Mortar Board at Purdue University

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Mortar Board at Purdue University

The Barbara Cook Chapter of Mortar Board at Purdue University. Est. 1926 The "Mortar Board" was first published in 1945 as the "Reminder Calendar."

Mortar Board, upon its founding at Syracuse University in 1918, became the first national organization honoring senior college women. In the Fall of 1926, the Purdue Chapter of Mortar Board was chartered and since that time has grown to preeminence in the national organization, which claims 191 college chapters. Mortar Board remained a society for senior women until 1975 when men were permitted to

be selected to its prestigious ranks. Mortar Board members are selected for their superior scholarship, dedicated service to the university community, and outstanding and constant leadership. Mortar Board can be found assisting special university leaders, holding a leadership conference, backing intercollegiate athletics, and honoring staff members who are especially supportive of students. The YWCA Women's Shelter, Community and Family Resource Center , the Liberal Arts Learning Center, Span Plan, and University Day have all benefited from Mortar Board's financial assistance. Over the past 63 years Mortar Board has given $911,000 in fellowships and awards to Purdue students, staff, and student organizations. The money for these fellowships and awards comes largely from the annual sales of the well-known calendar, appropriately named, the Mortar Board. Thanks to the sale of roughly 28,000 calendars this year, Mortar Board will once again be able to present fellowships and awards to Purdue students, staff, and student organizations. The Barbara Cook Chapter of Mortar Board is so named to honor retired Dean of Students Barbara Cook , who advised Mortar Board from 1956 to 1986. To honor Dean Cook, Mortar Board, along with friends and former students, donated a University marker which stands near the corner of Stadium and Northwestern Avenue.

06/18/2026

It’s Official - The Centennial Celebration is October 17, 2026!

For 100 years, Purdue Mortar Board has recognized and celebrated leaders dedicated to scholarship, leadership, and service. We invite you to return to campus and join fellow alumni, advisors, students, and friends for the Centennial Celebration to honor the remarkable legacy of the chapter and the generations of members who have shaped it.

This special event will feature dinner, speakers, and décor reflecting a century of Mortar Board history and tradition.

Whether your induction was five years ago or fifty, your story is part of our history. Gathered at the source of many memories for our alumni, the Purdue Memorial Union, we hope you can join us for this celebratory evening. Share with your friends and fellow Purdue Mortar Board alumni!

Find the link to register below-

The Centennial Celebration
Saturday, October 17 at 6:00PM
Purdue Memorial Union, South Ballroom

Register here! - https://events.blackthorn.io/en/3ktO526/purdue-mortar-board-centennial-celebration-4a9GQp2kun/overview

05/20/2026

As we continue to celebrate our Centennial, we invite all members and alumni to join the Purdue Mortar Board Alumni Council next week for the virtual event “Notes from Two Purdue Journalists” with Ginger Thompson and Mark Schoeff, Jr.

Both Mortar Board alumni who are highly esteemed in their field, we look forward to hearing about their career journeys and their work on a national and global scale. Please use the link below to register!

May 27, 2026
7:30PM EST
Zoom

Sign up here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Qgya-hSCQoOeWKgGiFnwAQ #/registration

04/22/2026

As we approach the end of the school year, The Barbara Cook Chapter wants to take a moment and celebrate our amazing seniors from the Class of 2026! 🎉

Last week, they enjoyed a fantastic day together at the Centennial Celebration Baseball Game, soaking up lots of sunshine and fun. A few days later, was their official senior send-off in front of the Purdue Memorial Union.

Each of these incredible individuals has left a mark on our community, and while we will miss them dearly, we couldn’t be prouder as they prepare to graduate. Their futures are shining bright! ✨💛🖤

04/20/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 scholarship and award recipients! These students, organizations, and staff members represent the best of Purdue! 🎓🚂

Our chapter is proud to recognize outstanding student leaders and individuals who go have made significant contributions to the University.

To learn more about each award and scholarship, check out our website here ➡️ https://www.purduemortarboard.com/awards-scholarships

04/03/2026

📢 Calling all members and alumni! Our chapter will be hosting an alumni night on April 14 to watch Purdue Baseball!

If you are local or can take a trek over to West Lafayette, we invite you to accept our invitation to join current Mortar Boarders at Alexander Field to watch the Boilermakers play Miami Ohio. It is also trivia night, and there will be $3 beer, hot dogs, and popcorn! 🍿⚾️

RSVP using the link in our bio or below! 👇🏼
🔗https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6rsdPQJ19gfAJKK

03/31/2026

This past Sunday, our chapter proudly initiated the new members of the 2027 Barbara Cook Mortar Board Chapter. The ceremony was a wonderful celebration filled with history and purpose. We also took a moment to recognize our outgoing Class of 2026 members for their dedication to service, scholarship, and leadership throughout their senior year! 👏🏼🎓

We were honored to have Purdue Mortar Board alumna Major General Erika Steuterman join us to share her experiences and insights about Mortar Board. Listening to her journey and advice was truly inspiring!

We’re excited to see all the amazing things the next class will accomplish both on and off campus! 💛🖤

03/27/2026

From our official chartering in the fall of 1926 to today, 2026 marks an incredible milestone as our chapter celebrates 100 years of scholarship, leadership, and service! 🎉

We are beyond excited to celebrate this achievement with our members, alumni, and supporters — each of whom plays a vital role in our journey.

Kicking off the festivities with the unveiling of our special centennial logo, we’ll be sharing memories and events throughout the year to commemorate this special occasion. Here’s to 100 years of excellence, leadership, and legacy at Purdue and beyond! ✨

03/25/2026

Our first Centennial Zoom Celebration was such a success that we’re excited to host another one! 🎉💫

Don’t let the date fool you—this event is the real deal, and you definitely won’t want to miss it! 😉

We invite all current and past Mortar Board members to join us. RSVP through the link in our bio or below! ⬇️📮

🔗https://form.jotform.com/PurdueMBAlumni/April-1-mortar-board-social-hour?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAQxAMVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAac4WB3YfP5Qt6z3bPbCeqjP01Ji6YtDmf7hS8kgvQokgtyJoVwG1cm87QfZeQ_aem_53Ymdvq_crV4c-NG-aLo3g

03/20/2026

Purdue Mortar Board Meetings: Where Opportunities to Serve and Professional Development Meet! 🤝

Recently, we delved into two core pillars of Mortar Board, service and leadership, during our new member meetings!

In our first meeting, we crafted tie-blankets to donate to our local Department of Child Services. 🧶

A few weeks later, we had the privilege of hearing from Dr. Jay Akridge and Dr. Christine Wilson about how to create a leadership philosophy statement. 📝

These experiences allowed our members to grow together and truly embody the spirit of Mortar Board! 🌟

03/16/2026

One week later and we are still reminiscing on our Leadership Conference! 💛🖤

It was a day packed full of personal growth, invaluable leadership lessons, and Boilermaker fellowship. The insights and connections formed from our speakers and attendees continue to inspire us!

The future of leadership is already setting a ‘Gold Standard’ at Purdue and beyond! 🌠

Address

128 Memorial Mall
West Lafayette, IN
47907

Website

http://purduemortarboard.com/, https://form.jotform.com/PurdueMBAlumni/April-1-mortar-board-social-hour?utm_source=ig&ut

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