When Lucy Price became a Boilermaker, she followed in the footsteps of her paternal grandmother, Jane Price (LA’63)—a proud alumna whose father, Frederick L. Hovde (HDR E’75), served as Purdue’s seventh president from 1946 to 1971.

“Dad would be tickled pink Lucy chose to attend Purdue,” Jane says. “He took great pride in what he called his university. Purdue was the focal point of his life, and he celebrated each faculty and student achievement.”

An aspiring kindergarten teacher in her junior year at Purdue, Lucy studies early childhood education and exceptional needs.

“My grandmother was excited to see me embrace the family legacy my great-grandfather started at the university,” Lucy says. “I’m proud to share his commitment to education, and I hope to honor him by making a positive impact on my future students.”

Purdue’s longest-serving president, Hovde juggled the demands of leading a university with creating an exceptional homelife for his wife, Priscilla, and their three children: F. Boyd, Jane, and Linda (LA’66, MS E’84).

From quizzing the family in spelling to helping them with homework, Hovde enjoyed being a hands-on father.

“I remember one time having a math problem neither Dad nor I could solve,” Jane says. “So, the next morning, he took it to the engineering dean on campus.” 

During Hovde’s tenure in office, the family lived in a university-owned house on South Seventh Street in Lafayette. “Dad chose for us to live away from campus so we could be normal neighborhood kids,” Jane says. “It was a wonderful place to grow up. Our house was large, and I remember my parents entertaining faculty chairs while we watched from upstairs, peering through the banister.”

Some distinguished guests included future U.S. President John F. Kennedy, astronaut Neil Armstrong (AE’55, HDR E’70), and film animator Walt Disney.

“Those were memorable experiences,” Jane says. “Someone who particularly fascinated me was Clarence Nash, the man who voiced Donald Duck and would talk to us in character.”

After graduating high school, Jane began her college studies at DePauw University in Greencastle, an hour from Lafayette.

She married her late husband, David (M’62), at the end of her sophomore year before transferring to Purdue. She studied American civilization in history, and he majored in industrial management. The couple had two children, Jim and Becky (LA’86), and Jane eventually worked in real estate.

“I’m sure many students didn’t know I was President Hovde’s daughter when I was a student because I was married when I arrived and had a different last name,” Jane says. “Coming to Purdue halfway through my college studies, I missed out on some of the wonderful experiences and interactions Lucy has enjoyed, but I did develop lifelong friendships through my activities and classes.”  

Lucy’s experience has been equally rewarding.

“I love Purdue’s strong sense of community and the abundant opportunities to get involved,” she says. “Campus is always buzzing with activity, and there’s something for everyone to do.”

Lucy particularly enjoys watching Purdue men’s basketball games in Mackey Arena, amid the incomparable energy of Boilermaker fans. She also stays connected with her grandmother, who resides north of Indianapolis in Carmel and loves the occasional trip to West Lafayette.

“Grandmother visits me on campus a few times a year,” Lucys says. “We love seeing shows in Elliott of Hall of Music, and we share a love for Purdue sports. We find it interesting how some university traditions have continued—like the Purdue Christmas Show—and newer ones have developed. While campus has evolved over the years, the core spirit and sense of community remain the same.”

Purdue has also strengthened Lucy’s passion to work with young children, supporting their development.

“The hands-on classroom experiences the university provides have been so important in my journey toward becoming an educator,” she says. “Purdue is more than just a university to me; it’s one of my favorite places on Earth.”