Friday, July 2, 2010

Dr. Caldwell Steals the Show
At the 2010 Grissom Classic

It was a "Big Surprise" he promised,
and a Bombshell he delivered.

WHILE FEEDING INFORMATION to this writer during the weeks leading to June's Grissom Classic, Dr. Barrett Caldwell promised to bring a "big surprise" while giving no indication
of what it might be.

Dr. Caldwell, golfers, scholars and diners arrived promptly on the 24th and enjoyed the activities of their choosing – golf, receiving scholarship checks, socializing, eating.


On the links, Dr. Caldwell performed admirably. As a member
of the Rich Welp/Ralph Welp/Don Book/Caldwell foursome,
he helped the team to a 64 Net score.

The Classic's championship went to the team of Aaron Berg/Ken Brosmer/Neal Fleck/Anne Mehringer with its Net 51. The team immediately donated $50 of its winnings to the Grissom Scholar- ship Fund.

"I Love My Job!"

FOR HIS FEATURED TIME-SLOT INDOORS, Dr. Caldwell presented a power-point slideshow and monologue that covered much of his involvement with NASA, the Indiana Space-Grant Consortium and Purdue.

"I work with NASA and travel to Florida for that. I travel the State of Indiana, and I work at Purdue University," said Dr. Caldwell. "I love my job!"

Not that there was any doubt, but Dr. Caldwell talked of his belief that the International Space Station is crucial to science on earth, and a return to the moon is essential, in part, as a stepping stone to Mars.

But the other foot, the one wearing that "big surprise," was yet to fall. Soon enough, its time came.

Dr. Caldwell used the ultimate paragraph of his comments to an- nounce the Club and its Grissom Scholarship Fund had received a grant of $36,000, effective immediately.

"The money comes from NASA through Purdue," said Dr. Cald- well. The money originated in the STEM Fund, administered by NASA. The grant to the Purdue Club amounts to $6,000 per year, beginning immediately and running through 2015. Dr. Caldwell will announce more details of the grant during coming weeks and months.


With the grant, this year's crop of Grissom Scholars saw their $1,000 checks boosted to $2,500 apiece. Those winners are Hannah Burgess (Jasper H.S.), Tyler Jenkins (Jasper H.S.), Molly Johnson (NE Dubois H.S.) and Justin Wendholt (Forest Park H.S.). Burgess and Wendholt were among attendees at the banquet. Jenkins and Johnson were attending freshman-orientation activities on campus.

For the record, as of Thursday the Club has sent $60,000 back to Purdue – all in the form of Grissom Scholarships – since the first checks were awarded in June 1995.

DURING THE BUSINESS PORTION of the meeting, changes and additions were made to the board of directors, among them, Allen Seifert's elevation to President.

The reconfigured board looks like...
Allen Seifert, President
Craig Knies, Vice-President
Sandra Chastain, Secretary
Kurt Hedinger, Treasurer
Lori Mehringer, Scholarship
Kent Olinger, Media
Jerry Nichols, Hoop-Shoot
Don Book, Past-President

All changes went into effect as they were announced.

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