Old Masters share thoughts with students

By Dave Stephens
Assistant Campus Editor

Mingling amongst students and faculty, the man who invented the computer reboot function "Ctl-Alt-Del" cracks a joke about his Old Master hosts.

"I'm really impressed with these guys," said David Bradley, a senior technical staff member with IBM's xSeries Architecture Department. "I bet if someone walked in and tried to assassinate me, they would throw themselves in front of the bullet."

Both of his hosts, who met Bradley two hours before, nodded in agreement.

The Old Masters' All-Campus Reception was held Monday night to allow members of the Purdue community to come and meet this year's Old Masters, 10 highly successful alumni who returned to campus to talk with and inspire students.

"This is a really great program," said Bradley. "I didn't know about it until they contacted me. But then again, I didn't get my undergraduate degree here and when I was here I spent my life in the basement of the Math Science Building punching cards to write computer programs."

On this trip to Purdue, Bradley and the rest of the Old Masters are seeing more than the basements and classrooms they used to call home. Part of the program lets each alumnus spend time in different classrooms, answering questions from students about their success and careers.

"Some of the classes asked really tough questions," said Bettina Whyte, who is a principal of Jay Alix & Associates, a firm of professionals who serve as crisis managers and help in the restructuring of troubled companies. "It's been a lot of fun and it has helped me learn about what today's college students are thinking."

Brenda Truedell-Bell, chief operating officer of KHEM-SCI Research and Development Company, said her time back at Purdue has allowed her to meet with the Purdue chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, which she helped start at Purdue.

"I had dinner with my sorority sisters," said Truedell-Bell. "We talked about strategic plans for the sorority on campus and how to do outreach to get more African-American women into the science fields."

Truedell-Bell, who was the first female African-American research chemist for Eli Lilly Research Laboratories, said she uses events like Old Masters to provide mentoring opportunities to others.

"The key to success is self-presentation, people like winners," said Truedell-Bell. "It's very important that you position yourself into an area where you can succeed."

Ted Priebe, founding partner and CEO of Meyocks and Priebe Advertising, said returning to Purdue's campus has been a truly fun experience.

"Talking with, and being in, five classes today, I had so much fun — much more fun than they did," said Priebe.

Priebe added that although Purdue has changed dramatically since he attended school, it is still a good place to get an education.

"Purdue students have chosen a great University, I constantly owe a lot to Purdue, for the contacts that I've made and for what I've been able to do."

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CAMPUS DESK PHONE:
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Campus editor: Laura Pelner

Assistant campus editors: Kurt Esposito, Dave Stephens

To send a letter to the editor, please email campus@purdueexponent.org