Rock Creek Student to Attend Lugar Symposium
EMPOWERING TOMORROW'S LEADERS: A DAY OF DISCUSSION & INSIGHT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
INDIANAPOLIS - Yesterday marked the 47th annual Richard G. Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow's Leaders, held at the University of Indianapolis. This event brought together nearly 200 high school juniors from Indiana to engage in a day of discussions on public issues and world events. Among the participants was Liam Paro, a junior from Rock Creek Community Academy.
Liam, the son of BJ and Alyssa Paro, had the opportunity to attend the symposium, joining students from more than 70 Hoosier high schools. The event not only provided a platform for meaningful discussions but also offered the chance for each student to be considered for the prestigious $18,500 per year Lugar Symposium Scholarship. Over the last four decades, more than 20,000 students have benefited from the symposium, contributing to the enduring legacy of former Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar.
The keynote speaker for the occasion was Steve Inskeep, a journalist, author, and host of National Public Radio's Morning Edition, hailing originally from Carme near Indianapolis. Students at the symposium had the privilege of selecting from a variety of breakout sessions, delving into current issues such as the Israel-Palestine Conflict, refugee integration in Indianapolis, and the evolving landscape for women in elected office in the United States.
Administrators at high schools across Indiana were invited to nominate outstanding juniors, Like Liam, to participate in discussions on current events and issues at the Symposium. The University of Indianapolis, established in 1902, hosted this event, underscoring its position as a private, liberal arts university with a prominent ranking among the top Midwest Universities according to the U.S. News and World Report. With a diverse enrollment exceeding 5,000 undergraduates, graduate students, and continuing education participants, Ulndy played a vital role in facilitating the symposium.
The late Sen. Richard G. Lugar, a distinguished trustee and former professor of political science, received an honorary degree from the University of Indianapolis, among the 46 colleges and universities that bestowed this honor upon him during his Lifetime. As a fifthgeneration Hoosier and the longest-serving member of Congress in Indiana history, Lugar's legacy lives on through the symposium that bears his name, launched in 1977 to provide students with an opportunity to discuss topics of local and global importance. During his tenure in the Senate, Lugar was widely recognized as a foreign policy expert.
