Feature Article...

Senator Lugar Hosts 31st Annual Symposium for High School Students
UIndy Announces Permanent Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders

More than 400 high school juniors and 97 accompanying adults attended the 31st Annual Richard G. Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow's Leaders held December 8 on the campus of the University of Indianapolis.  Two juniors from every high school in Indiana were nominated to attend.

UIndy President Beverly Pitts also announced formation of a center dedicated to inspiring and developing new generations of leaders for Indiana and a permanent home for the annual symposium.
 
The Richard G. Lugar Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders will provide extended experiences for high school and college students that expose them to leadership opportunities, the value of leadership in service to others, issues of ethics and integrity in leadership and the qualities of strong leaders. Building on the university’s core values, the center will reinforce the value of a liberal arts education in preparing young people to be tomorrow’s leaders.

“We started the Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow’s Leaders during my first year in the Senate, and the University of Indianapolis has been an extraordinary partner for the past 31 years.  More than 15,000 young Hoosiers have come to this campus for the Symposium to debate, learn and expand their thoughts and horizons about how to lead Indiana’s future,” said Senator Lugar.  “I am deeply honored by the permanent establishment of the Richard G. Lugar Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders and excited about the possibilities for public service and leadership in our state that will be inspired in new generations of Hoosiers.” 

Senator Lugar opened the day-long program with an address to the students on national and world affairs.  He discussed Iraq, energy prices and the need for developing more sustainable energy and detailed the current state of U.S. relations with the international community.  Senator Lugar then fielded a variety of questions from the student participants.

In smaller discussion groups led by state and national advocates, student exchanged ideas and debated opposing views on ten topic areas.  Some of this year’s Symposium topics included: U.S. leadership in the world, energy security, Iraq, and media responsibility.

Parents and teachers were also engaged throughout the day in seminars.  Topics included learning about youth exchange programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and opportunities to expand Indiana’s manufacturing base.