About Purdue SWE

In 1954, five years after the first meeting of the National Society of Women Engineers, the Purdue student section of the Society of Women Engineers was incorporated. At that time there were approximately 20 members. In 1967 the first SWE scholarship at Purdue University was established. This scholarship and many others have since been awarded every year at the SWE Awards Program which was first held in 1973. In 1974, Purdue SWE was the first organization to enter a kart into the Purdue Grand Prix race with an all female crew and driver.

        

Purdue has had a significant role in the national SWE organization. It is the oldest continuously chartered SWE section in the country. The Purdue section has won the best section in Region H more than 10 times. In 2007, it won 2nd place for best student section in the nation, and in 2008, it won a Gold Level of the Outstanding Collegiate Section Award. Today, PSWE is composed of over 600 men and women members, making it one of the largest student organizations at Purdue, and one of the largest SWE collegiate sections in the country. Purdue alumnae have served as National SWE presidents, SWE fellows, board members, regional officers, and national officers.  The success of Purdue SWE has been engraved in history and will continue to thrive in years to come.