Category Archives: Purdue Life

If You Build It… esports Gaming Life at Purdue University

08/16/2024 Nicole Wang 2 Comments

It has been an honor to keep step with the gaming life and events at Purdue University, West Lafayette. I have mentioned it often how heavily involved Ethan (Jolteon79) was in the gaming community during his four years of Material Science Engineering undergraduate studies. In those years while leading in Clubs, Ethan was encouraged by Jason Maynard, Senior Assistant Director of Sport Programs at the Purdue Recreation and Wellness center, to build esports community. I am humbled by the work Jason has pressed forward with and grateful to get to know him.

At the start of this summer, I received word from Jason that the dream of a focused esports program at Purdue would be a reality much sooner than anticipated. In June, Dell Technologies and Purdue announced an agreement to establish the APGL, one of the largest dedicated collegiate gaming facilities in the country. Our family was glad in 2022 when the Boiler Game Mine opened at the Memorial Union on campus. The BGM allowed the Splatoon @ Purdue Club, along with many other Purdue Gaming Clubs, to continue in the efforts of building esports life with a dedicated space. Now, with the news from Dell, Jason excitedly let me know the esports hub of gaming Ethan had collaborated with him towards was now a reality!

I traveled to Purdue in West Lafayette Thursday, August 15th, for the grand opening ceremony of the Alienware Purdue Gaming Lounge (APGL). The Lounge is truly an inspiring 2000 square foot space on the lower level of the Co-Rec situated in the heart of campus. Congratulations to Jason Maynard who communicated his vision for what could be possible and for seeing it through. Thank you to Mike Warren for hearing and believing in what Jason communicated as a need and working to bring it forward to today.

“The esports ecosystem at Purdue is thriving, with thousands of students actively participating,” said Mike Warren, senior director of Recreation & Wellness at Purdue. “Whether students are looking to get casually involved or compete at higher levels, we are excited to support gaming here at Purdue RecWell, showcasing the latest technology.”

I was blessed to be a part of the energy of the grand opening day. Sharing the joy of this building work with Jason, celebrating achievements with the new Splatoon @ Purdue Club leadership, and seeing the amazing technology that Dell brought to the space with Alienware. It was fun meeting up with Katie Sermersheim, Dean of Students, in the viewing gallery and hearing her excitement for the esports program. Meeting students on staff for APGL gave me an appreciation for the ecosystem that has been steadily building. The Varsity Team room and Purdue Broadcasting studio are incredible! There will be great commentating and tournaments ahead!

There was plenty of time to sit in awe of what the last six years have been about… building a dream one step at a time. I recall Ethan’s efforts in Club life, both Splatoon @ Purdue and Pokemon Draft League with the Battle Association of Purdue. My memories brought back his excitement from April 9th of 2022 when he welcomed teams from Michigan State University to Purdue campus for the first in-person Collegiate LAN event featuring more than two collegiate teams representing their university. The Splatoon @ Purdue RecWell esports Intercollegiate Invitational was held at the Co-Rec that April as a foreshadowing of what has now become esports on campus.

I marvel at the opportunity and potential for students ahead. Purdue now a part of the Collegiate esports scene with Varsity teams is everything our son worked toward with Jason during his time on campus.

Such an amazing Giant Leap again at Purdue University this week!

I always carry
Jolteon79
in my heart!

I know he was right there with us in the APGL on Thursday… laughing, smiling and overjoyed for this dream come true!

Always Remember, JOLTeON!, Purdue Life

JOLT-ON! 2024: Campus House Kids

05/31/2024 Nicole Wang Leave a comment

In this last year, we have been back to Campus House Church at Purdue several times to serve or attend in one way or another. Time within the walls of this amazing church is one way we stay connected to the people and places where Ethan was on mission. He was so eager to continue life with Pastors, staff and this community at the time of his passing. We are grateful to each and everyone whom impacted Ethan’s life in the four years he lived at Purdue.

On our trips in 2023, we noticed a Kids ministry building and growing each time we visited Campus House. During Sunday worship times, volunteers and staff provide classroom space for children to come and hear Bible stories and engage in age appropriate activities while their parents attend church service. It is evident to us that Campus House is a multi-generational church right in the heart of this Big Ten University, seeking to serve students and families alike.

