About Beta Chapter
Our History
In the spring of 1904, a spark ignited at the University of Illinois, where Maurice L. Carr founded Eta Kappa Nu, establishing the inaugural Alpha Chapter. From this single point, HKN has grown into a powerful network of over 200 active collegiate chapters and a dozen alumni communities, fostering excellence across the landscape of electrical and computer engineering.
Just two years later, in 1906, Purdue University became home to the second HKN chapter – our very own Beta Chapter. However, this promising beginning faced an unexpected hurdle: a university-wide prohibition on fraternal organizations. Demonstrating unwavering commitment to its members, the national HKN responded by temporarily withdrawing the Beta charter, assuring its Purdue members that they would remain part of the HKN family through the "chapter at large," known as Eta Chapter.
By 1913, the value and impact of an HKN presence became clear, leading the Purdue Electrical Engineering administration to request a formal charter. Thus, Beta Chapter was joyfully reinstated, marking a significant moment in our history.
Today, Beta Chapter thrives with around 200 members, over 60 of whom are actively shaping our initiatives. We proudly operate the HKN Lounge in BHEE 138, offering affordable coffee, snacks, and a central hub for our community. Beyond the lounge, we actively collaborate with other Purdue organizations and the broader ECE community to host engaging social events, impactful volunteering activities, and valuable career preparation opportunities.
Our Mission
HKN Beta Chapter is dedicated to fostering excellence in electrical and computer engineering through academic achievement, professional development, and service to the Purdue community. We strive to create an inclusive environment where members can grow, learn, and make lasting contributions to the field of engineering.
Committee Members
Elijah Jorgensen
President
Jack supervises all affairs for the chapter and runs meetings. He is also responsible for representing the organization both within and outside of Purdue.
Max Michalec
Vice President
Max oversees several committees and plans the semesterly banquet
Shantanu Sinha
Treasurer
Shantanu manages all of the money for HKN and ensures that the various committees stay withing their budgets.
Parth Hasabnis
Recording Secretary
Parth is responsible for keeping record of all occurrences during meetings, maintaining a list of active members, and maintaining HKN's historical documents.
Spencer Bowles
Events Director
Spencer works with the events committee to plan fun events throughout the semester.
John Ramthun
Facilities Director
Henry is responsible for maintaining the lounge, the lab, and the chapter website.
Abhiram Saridena
Operations Director
Abhiram manages the HKN Lounge, which includes restocking items, ordering drinks and coffee, and filling the POD schedule.
Maximilian Drach
Public Relations Director
Maximilian is responsible for interfacing with external companies, running company tech talks and visits, and managing HKN's responsibilities with HKN Nationals.
Anya Emerson
Recruitment Director
Anya is responsible for coordinating the membership candidate process. She works with the potential new members to ensure they fulfill all membership requirements and integrate into the HKN community.
Alexander Beuerle
Volunteer Director
Alex coordinates all of the volunteering events for the chapter.
Thomas Munson
Lab Director
Thomas is responsible for managing HKN's lab as well as chairing the lab committee.