Signing Day Celebration highlights student momentum in Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS — The 2026 Signing Day Celebration captured the growing momentum across Purdue’s programs in Indianapolis, recognizing undergraduate and graduate students who have secured next-step opportunities through internships, co-ops, research roles, full-time positions and graduate school enrollment. The event, held April 24 in the Career + Experience Collaboration Hub, celebrated student success across disciplines, highlighting the many pathways from classroom learning to career impact.
Hosted by the Indianapolis Career Council, the celebration underscored the strength of industry connections and intentional career preparation. First-year through graduate students who had found opportunities through career fairs and employer days on campus, independent exploration, and sustained engagement with industry partners, marked the occasion with photos.
Calling her time in Indianapolis a continuous growth experience that Signing Day highlights, Stephanie Morin, a sophomore studying biomedical engineering, credits her work as committee head on the Purdue Engineering Student Council as a starting point to other opportunities, including her upcoming internship.
“Along the way, I’ve onboarded and led a team, hosted events, and partnered with the Indianapolis Career Council,” Morin said. “I’m especially excited to carry that experience into an opportunity this summer, working at a local Indiana startup, Thrive Orthopedics. Signing Day brought it all together as I celebrate this next step to grow and make an impact.”
Local startups Glassboard and Thrive Orthopedics welcomed multiple students through the Interns for Indiana program. Students also secured placements with a wide range of industry partners, including Allison Transmission, Caterpillar, GE Appliances, Dormakaba, Eli Lilly and Company, Hendrick Motorsports, StarPlus Energy, Cummins, Milwaukee Tool, Qnity, AstraZeneca, Gaylor Electric, Tesla, Ford, and Toyota Automated Logistics.
“This event shows what’s possible, inspires others to take their next step and builds a culture where success is seen, celebrated and multiplied,” said Patrick Francis, director of career relations for Indianapolis. “It’s especially rewarding to see first-year students find opportunities at career fairs and graduating students begin their careers right here in Indianapolis.”
While Signing Day offers a visible moment of recognition, it’s a snapshot of a much larger story. Across the Indianapolis Career Council, coordinated programming and industry engagement generated more than 5,000 student interactions this year through events, programs and seminars.