In our son’s early childhood years, we admire how our local church’s kids ministry creatively used LEGO’s in the classroom and summer camp programs. Ethan and Noah have experienced learning the love of Jesus Christ all throughout their growing up years simply by creative activities with LEGO. We see LEGO’s helping kids:

develop motor skills
learn cooperative play
giving kids a sense of accomplishment
learn persistence
encouraging kids to explore
teaching kids to be creative

As the month of May 2024 set in, we purposed to remember Ethan and honor his Legacy in a way that would remind us of his engineering and building spirit. Our son was an avid Lego fan. So much so that he became a Materials Science Engineer at Purdue and his focus was polymer science… the study of plastics! He enjoyed creating and teaching with LEGO’s, as well as stories and games even into his adult life. He was active in community at Campus House for his years of undergraduate study and he had intended to continue to be active after college. Therefore, in the week leading up to Ethan’s would be 24th birthday, we delivered several key LEGO Duplo and LEGO Classic sets to the Campus House Kids leader, Tiernan McDivitt and Pastor Erin Good. We pray that continuing to honor Ethan’s legacy will impact the kingdom of God as more children hear the message of Jesus Christ.

We look forward to seeing how the staff and volunteers at Campus House put to use these LEGO sets in the Kids ministry to share the love of Jesus Christ right in the heart of Purdue University’s campus! Do you have a passion to share the love of God? We encourage you to grab a LEGO set and create space to share LEGO activities and tell the Big God Story with children in your life! Come back and tell us how you share in the comments below.

Always Remember, Everyday Life, Purdue Life

Splatoon @ Purdue: 2024 Spring Intercollegiate Invitational

03/24/2024 Nicole Wang Leave a comment

Spring Intercollegiate Invitational
Splatoon @ Purdue

March 23rd, 2024

Hosted at the Boiler Game Mine in the Purdue Memorial Union (West Lafayette, IN)

We were very glad to continue to support the Splatoon @ Purdue gaming community throughout 2024 as well as their seasonal Spring event. It has been great to see the efforts of Zach, Brady, and Natalie’s leadership in these last two years. The growth the club has experienced is evidence of their hard work. All three of them are graduating this spring which makes this ’24 Spring Intercollegiate Invitational extra special. Zach provided a really awesome user experience and some pics after the event. As always, Jolteon is right there in the mix as a reminder of Ethan’s (Jolteon79) role in organizing the first Collegiate Invitational back in 2022 as well as his encouragement and leadership within the club during his lifetime at Purdue.

This year, we saw 4 teams join in the battles: Purdue University (West Lafayette), Michigan State, Ohio State, and Middle Tennessee University. Prizes for the event were sponsored by MSi, the world leading gaming brand. Winning team members from Michigan State claimed their title for a second year and were awarded an awesome prize vault from MSi. Check out the replay on the Clubs YouTube site!

We were honored to continue to support the Splatoon @ Purdue communities gaming efforts this year as we remember Ethan (Jolteon79).
GG to all!

Shhhhh….We will also surprise the Club with a fun box of goodies at their last semester group meeting of the season, Spring In-House 2024!

Always Remember, Purdue Life

First Street Towers Memorial Trees

10/14/2023 Nicole Wang Leave a comment

6 Memorial Trees: Royal White Eastern Redbuds

Planted September 7, 2023
First Street Towers
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN

We traveled to Purdue this weekend to see the memorial trees we had commissioned for planting last year. The trees are finally installed at the new First Street sculpture garden outside of the center tower off of Mitch Daniels Blvd. These are under-story trees and will grow to eventually 20-25′ in height. So, they are starting out small but we know they will make a big impact to the surroundings, just as Ethan did when he lived at First Street during his undergraduate studies. This species is a less common white flowering variety which will be very exciting to see in bloom next spring!

You can see the record of the trees from the Purdue Arboretums interactive treemap website… Many thanks to Brooke Sammonds, Landscape Architect on staff with the Purdue Grounds division, whom helped with the process of choosing this site and her efforts toward making the memorial trees a reality this year!

Always Remember, Purdue Life

Campus House at Purdue University

06/25/2023 Nicole Wang Leave a comment

We feel a deep connection to the people of Campus House at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Pastors, staff, members and attenders have poured out their love on us since we stepped into the church when we were discovering Purdue for our son Ethan back in 2016. That first meeting was within the walls of their older building… a “mushroom-like” place in the heart of Purdue.

Located in the heart of Purdue’s campus, Campus House is a Jesus-centered, non-denominational church community being formed together in His ways for the sake of the campus, the city, and the world. For over 50 years, our heart has been to reach Purdue’s campus and Greater Lafayette with the love of Jesus, to encourage and equip disciples who make disciples, and to be a sending base for mission and ministry throughout the world. God has brought a unique mix of undergraduate and graduate students, young professionals, families, and retirees into our community, so whatever your life stage, you belong here. We’d love for this to be your church home on campus.
Campus House Website: Who We Are

When Ethan became a student at Purdue in the Fall of 2018, he jumped into life on campus and with the Campus House community. We are so grateful for everyone whom welcomed him and walked alongside him with the rest of the student population in the four years of his undergraduate degree. He had returned to the community of Campus House the day he passed away. It was a beautiful day, challenging each other to live for the Lord in bible study and the care of the men in his life at Joshua House.

