Sydney Hefty 

Lifelong Boilermaker finds her passion for mentoring and studying abroad

Name: Sydney Hefty

Hometown: Auburn, IN

Major: Agribusiness

Why did you come to Purdue: I am a third-generation Boilermaker; did I really have a choice? But in all seriousness, I was and still am so excited to have the honor of being a Purdue Student. I loved the community atmosphere!

Favorite Purdue tradition: My favorite Purdue tradition is going on a Fountain Run! No better way to cool off on a hot day.

Top three influences at Purdue:

  1. My advisor and mentor, LeeAnn Williams
  2. My soon-to-be four years living in Twin Pines Cooperative
  3. My time as a member of Boiler Catholics

Sydney at Twin Pines

Top five memories of your time at Purdue:

  1. Watching the 2024 March Madness games with my friends
  2. Putting on the largest Ag Week so far on Purdue's Campus
  3. Being an AGEC 331 TA for Dr. Downey
  4. Serving as president of the Purdue Cooperative Council
  5. Spending time with my friends and family at Harry's Chocolate Shop

Places you have been as a Purdue student:

  • Italy (A Taste of Italy Study Abroad)
  • Moline, IL (John Deere Corporate Marketing Intern)
  • Ireland (Agriculture in Ireland Study Abroad)
  • France (A Taste of France Study Abroad)
  • Houston, TX ( Caterpillar Oil and Gas Sales Intern)
  • Cincinnati, OH (Hormel Foods Retail Sales Intern)

Sydney in France Hefty at Jiffy internship

Favorite club/organization: Purdue Cooperative Council

Favorite student-led event/initiative: Ag Week

Favorite Purdue event: Sitting in the Paint Crew during games in Mackey Arena

Favorite social activity: Going on walks around Celery Bog with friends after a long day of classes and club meetings

Favorite place to study: Lawson Computer Science Building

Sydney with Twin Pines sisters

Favorite place on campus: The Twin Pines Cooperative side yard

Favorite thing about CoA: I love how the College of Ag is a tight-knit community.

Favorite thing about your major: I like how an Agribusiness major is extremely versatile and can apply to many career types.

Favorite class: AGEC 331 Principles Of Selling In Agricultural Business

Favorite professor: Dr. Scott Downey

Sydney at her John Deere internship

Coolest project: Participating in and later assisting in organizing Ready Set Sell night for AGEC 331

Three biggest accomplishments:

  1. Starting a new scholarship for high school seniors during my time as president of PCC.
  2. Being named Oustanding Freshman in the College of Ag and the AGEC Department.
  3. Receiving the Pfendler Memorial Ag Scholarship my Senior year.

Things on your resume not listed above: I am an avid crafter, and I am currently doing custom hand embroidery. I have also owned my own business during high school, raising and selling Boer goats.

Career Goal: I would like to work in sales and eventually sales management.

Sydney with ag week team and Dr. Akridge

Advice for underclassmen: Your time at Purdue will fly by whether you want it to or not. Make the most of every day. Our time at Pudue is a gift to be cherished and a gift we will look back on fondly.

Biggest takeaway from Purdue: We have all of the tools to create our own paths and be successful. We just need to put in the hard work and time to make it happen.