Allison Biewenga Honored with Bruce Helfert Memorial Award
Allison Biewenga Honored with Bruce Helfert Memorial Award
In recognition of her outstanding academic performance and social concern, Allie was awarded the prestigious Helfert Award. This award is given annually to juniors in the College of Engineering or the College of Science who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to social responsibility.
The Bruce Helfert Memorial Award is given each year to outstanding juniors in the College of Engineering or the College of Science to recognize that student’s academic excellence and demonstrated social concern. The $2,750.00 award has been made possible by a gift from Mrs. Sylvia Helfert, and has been awarded for more than 40 years in memory of her son, Bruce, a 1964 graduate of Purdue’s School of Science.
Meet Allie Biewenga, a Junior in Industrial Engineering at Purdue University, whose diverse interests and achievements are making waves both on and off campus.
Allie is not just excelling academically; she is also the founder of a student-managed venture fund, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit and leadership skills. This venture fund aims to provide students with hands-on experience in investment and financial management, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. Allie's interest in venture funds stems from her passion for innovation and her desire to support budding entrepreneurs in bringing their ideas to life.
But Allie's ambitions don't stop there. She has also earned her private pilot's license, a testament to her dedication and passion for aviation.
Her pursuit of flight was inspired by her father, who introduced her to the world of aviation at a young age. This early exposure lead her to earning her license, and then at Purdue she chose to join the Purdue flight team, where she was able to work with fellow aviation enthusiasts, further honing her skills in the skies.
Allie's diverse interest and skills also extend to her research, where she has spent time with the Healthcare Ergonomics Analytics Lab (HEAL) studying the effect of non-technical skills on robot-assisted surgeries, as well as studying employment outcomes of street-affiliated youth in Kenya. The latter of which earned her the best student paper in the International Division at the American Society of Engineering Education Conference in 2024.
Please join us in congratulating Allie on her latest honor.