This community has honored our son and his commitment to follow Jesus even now in these days without him. Campus House hosted a Game Night on June 7th, 2023 for our JolteOn Memorial Game Days and brought together friends to remember the joy of his life in games. They touched our hearts incredibly by dedicating Classroom 1 in honor of Ethan’s impact.

Remembering Ethan Wang
Classroom 1, Second Floor
Campus House
1000 Mitch Daniels Blvd
West Lafayette, IN

Here are the words from the Campus House pastoral staff on the plaque in honor of Ethan’s life…

“Ethan graduated from Purdue in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Materials Engineering. He loved Star Wars and video games, cheese and sushi, and was known around campus as the “roller-blading guy”, a nod to his passion for the game of hockey.

Ethan was part of a core group of students who saw us through the COVID-19 pandemic, including our year in “exile” in a temporary leased space as we tore down our previous building–remembered as “the mushroom” for its odd shape–and built this one. Ethan was a teacher and a learner, brilliant and brutally honest, an intense yet wonderfully hospitable kind of leader who loved Jesus and desperately wanted others to know the grace he had experienced. He wrote this in his notes one Sunday: “What you put at the center of your life affects what is at the center of the lives of those close to you”. For Ethan, that was undoubtedly Jesus.

He was excited about what God was doing in and through the Campus House community and, upon graduation, Ethan accepted a local job offer so that he could continue to participate in what Jesus was building here. Tragically, he died the week he was to begin this new chapter in his story. When Ethan put his faith and ultimate hope in Jesus, he was banking everything on the reality of the resurrection. The hope that he had is the hope that doesn’t disappoint, that can’t be cut short. It isn’t wishful thinking, but rather a living hope, the deep reality of life in Christ. As we gather in this space, we remember Ethan’s unshakeable hope in Christ and deep love for our community, and we honor all that God did in and through his time with us.”

We are forever grateful for Jesus’ work through Campus House.

Always Remember, JOLTeON!, Purdue Life

Game RePlay: Purdue Memorial Union Boiler Game Mine Event

06/02/2023 Nicole Wang Leave a comment

The Jolt-On! Memorial Game Days Game Pass event at the Boiler Game Mine last Tuesday, May 30th was a great success! It was our honor to have been able to share this great space with the Purdue and West Lafayette, Indiana community. In this game replay, we are sharing some of the fun that happened on Ethan’s 23rd Birthday…

Our sponsored Game Pass time at the Boiler Game Mine started at 4pm on Tuesday May 30th, 2023, in celebration of the Esports efforts at Purdue over this last academic year and Ethan Wang’s 23rd birthday.

The generous staff of the Boiler Game Mine welcomed gamers through the afternoon and evening. For those coming to the Boiler Game Mine for the first time, the staff provided one on one game challenges on the Nintendo Switch and XBox console along with giveaways of Free 1 hour gaming coupons to those who participcated. In these photos, I recognize several faces of Ethan’s friends and fellow Esports gamers whom were able to come enjoy the space. One friend from Campus House noted:

The day was full but I made it with just enough time to catch
the end and talk with a couple of friends who were there.
What a cool idea!
I remembered Ethan’s calm presence
with a joyful heart yesterday.
Thank you for the invite!

Cupcakes were provided through Baked by Brittaney, a Boilermaker owned bakery in West Lafayette, IN. Ethan’s favorite… yellow cake with chocolate frosting were enjoyed by all!

We are very grateful for the leadership of the Purdue University Recreation & Wellness staff, along with the Purdue Memorial Union and Boiler Game Mine Management whom came alongside us to make the event possible. Jason Maynard and Travis Huston were hugely present in the planning and bringing ideas for the event. They assisted us with promoting the event throughout the Purdue Memorial Union in the days and weeks during May, 2023. On the big screens in the Mine, Travis graciously gave us the ability to share some of the highlights during the last year that have brought this space into reality through the efforts of Jason Maynard (Recreation & Wellness). Jason continued the work that Ethan started alongside him on campus before his passing.

You can read more about Ethan’s capacity to bring forward the Esports program at Purdue University on our post for the event, Capacity: Esports at Purdue. There are also links to several of the current Esports Clubs through the University website if you are interested in being involved! If you missed it this year, we are looking forward to providing future Game Pass events from time to time in Ethan’s honor. In addition, we are always staying in touch with the Esports club leaders of Splatoon @ Purdue and Battle Association @ Purdue for support of their seasons efforts. Be on the look out for what comes next!

If you were able to attend the Game Pass event, head to the comments below and tell us about your time! Not on campus or able to attend? Not a problem, head back to our Game Days Schedule to see what is coming up next for the remainder of the Jolt-On! Memorial Game Days!

