{"id":3522,"date":"2026-07-31T19:50:40","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T19:50:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/?p=3522"},"modified":"2026-07-31T19:50:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T19:50:41","slug":"indy-amplified-helps-purdue-students-find-their-place-in-indianapolis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/indy-amplified-helps-purdue-students-find-their-place-in-indianapolis\/","title":{"rendered":"Indy Amplified helps Purdue students find their place in Indianapolis"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

In its second year, Purdue\u2019s Indy Amplified program increased by almost 40%. Serving more than 50 students based in Indianapolis and West Lafayette this summer, it connected interns with employers, alumni and community leaders and created stronger ties to Indianapolis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through several weeks over the summer in downtown Indianapolis, Indy Amplified participants develop career readiness skills and gain firsthand exposure to the leaders and organizations shaping the city. The program is designed to support students who are engaging in a summer internship, research or a Purdue-affiliated program in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program\u2019s growth reflects increasing student interest in creating meaningful connections, both inside and outside the workplace. Through separate community and technology tracks, students experience Indianapolis by learning about industries, neighborhoods, professional development and civic life while building relationships with peers and local professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c<\/span>We ask students what companies they want to hear from and are intentional about bringing Purdue alumni who are in the students\u2019 interest areas to events,\u201d<\/span> said Katie Nelson, senior manager of career services in Indianapolis. \u201c<\/span>It\u2019s a chance to bring together all these Purdue students who are in Indianapolis over the summer to get to know each other and introduce them to this amazing city.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Networking with alumni and employers is a significant part of the program. \u201c<\/span>Students appreciate the opportunity to connect with industry professionals in a smaller space,\u201d<\/span> Nelson said. \u201c<\/span>It helps them understand Indianapolis and how people are building their careers here.\u201d<\/span>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The area has a strong alumni presence to draw from. More than 91,000 Purdue alumni reside across Marion County, which includes Indianapolis, and neighboring Hamilton County, according to the Purdue for Life Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That emphasis on connection was on display last month, when students participated in programming held simultaneously at two Indianapolis locations. Students in the technology track gathered at The AMP at 16 Tech, where they explored the local technology ecosystem and participated in innovation challenges designed to strengthen creativity, problem-solving and an entrepreneurial mindset. At the same time, students in the community track met at the Indianapolis Arts Center for a professional development session focused on navigating workplace challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Taemoor Hasan \u2014 a rising senior studying computer science in Indianapolis who secured an internship with Aslan Advisors, a local startup affiliated with the Interns for Indiana program \u2014 Indy Amplified provided a chance to expand both his professional network and his understanding of the city\u2019s growing technology community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c<\/span>I learned to network and talk to people for the conversations, not just for connections,\u201d<\/span> Hasan said. \u201c<\/span>Indy Amplified also showed me how interesting Indianapolis is \u2014 my favorite sessions were at Skyline Club and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway \u2014 and how much potential the city has.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After hearing about Indy Amplified from a friend who participated last year, Linda Azucena Ontiveros, a rising senior studying marketing in West Lafayette, was excited to sign up for this year\u2019s program. She said that being part of Indy Amplified while interning as a brand marketer at Elanco, one of the largest independent animal health companies in the world, enhanced the value of both experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c<\/span>The program has had a great impact on the way I approach my everyday life and internship,\u201d<\/span> Ontiveros said. \u201c<\/span>A major theme was listening to other people\u2019s perspectives and not to put your own in right away. Especially at work, I\u2019m able to ask better questions when I\u2019m fully focused on what others are saying.\u201d<\/span>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indy Amplified 2026 wrapped up July 16 with a closing celebration, but organizers will continue to strengthen students\u2019 connections to employers and the broader Indianapolis community throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c<\/span>The Indy Amplified program has created a foundation of programming and community for all Purdue students to gather, grow and engage in Indianapolis,\u201d<\/span> said Patrick Francis, director of career relations for Indianapolis. \u201c<\/span>The program has made a tremendous impact this summer, and we look forward to expanding even more opportunities to bridge the One Purdue mission here in Indianapolis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a framework that is proving itself for building professional confidence, expanding networks and helping students envision a future in central Indiana long after their college tenures conclude. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more: https:\/\/exed.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/indy-amplified.php<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In its second year, Purdue\u2019s Indy Amplified program increased by almost 40%. Serving more than 50 students based in Indianapolis and West Lafayette this summer, it connected interns with employers, alumni and community leaders and created stronger ties to Indianapolis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":3523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[25],"class_list":["post-3522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"authors":[{"term_id":25,"user_id":30,"is_guest":0,"slug":"purdue-university-news","display_name":"Purdue University News","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e6259b36db7ecad92b7b63bc4ac0a79923ac4be74174d4ab7e26981a3e1ddba6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_category":"","first_name":"","last_name":"","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3522"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3522\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3524,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3522\/revisions\/3524"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3522"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=3522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}