MAY 2006

Fifty-two students from four elementary schools in the Twin Lakes School Corporation in White County, Indiana were the first benefactors of the Susan Nierstheimer Memorial Book Fund.

Susan's husband and daughter, Norm and Laura, presented the books to the students on May 15, 2006 with the help of Dr. Susan Gunderson from the College of Education. 

The children each received four books carefully chosen from a selection of current children?s literature that will serve to build upon the skills developed through Reading Recovery. The selection of books included: a book they could read easily, two chapter books that provide a bit of a challenge, and one book that they can enjoy sharing with an adult.

The books were presented in a bright blue book bag imprinted with the book fund logo.  A specially designed bookplate was placed in the front of each book with this inscription:  "A gift for you from the Susan L. Nierstheimer Memorial Book Fund, providing books for children who have participated in the Reading Recovery Program."

It was a beautiful, bittersweet day for the family and friends in attendance, yet the over-whelming emotion of the day was the joy of the students who proudly received their very own books. 

It is an honor for Purdue?s College of Education to fulfill the dream of a visionary faculty member and alumna.  Susan?s friends and family shared her passion to put books into the hands of young readers.  Thanks to you, the Susan Nierstheimer Memorial Book Fund will do just that for many years to come.

As a College of Education assistant professor in literacy and language it was Susan Nierstheimer's wish to get books into the hands of children.  Before losing her battle with cancer in late 2005, she helped establish The Susan Nierstheimer Memorial Book Fund to provide children's books for first grade students participating in Reading Recovery.  If you would like to contribute, please make checks payable to Purdue Foundation and mail to:

The Susan Nierstheimer Memorial Book Fund
Purdue Foundation
403 West Wood St.
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2077

APRIL 2006:

Bob and Sally Weist's gift of $750,000 to the College of Education will establish the Mary Endres Professorship in Elementary Education.

"Mary Endres was a mentor to me during my years at Purdue," Sally Weist said. "I was on a scholarship when I came to Purdue, and she found a part-time job on campus for me, which I kept all four years. She was almost like a second mother to me, always there to bounce ideas off."

"This is only the third endowed professorship in the college, so this is wonderful news for the College of Education and its elementary education program," said Dean George Hynd. "Mary Endres was Purdue's first faculty member in elementary education and was instrumental in making it a more comprehensive school of education. This is a wonderful way to honor what she did for our college."

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