WE ARE FAMILY
// By Calandra Weaver
Rachael Stainko (S’12) and her husband, Andrew (T’09), share a life that looks like a bucket list for Purdue couples.
The Stainkos connected on Facebook over their love for Purdue. They got engaged under the iconic Bell Tower. They can often be found cheering in the stands at Ross-Ade Stadium with their two children, ages 4 and 5. Their son snuggles a Purdue football in bed every night, and their daughter even had a Purdue Pete–themed birthday party—complete with an appearance by Purdue Pete himself!
Even more than their obvious Purdue pride, what makes the Stainkos true Boilermakers is their shared drive to foster growth at the university and in their community.
“If it weren’t for Purdue, we wouldn’t be where we are now,” Rachael says. “We want to be able to give back to the university that opened so many doors for us.”
Rachael’s dad lost his job during her sophomore year of college. If it weren’t for her scholarship through the university’s twirling program, she would not have been able to continue her education at Purdue. That’s why she and Andrew started the Miss Boilerette Twirling Scholarship.
During college, Andrew started his construction business, ACPP Construction Services, which paid for his education. As a Purdue Athletics fan, he decided to give back by establishing the Stainko Family Scholarship Endowment to support student-athletes.
“We both worked hard through our ups and downs,” Andrew says. “Now, we want to give students the same opportunities we had.”
As Andrew has found continued success in construction, Rachael has also thrived. Earlier this year, she was named both Mrs. Indiana and Mother of the Year for Indiana.
In 2010, Rachael was named Miss Purdue University, a pageant that was once a preliminary to the Miss Indiana pageant. After getting married and becoming a mother, she figured her pageantry days were behind her—but life had other plans.
Soon after Rachael and Andrew started their family, a friend approached Rachael about Mrs. America, which is part of the Miss America Organization. Rachael was devoted to being a mother to her young children, but she was inspired by how Mrs. America encouraged women to pursue their goals with their families by their side. Rachael decided to compete for Mrs. Indiana, a preliminary event for the Mrs. America competition, in 2023 and 2024. She was crowned Mrs. Indiana this past April.
The Mrs. America motto is “We are family,” something that resonates with Rachael as a mother of two young children.
“As Mrs. Indiana, I’ve been able to travel, but I get to do it with my family alongside me,” she says. “My kids are learning how to serve and be engaged in the community, but they are also seeing me work hard and do something for myself. They see me practicing for Mrs. America and studying. I share this experience with them because if they don’t see me do these things, how are they going to learn themselves?”
The Stainkos live in Lafayette, Indiana—not far from their beloved campus—and Rachael is an active member of the community. She volunteers for Dress for Success, the Greater Lafayette chapter of the Purdue Women’s Network, and her local church. She also assists Andrew in his role as president of the Purdue Alumni Club of Tippecanoe County.
Rachael worked in the oncology field for many years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Even as a little girl, she dreamed of being a mother—she assumed the role of the bossy mom whenever she played with her older brother. But Rachael’s road to motherhood wasn’t always guaranteed.
“When Andrew and I met, I had a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome, and I had multiple surgeries to remove ovarian cysts,” Rachael says. “We weren’t sure if we could have children or not, but we were blessed enough to have two babies.”
Rachael believes in leading her children by example. For instance, she and Andrew make a point of apologizing in front of their children to show them how important it is to take accountability for mistakes. They also give their children small responsibilities to build their decision-making skills and use a STEAM learning curriculum to foster independent play.
Since becoming a parent, Rachael has drawn inspiration from her own mother, who was also a stay-at-home mom. She has fond memories of going on nature walks with her mom and has continued this tradition with her own children. On their walks, Rachael and her children collect interesting things they find and take them home for crafts.
“Rachael amazes me every day by teaching our children new skills,” Andrew says. “Raising our children comes so naturally to her. If it wasn’t for her dedication, we wouldn’t be the family we are today.”
Rachael is also dedicated to supporting other mothers. She is the founder of Strong as a Mother, a social media initiative that supports maternal health and builds community.
When Rachael became a mother, she spent hours scouring Instagram for parenting advice—without much success. So, she decided to create Strong as a Mother as a one-stop shop for parenting resources across all developmental ages. Twice a month, Rachael hosts #MotherhoodMonday, an Instagram Live series during which she interviews parents and provides resources to support women and their families.
This commitment to empowering families paid off in May, when Rachael—having already been crowned Mrs. Indiana—was named the 2024 Mother of the Year for Indiana by American Mothers. Each year, the organization honors an inspirational mother from every state.
“Honestly, I don’t feel like mother of the year,” Rachael says. “This award doesn’t mean that I’m the best or that I have it all together. It means I’m blessed and fortunate to have a village of supporters and the opportunity to share my story with other women, whether they are moms or they are wanting to be mothers someday. My goal is to share that with others.”
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