN.
  • Kunal Sethy - EE '04, 2X Startup Founder, Entrepreneur, Advisor & CEO
    • Completed a five-session co-op with General Electric.
  • Angie Martin - CE '91, Chief Sustainability & Innovation Officer, Heritage Environmental Services
    • Completed a five-session co-op with Heritage Environmental Services in Indianapolis, IN.
  • Andre Luyckx - ME '83, Retired VP of Upstream Digital Transformation, Former ExxonMobil
    • Completed five sessions with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft (West Palm Beach, FL) and Phillips Petroleum - American Thermoplastics (Houston, TX).
  • Thomas “Tom” Clement - ME '58, First Co-op Student at Purdue University
    • Completed a five-session co-op at Ford Motor Company. 
  • Inaugural GEARE Cohort: David Bowes, Samuel Frank, Kevin Hess, Michael Radovanovic, Katie Boor Ramos, Anna Kuhn Wild
 
As Purdue continues to expand its co-op program, including a new reach to the Indianapolis campus, the Hall of Fame stands as a tribute to the program’s enduring impact. Each inductee’s journey reflects Purdue’s commitment to preparing students for success through integrated learning. The annual celebration serves as both recognition of alumni achievements and inspiration for current students, affirming Purdue’s legacy as a leader in bridging education and industry.
 
Hall of Fame
Members of the Professional Practice Hall of Fame, OPP staff, and students celebrated the accomplishments of this year's inductees.

 

Story by: Margaret Mowrer