Student Honors

April 1, 2005

Local student honored at YWCA Salute to Women Banquet

DaVida Anderson, a junior political science major from Lafayette, Ind., was honored at the recent YWCA Greater Lafayette Salute to Women Banquet.

Anderson was among seven award winners at the event, having been selected for honors from an original pool of 40 area women. Award winners were selected based on personal accomplishments, impact on the community, leadership and role-modeling qualities, and their embodiment of the YWCA's vision of "peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people."

Anderson earned her award by preparing a presentation that explored the need for a campus program specifically designed for first-year African-American female students. Her presentation, entitled "Strong Sister, Silly Sister: Which Sister Are You?" encourages young college women to make wise choices and carry themselves with dignity.

Anderson, who presented her program on campus in the fall of 2004, also is a member of the Purdue women's track and field team.

The Salute to Women awards have been given since 1974. Major sponsors for the banquet, which took place March 1 in the Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms, included Purdue Employee Federal Credit Union, State Farm Insurance Companies, Lafayette Savings Bank and Design Team Inc.

Purdue cadet receives George C. Marshall ROTC Award

Cadet Bethany Van Stavern, Purdue Army ROTC battalion commander and a senior in health sciences from Hudson, Ohio, has been selected as Purdue's recipient of the George C. Marshall ROTC Award.

She will travel to Lexington, Va., on April 12 to receive the award and participate in the George C. Marshall ROTC National Security Seminar. The award, named after World War II Army Chief of Staff and former Secretary of State George C. Marshall, is presented each year to the top senior cadet at each Army ROTC host school.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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