Department of Statistics Establishes Norma Lucas Administrative Professional Excellence Award

Norma Lucas Norma Lucas
At the retirement reception of Norma Lucas on August 28, 2009, the Department of Statistics announced the establishment of the Norma Lucas Administrative Professional Excellence Award to honor Norma Lucas' high level of service to the Department for 39 years. The annual award will honor one or more staff members in the Department of Statistics to recognize exceptional service, dedication and/or loyalty to the Department. For more information about the award, please view the Norma Lucas Administrative Professional Excellence Award Fund page. If you would like to contribute to the fund, the easiest way is to make your donation online through the Purdue University Development Office. Please specify College of Science - Statistics and then enter Lucas Fund under Special Instructions on the form. If you have questions, please contact Sandy Howarth, Director of Development, at (765) 496-7502 or by email at showarth@purdue.edu.

Many current staff, students and faculty from the Department and the campus came to the reception to honor Norma on her last day at Purdue along with her family members. Several Purdue guests traveled from out of state as well. Gary McDonald (Purdue Ph.D. 1969, Science Distinguished Alum 1990, Purdue honorary doctorate 2000) and his wife Jeane came from Michigan. Ann Berger, wife of James O. Berger (Purdue honorary doctorate 2004) who was a 1974 - 1996 faculty member in the Department, came from North Carolina and read a letter from Jim to Norma. Judy and Steven Lalley, who was a 1986 - 2000 faculty member in the Department, came from Chicago. Emeritus Professor Virgil Anderson and his wife Avis, Emeritus Professor Lou Cote and his wife Lillian, Emeritus Professor David S. Moore and his wife Nancy, and Emeritus Professor Steve Samuels and his wife Joan also came.

To read more about Norma's career with the Department of Statistics, please read "Norma Lucas Retires after 39 Years with the Department of Statistics." Links to the pictures that were used in a slideshow shown during the reception featuring pictures of Norma during her employment with the Department and pictures taken throughout the day are below.

September 2009