July 27, 2005
Alumni Legacy Picnic planned Aug. 13-14 for freshmen, parents
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue Alumni Association will sponsor the Legacy Picnic Aug. 13-14 to bring together incoming freshmen and their parents or grandparents who are Purdue University graduates.
The picnic will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. each of the two nights at the Dick and Sandy Dauch Alumni Center at Purdue. It will feature free food from Subway and a chance to socialize with other freshmen who have a parent or grandparent who graduated from Purdue, said Dan Rhodes, assistant director of membership and marketing for the Purdue Alumni Association.
"It's a welcome back to campus for parents and grandparents and a welcome to campus for new students," Rhodes said.
The event's purpose is to welcome these new students – called legacy freshmen – to campus and introduce them to Purdue clubs and activities, as well as provide information about the alumni association and how they can get involved.
Follett's Bookstore also will give away a $250 gift certificate for books each of the two nights of the event.
Rhodes said there are about 1,400 legacy freshmen enrolled for the upcoming year at Purdue, and all have been invited to attend the picnic. About 350 legacy freshmen attended last year's event, which was the first year it was held.
Rhodes said it is important for the alumni association to reach out to legacy students because they are more likely to get involved in campus activities while they are students and alumni activities after they leave Purdue.
"They've got a lifelong connection to Purdue already and value that enough to have chosen Purdue as their university," he said. "It's important to engage them early to keep that connection to the Purdue community alive."
Todd Coleman, executive director of the alumni association, said the Legacy Picnic gives the university a chance to express gratitude to the students and parents for attending Purdue.
"We want to thank them for continuing to carry on the Purdue legacy," he said. "There is no greater testament to a Purdue education than for alumni children to make the same choice as their parents."
Rhodes said the event will also be beneficial to the alumni who attend.
"The Legacy Picnic will give parents and grandparents an opportunity to return to campus, rekindle old memories and get them back and working in the life of the university," he said.
Only those who received an invitation may attend the picnic. Purdue legacy students and their parents and grandparents can find more information by calling (765) 494-5175 or (800) 414-1541 or e-mailing klbrickler@purdue.edu.
Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu
Sources: Dan Rhodes, (765) 494-8038, darhodes@purdue.edu
Todd Coleman, (765) 494-5179, toddcoleman@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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