Area Students Attend Lugar Symposium at UIndy

Annual event features discussions on public issues and world events

Jan. 30, 2026 at 6:55am

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A group of 175 students from 60 high schools across Indiana, including 26 from area counties, will be participating in the 49th annual Richard G. Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow's Leaders at the University of Indianapolis on Saturday. The event will feature discussions on topics like Indiana politics, disability history, and refugee integration, with keynote speaker Steve Inskeep of NPR.

Why it matters

The Lugar Symposium is a longstanding program that aims to engage and educate the next generation of Indiana leaders on important public policy issues. By attending, the students can network, gain valuable insights, and even apply for a $5,000 scholarship.

The details

The 49th annual Richard G. Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow's Leaders will take place at the University of Indianapolis on Saturday. A total of 175 students from 60 high schools across Indiana will be participating, including 26 students from area counties such as Columbus, Brown, Seymour, Shelby, and Johnson. The event will feature breakout sessions on topics like the state of Indiana politics in 2026, the history of disability and welfare, the evolution of national power politics, and refugee integration in Indianapolis. The keynote speaker will be Steve Inskeep, host of NPR's Morning Edition.

  • The Lugar Symposium will take place on Saturday, January 30, 2026.

The players

Richard G. Lugar

A long-serving Indiana Senator and former mayor of Indianapolis, Lugar was also a distinguished trustee and political science professor at the University of Indianapolis.

Steve Inskeep

The keynote speaker for the Lugar Symposium, Inskeep is the host of NPR's Morning Edition program and an author.

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The takeaway

The Lugar Symposium provides an important opportunity for Indiana high school students to engage with critical public policy issues and develop the leadership skills needed to shape the future of their state and country.