Date: March 10, 2009
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director, Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu

PNC ASL Club Earns Purdue University 2009 Focus Award

(L - R): Karen Donah, Angela Cain, Alex Taylor, Stacey Gibson, Mary Mumau, Joyce Taylor.

WESTVILLE – The Purdue University North Central American Sign Language Club was recently presented with the 2009 Focus Award presented by Purdue University to recognize its outstanding contribution to furthering Purdue's commitment to disability accessibility and diversity. 

Each year Purdue University presents Focus Awards to one faculty member, one staff employee, one student and one organization for their achievements.

The American Sign Language (ASL) Club is one of the most active student organizations on the PNC campus. Its members work to promote a greater awareness of ASL among the PNC students, to foster a greater understanding of the deaf culture and to bring deaf and hearing people from the community together with events that are fun and educational. Thanks to the ASL Club's activities, many PNC students have been made aware of sign language, deaf culture, as well as new career opportunities.

The ASL Club holds weekly silent lunches in the PNC cafeteria and each month the ASL Club organizes silent dinners, game nights and silent coffees in the community.

Events for children are particularly popular and attract deaf and hearing youngsters and their parents. The ASL Club sponsors, “Let Your Stars Shine,” a summer program for children to enjoy. Local deaf clubs and service organizations have donated funds, services and supplies in support of the club's events.

The club raised money to pay the tuition of local deaf child to attend Camp Willard , a summer camp for deaf and hard-of-hearing youngsters, sponsored by the Indiana School for the Deaf for Deaf. The ASL Club also offers an annual spring retreat at the Indiana School for the Deaf, presented by the Indiana Chapter of Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Thanks to the ASL Club's activities, many PNC students have been made aware of sign language, deaf culture, as well as new career opportunities.

Interestingly, Karen Donah, a continuing lecturer and coordinator of American Sign Language classes at PNC, was presented the Focus Award in 2007 for her work in the classroom and as ASL Club advisor.

ASL Club officers are President Angela Cain, Michigan City; Vice President Stacey Gibson, Valparaiso; Secretary Mary Mumaw, LaPorte; Historian Alex Taylor, Kingsford Heights and Web master Joyce Taylor, Kingsford Heights.

In accepting the award, club members thanked Donah and PNC faculty Joanna Witulski, Scott Kochan, Mike Holman and Jason Maloney, all limited term lecturers, for their assistance in the classroom and with the club.

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