News – Trailblazer Fund fuels student organization innovation in Indianapolis

The new Student Trailblazer Fund has awarded grants totaling more than $70,000 to 21 registered student organizations (RSOs) in Indianapolis in its first funding cycle.

“It was so amazing to see over 65 groups form during our first academic year in Indianapolis,” said Sara Dickey, associate dean of students for Indianapolis. “This fund will help to keep the energy and momentum that students need as they help us build a vibrant experience in Indy.”

For Purdue students in Indianapolis, the fund offers significant additional financial support to launch and sustain clubs and organizations, providing up to $5,000 for capital equipment and up to $2,000 for program operations and supplies. The initiative — announced this fall by David Umulis, Purdue’s senior vice provost for Indianapolis — aims to support interests and activities that come from the students themselves, accelerating both the overall number of RSOs and their depth of programming. The fund will further strengthen connections to linked organizations in West Lafayette, encouraging new paths for shared activities.

The Computer Science Club in Indianapolis will receive two of the inaugural Trailblazer Fund grants. The 100-member group plans to purchase media recording equipment and T-shirts and hoodies, as well as support seven events this spring, including a hackathon and a combined aerospace and computer science workshop, said Emily Zheng, a sophomore computer science major and the club’s treasurer.

The cyclical funding source is already encouraging RSOs in Indianapolis to plan events with greater possibility and reach.

“We have the freedom to maximize our creativity and resources in our events,” said Abha Gupta, a sophomore computer science major and co-president of the Computer Science Club. “This [fund] has not only provided more resources for students to explore different passions outside of their major, but it is also boosting campus morale. It is up to the students to trailblaze the energy and opportunities for the future cohorts.”

Purdue’s 70-plus student organizations in Indianapolis, along with those in the planning stages, play a vital role in helping students develop a sense of belonging on campus.

“Student organizations and clubs are where students connect,” Dickey said. “Their meetings, events and activities are an important part of a vibrant campus community.”

The groups who applied for the first cycle of funding were notified the week of Nov. 10 with the amount of funding for their organization or an invitation to reapply. The deadlines for the next three cycles are Feb. 1, March 30 and Aug. 1.

Students may access the Trailblazer Fund application and full guidelines and restrictions through their RSO page in BoilerLink. For additional funding opportunities, students are encouraged to reach out to StudentLifeIndy@purdue.edu.