For 19 young women in the Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis (Girls Inc. Indy) Eureka! program, summer 2026 offered an opportunity to take their skills into the workplace and explore what their futures could look like.

The internships were part of Eureka! STEM Camp, the summer component of Girls Inc. Indy’s year-long Eureka! program. From June 8 through July 3, 2026, younger Eureka! participants took part in four weeks of STEM exploration, leadership development, career discovery, field trips, workshops, and capstone projects. At the same time, 19 Year 4 and 5 participants extended their Eureka! experience into the workplace through summer internships.

Interns were placed across nine host sites based on their interests, giving them opportunities to explore fields ranging from science and healthcare to architecture, consulting, youth programming, and more. Participants gained real-world experience and learned from professionals at their host sites, with Fridays reserved for professional development at Girls Inc. Indy. The experience concluded with capstone presentations where interns reflected on and shared what they had learned.

Building Skills for the Future

By the end of the summer, participants reported meaningful growth in their confidence, professional skills, and understanding of the workplace.

• 94% said they grew professionally over the course of their internship.
• 88% felt more prepared to succeed in a professional workplace.
• 88% felt more confident in their own abilities.
• 82% improved how they communicate in a professional setting.
• 82% learned new skills.
• 82% gained a clearer understanding of what employers expect.
• 82% said the internship helped clarify what they do or don’t want in a career.
• 82% learned about career paths they hadn’t considered before.

Together, these experiences gave participants the opportunity to grow professionally, build confidence, and gain a clearer sense of where their interests could take them next.

Interns in Their Own Words

Beyond the numbers, interns shared what made them proud and what they took away from their experiences.

“I’m most proud of developing my own idea for an organization I want to create—and using the skills I learned during my internship to build it.” — Schunk Moreland Strategies intern

“I am proud to say I created a really great relationship with the women at Ascentra.” — Ascentra Strategies intern

“Talking to people even though I’m shy.” — Girls Inc. Indy intern

“I’m most proud of leading the outreach and getting out of my comfort zone.” — Freewheelin’ Bikes intern

“I’m most proud of learning more about cryogenic storage—I’d heard the term in eighth grade but never knew what it was actually used for.” — Azenta Life Sciences intern

Thank You to Our Internship Supporters

Special thanks to PNC and The Heritage Group for their generous support of the Eureka! summer internship experience. Their investment helped make meaningful workplace experiences and professional development opportunities possible for our girls.

Thank You to Our Summer Internship Host Sites

These experiences would not have been possible without the organizations that welcomed Eureka! interns into their workplaces, provided mentorship, and gave them opportunities to learn by doing.

Girls Inc. Indy is grateful to our 2026 Eureka! internship host sites:

• Schunk Moreland Strategies – Strategic planning consulting, with interns supporting data input and client meetings
• Ascentra Strategies – Strategy consulting, with interns supporting data and client meetings
• Freewheelin’ Bikes – Summer youth programming in engineering and movement, with interns supporting 2026 programming experiences
• Azenta Life Sciences – Research and development, with interns gaining exposure to scientific processes
• American Structurepoint – Architecture, design, and construction, with interns supporting client experiences and projects
• The Heritage Group – Research, design, and construction, with interns supporting client experiences and projects
• The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis – Interns supported science exhibits
• Meridian Medical Services – Interns gained experience supporting the nursing and administrative department 
• Girls Inc. Indy – Participants with more limited availability gained experience supporting Girls Inc. Indy’s programs and data team

Thank you to each of our 2026 Eureka! internship host sites for investing your time, expertise, and encouragement in our girls. By welcoming them into your workplaces, you helped them build confidence, discover new possibilities, and begin seeing themselves in the careers and workplaces of the future.

Experiences like these are an important part of Eureka!, connecting what participants learn through Girls Inc. Indy with opportunities to explore careers, build relationships, and develop skills they can carry with them into their next steps.

Interested in helping the next generation gain real-world experience and explore future careers? Learn more about partnering with Girls Inc. Indy to help create meaningful opportunities for girls across Central Indiana. Contact ushere.