The Lugar Symposium
A Symposium for Tomorrow’s Leaders49th Annual Lugar Symposium
Saturday, January 31, 2026
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Schwitzer Student Center
University of Indianapolis
RSVP Information:
High School students, please check with your guidance counselor for more information.
The Richard G. Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow’s Leaders at the University of Indianapolis is hosted each year to celebrate the legacy of the late Senator Lugar.
The symposium is designed to expose some of the best and brightest young minds in Indiana to current global issues and is part of the expansive legacy former Indiana Senator Richard G. Lugar created in his lifetime. His dedication to public service was evident in his insistence on being present for the symposium, considering his keynote address his most important speech of the year. Throughout its history, more than 15,000 students have benefited from the symposium.
The symposium is designed to expose Indiana students, our future leaders, to global issues and help them to gain an appreciation for their complexities. Students will select from a variety of breakout sessions on current topical issues and benefit from the knowledge of experts in fields such as political science, public policy, medicine and law while they explore these topics. In keeping with Senator Lugar’s legacy of evaluating issues based on merit, the Symposium ensures students are presented with a balanced view of the issues, rather than a partisan viewpoint.
Adults who accompany their students are also invited to attend the keynote address, but will follow a different schedule during the breakout sessions.
Scholarships
Juniors who are nominated by their high school and who attend the Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow's Leaders can apply for a scholarship that will recognize their outstanding accomplishments as a high school student.