Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest hosts inaugural SPARK Summit

The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest welcomed approximately 150 high school students from six Northwest Indiana high schools to the inaugural SPARK Summit in early May at Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) Westville campus.

Designed to inspire creativity, innovation, leadership and entrepreneurial thinking, the one-day experience brought together students for keynote presentations, interactive workshops and conversations focused on problem-solving, confidence, collaboration and future-ready skills.

Students heard from nationally recognized speakers and facilitators, including INDYCAR driver and innovation speaker Charlie Kimball, branding strategist and motivational speaker Olivia West, and organizational leadership scholar and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator Matt Jones. Sessions focused on overcoming obstacles, building personal brands, creative collaboration and developing an innovation mindset.

“The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest is uniquely positioned to offer regional programs that build an innovation mindset in young people,” said Gary Johnson, chairman of the Society’s Board of Directors. “Even if students do not start businesses, the problem-solving and creative-thinking skills they gain benefit every career path. Northwest Indiana is full of talented young people with the potential to become tomorrow’s innovators. Events like the SPARK Summit help nurture that potential and strengthen the region’s future workforce and community leadership.”

Educators who attended the event praised the programming and student engagement throughout the day.

“I think it was a good experience for my students, and I think the speakers were all very engaging,” Chesterton High School teacher Isaac Torres shared after the event. “My students definitely enjoyed the hands-on, interactive day.”

Students and teachers particularly connected with La Porte native Olivia West’s presentation on personal branding and confidence. One educator said students were inspired by “her belief in herself no matter what and her constant drive to work toward her goals.” Charlie Kimball’s keynote also left a lasting impact, especially his message about resilience and perseverance while competing professionally with Type 1 diabetes. One teacher shared that the presentation was especially meaningful for a student recently diagnosed with diabetes.

The summit concluded with a hands-on collaborative workshop led by Matt Jones, where students explored teamwork, communication and creative problem-solving through interactive activities using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®.

The inaugural SPARK Summit is part of the Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest’s broader SPARKed initiative, which focuses on strengthening youth entrepreneurship, innovation education and talent development across Northwest Indiana.

To learn more information, visit pnw.edu/soi.

The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest

The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest contributes to economic and community development as the champion of innovation and entrepreneurship in Northwest Indiana. For more information about the Society of Innovators, visit www.pnw.edu/soi.

Purdue University Northwest

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a student-centered university that transforms lives through innovative education, impactful research and community engagement. Located in Northwest Indiana, near Chicago, PNW is a First Gen Forward Network Leader and an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. PNW advances the socioeconomic mobility of its students and positively impacts regional development. For more information, visit www.pnw.edu.