President - Kara Benbow
Years with Purdue Crew: 4
Years of Rowing Experience: 4
Year: Senior
Preferred Side: Starboard
Fun Fact: I tap danced when I was little!
About Me: I'm a senior studying food science, and I started rowing my freshman year. I work in the Food Science department as a research assistant, while also working as part of the pilot plant student crew and as a FEMI student contributor. I've made my closest friends through the crew team, and have learned so much from current members and even alumni. I'm grateful to be a part of Purdue Crew, and I'm excited to round out my senior year with a great season!
Vice President - Logan Busch
Years with Purdue Crew: 3
Years of Rowing Experience: 4
Year: Junior
Preferred Side: Both
Fun Fact: I like to make my own sodas!
About Me: I am a junior in Industrial Engineering from Denver, Colorado! My favorite parts of rowing are the nuances of practicing the technique, and continually improving, and seeing my progress over time. I have played almost every sport, but found rowing my senior year of high school, and fell in love with it then.
Vice President - Lily Waterman
Years with Purdue Crew: 3
Years of Rowing Experience: 4
Year: Junior
Preferred Side: Both
Fun Fact: I love the Cars movie franchise
About Me: I’m a junior 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’m a member of Pi Tau Sigma and also enjoy baking and crocheting.
Treasurer - Julia Hopper
Years with Purdue Crew: 3
Years of Rowing Experience: 7
Year: Junior
Preferred Side: Port
Fun Fact: I can juggle!
About Me: I like rowing because we go fast. Wheeee!!!
Women’s Rigger- Brie Ruggiero
Years with Purdue Crew: 4
Years of Rowing Experience: 4
Year: Senior
Preferred Side: Coxswain, Port
Fun Fact: I played ice hockey for 10+ years before college.
About Me: I am a senior studying Aerospace Engineering from Oswego, IL! My freshman year I saw a boats on campus event in front of my residence hall that convinced me to come to practice the next day. I went and never stopped going! Rowing is the ultimate team sport and having the opportunity to experience it as a rower and a coxswain has been absolutely incredible. I’ve met my best friends and created a home away from home with this team. I’m looking forward to rounding out my college rowing experience with this amazing group of girls as a coxswain and taking home a few medals and trophies in the process.
Men’s Rigger- Rykken Johnson
Years with Purdue Crew: 4
Years of Rowing Experience: 8
Year: Senior
Preferred Side: Port
Fun Fact: I can't juggle.
About Me: I like to go fast.
Quartermaster- Emily Slade
Years with Purdue Crew: 2
Years of Rowing Experience: 2
Year: Sophomore
Preferred Side: Port
Fun Fact: I ran at the junior Olympics twice!
About Me: I am a sophomore studying landscape architecture. Before rowing I was a runner and wanted to try something new in college. Outside of rowing I’m involved in PASLA and am a Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Ambassador.
Quartermaster- Ellie Heaney
Years with Purdue Crew: 3
Years of Rowing Experience: 3
Year: Sophomore
Preferred Side: Port
Fun Fact: I can play several instruments, including the banjo.
About Me:I am a sophomore in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Glocester, Rhode Island. As well as rowing, I enjoy playing music and baking bread.
Secretary- Stefanie Surdyka
Years with Purdue Crew: 3
Years of Rowing Experience: 3
Year: Junior
Preferred Side: Starboard
Fun Fact: I can speak three languages!
About Me: I am a senior studying Chemical Engineering from Buffalo Grove, IL. Before rowing, I swam competitively for 7 years and in the off season I played waterpolo on my high school team. I joined Purdue Crew the spring semester of my freshman year and fell in love with the fast-paced environment that comes with the sport! I love being able to travel and compete across the US against other incredible programs. Outside of rowing I am a Chemical Engineering Ambassador and I do Emergency Response and Environmental Disaster Relief research through the Department of Environmental and Ecological Engineering.
Publicity Director- Jess Frazer
Years with Purdue Crew: 3
Years of Rowing Experience: 3
Year: Sophomore
Preferred Side: Starboard
Fun Fact: (I cox but prefer starboard when I row) and I am a triplet
About Me: I am a film and video production and creative writing double major with 2 minors in Spanish and communications. I am from Carmel, Indiana and I love to run, read, and watch movies.
Historian- Grant Herrmann
Years with Purdue Crew: 2
Years of Rowing Experience: 2
Year: Sophomore
Preferred Side: Port
Fun Fact: Certified lemon-eating SCUBA diver!
About Me: I like rowing because it challenges me and helps me manage my time. I have also met so many great people!
Historian- Aidan Driscoll
Years with Purdue Crew: 2
Years of Rowing Experience: 8
Year: Sophomore
Preferred Side: Starboard
Fun Fact: Snails can sleep up to three years straight!
About Me: I’m from a small town in New Jersey, so I group up surrounded by water. I started rowing when I was in middle school, and have been rowing ever since. I love the sport; rowing is a great exercise, and it helps you stay regimented. Traveling the country and racing all sorts of great guys at different venues is a phenomenal experience, and I’ve met some of my best friends though the sport. I couldn’t imagine not rowing.
Webmaster- Owen Semeter
Years with Purdue Crew: 2
Years of Rowing Experience: 4
Year: Junior
Preferred Side: Both
Fun Fact: I can do a super cool flip
About Me: I am a junior from Westborough, Massachusetts majoring in Computer Engineering with a minor in Mathematics. I was born in Redwood City, California, and moved out to MA at a very young age. I joined the Purdue Crew team in the fall of my sophomore year because I wanted a consistent way to stay active, and because I had some rowing experience from high school. I've been a concert pianist since I was five, and an avid computer gamer since I was twelve.