Report: Trine camps have served more than 30,000 youth

Trine University has hosted more than 30,000 school-age students during the past three years in programs supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., a new report from the university shows.

In the report, the university notes that 30,172 students have participated in activities and camps supported by Lilly Endowment through its initiative, Indiana Youth Programs on Campus (IYPC).

Commenting on the report, Jennifer LaRose, executive director of camps, conferences and events at Trine, said her staff has been excited to see the growth in programming resulting from the grant funding.

“We’re grateful that Lilly Endowment has given us the opportunity to provide so many students with fun, hands-on experiences that teach them new concepts and expose them to the option of continuing education after high school,” she said.

By the numbers

In addition to the total number of students served, the report notes that 71% of program participants have come from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in college enrollment.

The university experienced a 3,175% growth in enrollment at its Lego Robotic Camps, with 917 taking part in the 2024/2025 reporting year.

Nearly 24,000 students were part of STEM with Storm, which brought students to Trine’s campus 5.5 times per month, on average, for programming focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics concepts and careers.

Storm STEM Tracker Day Camps, which launched in 2022 and have served more than 5,000 students, have covered a variety of subjects including engineering, exercise science, computer science, virtual reality, biology and esports.

Thirty-eight Trine faculty actively contributed to programming, bringing academic depth and authenticity to each experience. Programs also have used Trine facilities such as the makerspace, AR/VR lab and esports arena.

The STORM into SUMMER Teachers Conference launched this past summer and served several hundred classroom educators. The professional development event offered sessions on topics such as Artificial Intelligence and Innovation in Education, Literacy and the Science of Reading, STEM, Successful Practices in Teaching and Learning, and Universal Design for Learning. Teachers were also invited to explore campus resources and were encouraged to return with their students for STEM-focused field trips.

About IYPC

According to Lilly Endowment, the Indiana Youth Programs on Campus (IYPC) initiative is designed to help Indiana colleges and universities create new or expand and enhance existing high-quality, on-campus programs for Hoosiers ages 5-18. The initiative, in part, is a response to recent declines in the number of Indiana high school graduates attending college.

The IYPC initiative seeks to increase opportunities for Indiana youth to participate in learning experiences on college campuses, expose more Hoosier youth to the state’s higher education institutions, provide experiences that will help prepare youth to succeed in college and life, and ultimately Increase the numbers of Indiana youth who earn college degrees and credentials.

These programs will help support students academically and personally and prepare them to transition successfully to higher educational opportunities.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private foundation created in 1937 by J. K. Lilly and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with its founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, and maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.