News from Purdue North Central - July 4, 2008
Padberg Honored by Sigma Alpha Iota
Dr. Daniel Padberg
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Dr. Daniel L. Padberg, associate professor of Communication at Purdue University North Central, was honored for his lifetime of achievement in the arts as the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity Lake County Alumnae Chapter granted Padberg distinguished membership status.
Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI) International Music Fraternity was founded in 1903 at the University School of Music at Ann Arbor , Mich. Its stated mission is “to encourage, nurture and support the art of music."
SAI confers distinguished memberships upon members and non-members who have made outstanding contributions to the field of music. Distinguished membership consists of four categories for membership. Padberg qualified as “A Friend of the Arts” for his ongoing supportive and involvement in the arts at a local or regional level.
The Lake County Alumnae Chapter nominated Padberg, who was approved for membership by the SAI national headquarters.
SAI membership on the college level is open to women only who are active musically. Women may then affiliate with an alumnae chapter after they leave the university. As of September 2006, there were 212 active college SAI chapters and 121 active alumnae chapters, including one international chapter.
The Lake County Alumnae Chapter was established in 1965 in Hammond .
Padberg was nominated in recognition of his support of music. At PNC he teaches a variety of classes including Fundamentals of Speech Communication;
Introduction to Oral Interpretation; Rehearsal & Performance I; Theatre Production I and Theatre Appreciation. For many years, Padberg was director of the annual play presented by PNC students and his Introduction to Oral Interpretation also present an annual program for the public.
Music always played some part in these performances. Likewise, he has helped his wife, Anna, an elementary school teacher in Gary , with her music students.
He also helps the Lake County Alumnae chapter's participation in the annual Foundation for Arts and Music in Elementary education (F.A.M.E.) festival. This event plays a vital role in exposing area youngsters to the world of art and music.
Padberg studied voice as a child and his family did spend time around the piano singing, so music has been a part of his life since childhood.
SAI strives to share and support music throughout the campus, the community, the nation and the world. That includes everything from financial assistance to providing sheet music and instruments to many parts of the world. Padberg's nomination for Distinguished Membership cited his commitment to exposing children and adults to music and art.
The national fraternity provides internships, grants and loans to students from undergraduate to doctoral programs. Some chapters provide scholarships to students as young as middle school age. The Lake County Alumnae chapter offers a scholarship to a member of Beta Lambda and also to elementary pupils who perform in the Circle The State With Song program.
Padberg earned his bachelor's degree from South East Missouri State University ; he earned his master's degree from Northern Illinois University and his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University.
He has been with Purdue North Central since 1998. He also taught at Purdue University Calumet; Indiana University Northwest; Drury College , in Springfield , Missouri and Crown Point High School .
He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi; a three-time winner of an Outstanding Teacher Award at PNC and five times earned the Purdue Research Foundation International Travel Grant.
For 35 years he has been an active theatre director in educational and semi-professional theatre and has directed more than 125 plays and musicals.
He is a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Social Fraternity, National Collegiate Player, the National Communication Association, Central States Communication Association, Thalia Germanic, Indiana Historical Society, Northwest Indiana Genealogical Society and Familienverband Padberg.
