Success Stories

The Grit and Resilience of a Tennis Prodigy

From his early days on the tennis court to becoming a Division I athlete and aspiring leader in the sports industry, Eli Mercer’s journey is a story of passion, resilience, and ambition. Discover how he balances the intensity of collegiate tennis with academic excellence at IU Indianapolis while gaining invaluable experience in the professional tennis world.

Shaping the Future of News at WISH-TV

At just 19, Madison Hurst is already living her dream as an Associate Producer at WISH-TV. Balancing her role in the fast-paced newsroom with her studies in journalism, she’s proving that passion and persistence can lead to extraordinary achievements. Discover how Madison turned her love for storytelling into a promising career, inspiring others along the way.

From Neuroscience Passion to Professional Excellence at Columbia University

Explore Rachel Schweiger's remarkable journey from a young science enthusiast in Indiana to a dedicated neuroscience researcher at the Ivy League Columbia University in New York, and how her passion for understanding the brain led her to prestigious internships, leadership roles, and cutting-edge research opportunities.

A Journey of Passion and Leadership at IU Indianapolis

Discover how graduate student Noah Hamilton found his passion for bioinformatics and made significant contributions to the campus community through his leadership and involvement.

Engaging in justice through Mock Trial

Bepko Scholar Bridget Janney’s path has been shaped by a relentless drive to pursue her dreams in the legal field. Read more from the Institute for Engaged Learning.

Making a global impact by combating resource scarcity

Pineda is an international student from Honduras with a passion for applied statistics as well as global and international studies. Her passion has led her to found a nonprofit based in Honduras.

Shergill’s Path to Medical School

First-generation college student Simran Shergill navigates the pre-med path.

UPES-IUPUI SDG Study Abroad Experience

Honors students virtually traveled to India to collaborate on projects surrounding SDG goals.

Fostering Connections For Latinos

Gisela Perez

By combining her passions for nonprofit work and medicine, Perez has improved the lives of Latinos in Indiana. Now, she seeks to make a global impact.

Faith Odiete and her father’s legacy

Faith Odiete

Faith Odiete is dedicated to serving her community and has a keen interest in law enforcement. Through her participation in the IUPUI Honors College, she’s been able to successfully do both.  

Making a global impact

Kelechi Echeumuna

From the research lab to service-learning in Costa Rica, Kelechi Echeumuna is improving the lives of people around the world.

English degree presents opportunities

Eden Rea-Hedrick

Eden Rea-Hedrick's experiences at IUPUI set her on track to be a part of the
inaugural cohort of Yale's Ph.D. program in English and women's, gender, and
sexuality studies.

Informatics grad earns dream gig at Rockstar Games

Silvia Lawson-Vilches

For Silvia Lawson-Vilches, iconic digital worlds are no longer solely
reachable through a controller and screen - she's creating them.

Combating disparities

NIRUPAMA DEVANATHAN

Focusing on combining her passions for science and humanities to address disparities in medicine, this double major gained a variety of experience through research, clinical, and leadership opportunities both on- and off-campus.

Aiming for the stars

DAVID KANE

Ten-year-old David Kane watched the movie Apollo 13 and realized what he wanted to do when he grew up. Fast-forward 12 years and Kane is pursuing IUPUI degrees in hopes of landing a career in the aerospace industry.

Pursuing civic engagement

MICAELA GAVIOLA

Gaviola is dedicated in her pursuit of improving the health of individuals and communities locally and globally and has a passion for reproductive health. She is working toward degrees in both Community Health and Epidemiology.

Embracing cultures

IBRAHIM KHAN

Khan’s passion for science and interest in medical school led him to study abroad in Japan, where he and other IUPUI students experienced health care facilities in a diverse culture. Their trip included a stop at a nursing home in Hiroshima.

Becoming involved

ABIGAIL HADLEY

As a freshman, Hadley was a mentee in the Honors College Peer Mentor program, in which current mentors welcome first-year students to the college, help them build networks, and serve as guides through the first year of college.

Finding a purpose

JOSEPH BOONE

In addition to multiple internships, this biology major's research experience started in a freshman Honors Biology lab, where he and classmates worked to identify whether flies were male or female by studying the insects’ DNA.