President- John Lucas
Year: Senior
Major: Integrated Business and Engineering
Years with Purdue Crew: 3
Years of Rowing Experience: 3
Position in the Boat: Rower
Preferred Side: Port
Fun Fact: I have not seen Boys in the Boat.
About Me: I'm a senior studying Integrated Business and Engineering from Sammamish, Washington. I joined the team my Sophomore year and quickly fell in love with the sport. Purdue Crew has exposed me to many amazing experiences and people. Outside of rowing, I enjoy reading, biking, painfully watching the Seattle Mariners, and being outside.
Treasurer (1st Semester) - Julia Hopper
Year: Senior
Major: Actuarial Science and Applied Statistics
Years with Purdue Crew: 3
Years of Rowing Experience: 7
Position in the Boat: Rower
Preferred Side: Port
Fun Fact: Maine is the only state that has a one-syllable name.
About Me: I am a twin!
Treasurer (2nd Semester) - Benjamin Schultz
Year: Junior
Major: Construction Engineering
Years with Purdue Crew: 3
Years of Rowing Experience: 3
Position in the Boat: Rower
Preferred Side: Both
Fun Fact: The state of Maryland has no natural lakes.
About Me: I'm from College Park, Maryland, and I'm forklift certified (for now).
Vice President- Lily Waterman
Year: Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Years with Purdue Crew: 4
Years of Rowing Experience: 5
Position in the Boat: Rower
Preferred Side: Both
Fun Fact: Julia Hopper is teaching me how to juggle!
About Me: I’m a senior studying mechanical engineering from Wenham, MA. I joined Purdue Crew after getting addicted to rowing in high school and couldn’t be more grateful for the people the team has introduced me to. When I’m not at the boathouse or on the water, I love to bake, read, and crochet. I am also the Director of Scoring for Purdue Grand Prix!
Vice President- Elainna Papandrea
Year: Junior
Major: Biomedical Health Science
Years with Purdue Crew: 3
Years of Rowing Experience: 3
Position in the Boat: Rower
Preferred Side: Starboard
Fun Fact: When I was 6 I wanted a pink tool box for Christmas!
About Me: I’m from Elkhart Indiana. Some of favorite things to do is spend time with friends and family, hang out at the lake, listen to music, and also row. I’m hoping to one day be a physician. And my favorite two animals are sea turtles and dogs.
Secretary- Nate Hiatt
Year: Junior
Major: Business Analytics and Information Management
Years with Purdue Crew: 3
Years of Rowing Experience: 8
Position in the Boat: Rower
Preferred Side: Both
Fun Fact: Was a coxswain for 7 years, this is my first year rowing.
About Me: I’m from Orlando Florida, I started coxing in 8th grade, I just finished an internship working in GenAi at Elevance Health, I’m in a fraternity.
Webmaster- Makayla Malandra
Year: Junior
Major: Creative Writing and Professional Writing
Years with Purdue Crew: 3
Years of Rowing Experience: 6
Position in the Boat: Rower
Preferred Side: Both
Fun Fact: I have a bird named Crosby and a dog named Maverick!
About Me: I'm a junior double majoring in Creative Writing and Professional Writing from Pittsburgh, PA. I was introduced to rowing in 6th grade, but I didn't start rowing consistently until my sophomore year of high school. I joined Purdue Crew because I wanted to continue the rowing during college, and I couldn't be happier here! Aside from rowing, I enjoy writing, reading, and doing theatre!
Women’s Rigger- Gabby Surdyka
Year: Senior
Major: Biological Engineering
Years with Purdue Crew: 4
Years of Rowing Experience: 4
Position in the Boat: Rower
Preferred Side: Port
Fun Fact: I played the cello for 5 years!
About Me: Before rowing, I swam competitively for 7 years and played on my high school water polo team. When coming to Purdue I knew I wanted to stay active and join a club sport. I found out about rowing while trying to get recruited to swim but, it wasn’t until the spring of my freshman year when I finally got the courage to join Purdue Crew and I have not regretted it since! Rowing is the perfect mix between a team sport and an individual sport. I’m excited to finish off my last year on the team with a great season!
Men's Rigger- Carter Jay
Year: Sophomore
Major: Mechanical Engineering Technology
Years with Purdue Crew: 1
Years of Rowing Experience: 1
Position in the Boat: Rower
Preferred Side: Starboard
Fun Fact: I summited 7 different 14,000 ft peaks over the summer in an average time of 2.5 hours.
About Me: I ran cross country and track from fourth grade to senior year at Carmel High School in Indiana and am going into my second year of rowing for Purdue. I am also a Young Life leader in the Lafayette area and enjoy other sports like waterskiing and mountain biking.
Quartermaster- Ellie Heaney
Year: Senior
Major: Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
Years with Purdue Crew: 4
Years of Rowing Experience: 4
Position in the Boat: Rower
Preferred Side: Port
Fun Fact: Julia Hopper is teaching me how to juggle.
About Me: I am an Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering senior from Glocester, Rhode Island. Besides rowing, I am a member of the Purdue Wind Ensemble as a bass clarinetist.
Quartermaster- Lauren Ellis
Year: Sophomore
Major: Data Science
Years with Purdue Crew: 2
Years of Rowing Experience: 6
Position in the Boat: Rower
Preferred Side: Starboard
Fun Fact: I love watermelon sour patch kids :)
About Me: I am a sophomore in Data Science from Vienna, VA. I have been playing sports my whole life, but I started rowing my freshman year of high school and haven’t stopped since. Outside of rowing, I am a member of Phi Sigma Rho, a woman in STEM sorority at Purdue!
Publicity Director- Hailey Young
Year: Senior
Major: Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering
Years with Purdue Crew: 2
Years of Rowing Experience: 3
Position in the Boat: Coxswain
Fun Fact: I used to be a silversmithing apprentice!
About Me: I am from Arkansas, love being in nature, and my favorite season is winter. I joined Purdue Crew as a rower but changed to a coxswain after injury, I can row both sides but prefer port.
Publicity Director- Ava Kaiser
Year: Junior
Major: Psychological Sciences
Years with Purdue Crew: 2
Years of Rowing Experience: 2
Position in the Boat: Rower
Preferred Side: Both
Fun Fact: I met Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker)!
About Me: My name is Ava! I am a junior this year studying Psychological Sciences with a minor in Law and Society. I started last year as a novice coxswain, but I plan on also learning to scull this season. Outside of rowing, I enjoy photography and drawing.
Historian- Kayla Manley
Year: Junior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Years with Purdue Crew: 2
Years of Rowing Experience: 2
Position in the Boat: Rower
Preferred Side: Starboard
Fun Fact: I used to have a chicken named Nugget!
About Me: I’m a junior studying Mechanical Engineering from Midland, MI. Thanks to Purdue Crew, I’ve been able to learn a new sport and become a part of a community full of supportive and hard working people! Outside of rowing, I am also involved at Purdue as an undergraduate researcher and as a tour guide for prospective engineering students!
Historian- Jane Billa
Year: Junior
Major: Computer Science
Years with Purdue Crew: 1
Years of Rowing Experience: 1
Position in the Boat: Rower
Preferred Side: Both
Fun Fact: I am six or less connections away from Kevin Bacon
About Me: I've lived in Northern Virginia for the past 9 years! I enjoy watching movies and napping in my free time. My favorite part of rowing is spending time with my lovely teammates on and off the water!