Always Remember, JOLTeON!, Purdue Life

Capacity: Esports at Purdue

05/30/2023 Nicole Wang Leave a comment

It has been a privilege to continue to support the Esports community that our son enjoyed during his undergraduate years (2018-2022) at Purdue University. Intensely involved as player and President for both Splatoon @ Purdue and Purdue University Battle Association (a Pokémon Draft League) during the 2021-2022 seasons, Ethan was determined to build a lasting legacy. Through his capacity to lead, collaborate with University leadership and mentor teams, Ethan brought forward improvements to better the gaming scene on campus.

ITaP (Inkling Technology at Purdue) Competitive Team – Ethan (right) “head Inkling”

During his leadership time with Splatoon @ Purdue, Ethan was purposeful to encourage student leaders and membership towards involvement in all areas of club life. The current leadership carries on that legacy as a community which encourages everyone to be involved. The Club encourages recreational through competitive play. In addition to playing the game of Splatoon 3, members are invited to take initiative toward fundraising, building membership attendance, tournament roles and overall campus community. In the video below, created by Zach Nahorski, hear from Ethan and other members on what involvement in the life of the club is all about:

Thank you to Zach Nahorski, Vice President of Splatoon @ Purdue (2022-2023), for providing this awesome video!

Purdue University: Games Make A Differenc e, a Conversation with Chris Bishop (March 2, 2022)

In the spring of 2022, excitement grew as the Club, under Ethan’s leadership as President, worked with RecWell staff to host an Intercollegiate Invitational Tournament. The tournament took place at Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN campus) vs Michigan State.

“Purdue’s match against Michigan State was the first-ever known match between official collegiate Splatoon club teams. Members of Splatoon @ Purdue hope the event and connections with other collegiate clubs will encourage more student organizations to form club teams and establish collegiate events.”
Ethan Wang, excerpt from Spring 2022 interview
with Student Life staff writer, Matt Vader

While Ethan is now no longer with us, his legacy will continue on for years to come. Jason Maynard, Sr Assistant Director of Sport Programs (RecWell) worked with Ethan to bring forward a number of institutional developments in the realm of Esports. The Boiler Game Mine, which opened November of 2022, is the completion of the vision Ethan had to provide a dedicated space for Esports teams and the gaming community on campus. We honor our sons legacy on his 23rd birthday by sponsoring this afternoons Game Pass for fellow Boilermakers and the West Lafayette community to enjoy all that Ethan envisioned it could become.

Find out more about Esports at Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN) on the Purdue University Club websites listed below:

PMU Boiler Game Mine
Info on access to the Game Mine at the Purdue Memorial Union

RecWell Intramural Esports

Splatoon @ Purdue
Join the active Discord today! https://discord.gg/uvqf62g

Battle Association of Purdue
Main Pokémon Club focusing on the Pokémon Draft League

Purdue University Rocket League

DOTA 2 Club of Purdue

Esports at Pur due
Page is under construction, we look forward to what is coming!

Always Remember, Purdue Life

May Thirteenth: A Graduation to Remember

05/13/2023 Nicole Wang Leave a comment

Look at that smile… Today marks one year since the most beautiful day… Graduation Day at Purdue University. Ethan earned his Materials Science Engineering undergraduate degree on May 13th, 2022. I recall him dancing into Elliot Hall in the processional as the graduates took their places. The Materials Engineering Class of 2022 was a small niche group seated directly in front of the massive Mechanical Engineering section.

The excitement in the auditorium rose as the divisions were announced and students began to rise and receive their degrees. I took this shot of the big screen at that very moment when Ethan received his. Just amazing!

I recall the roar of engineers as each division was called to rise and proceed to the platform. It was just incredible. After the ceremony, we found Ethan on the lawn outside of Elliot hall near the Engineering fountain. We stood taking pictures and marveling at the beauty of the day. Then we walked down the mall one last time to Armstrong Hall to join his fellow Materials Engineering professors and graduates in further celebration of their accomplishment.

We were treated to all the energy of a Big Ten University as they celebrated the largest School of Engineering undergraduate class in history that Spring… the amazing voices of the Purdue Men’s Glee Choir and Orchestra. President Daniels keynote speech to the graduates expressed to each and every one of them the idea that they are not one dimensional. Rather, they would make their mark and continue growing and learning. He proudly stated they were “about to add another facet to their diamond that is you as you receive your degree.”

It feels sadly surreal now, one year later. At times, I find myself unable to contain the overwhelming desire I have to see Ethan carrying out his purpose in the world of materials. I am still just as proud of him as I was on graduation day… only now I await the time when heaven is brought here on this earth, resurrection day and the ceremony God has planned for the new life that is waiting. We are promised that God will redeem it. I know I will get to see Ethan use those amazing gifts… Until I see you rise… waiting for that day.

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first..”
1 Thessalonians 4:16