Interns Find Success and Opportunity in Indianapolis

Finding a good internship feels like winning the lottery—an incredible, lucky chance to launch the career of your dreams. But it’s hard to find internship opportunities at companies that care about your professional development. That’s why so many interns find success and opportunity in Indianapolis!

With innovative tech companies, pharmaceutical giants, and leading sports organizations, Indianapolis offers an unbeatable intern experience in every industry. We take the time to invest in young professionals, giving them a chance to learn the skills of the trade while networking with industry experts. 

In this Life in Indy feature, we asked three college students how interning in Indianapolis helped launch their career and start them on the path to success. 

• Tyler White traveled from his hometown in California to intern at the prestigious NCAA National Office in Indianapolis. He’s a former Division II Baseball student-athlete who is pursuing his Master’s in Coaching and Athletic Administration at Concordia University – Irvine. In his free time, he loves trying new restaurants and breweries, attending athletic events, and connecting with his local gym community.
• Emma Hendrix is a native Hoosier studying Marketing at Marian University. She interned for Green Loop Marketing in downtown Indianapolis, where she gained valuable experience in everything from strategy to content creation. Beyond her internship, Emma is also a proud member of Marian’s Competitive Dance Team, the American Marketing Association, and Women in Business.
• Haley Hoagland is pursuing her Master of Science in Health Promotion at Eastern Illinois University, where she earned her Bachelor’s in Health Administration. On top of her studies, Haley also teaches undergraduate courses within the Department of Public Health and Nutrition. She plans to return to Indy after graduation and hopes to secure a position with the organization she interned with: Hancock Health.

Nobody does sports quite like Indianapolis.

If you’re considering a career in the sports industry, Indy offers the best of both worlds—all the big city opportunity without the big city headaches. Indianapolis has a buzzing culture of sports, entertainment, and cuisine that makes it one of the most underrated cities to live. Downtown Indy is especially lively and walkable, connecting you with a hub of award-winning restaurants, top-tier companies, and world-class sporting events.  

In fact, Indianapolis is home to some of the most influential organizations in sports, including USA Gymnastics, USA Track & Field, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) headquarters. So, when the opportunity came to intern at the NCAA National Office, I started packing my bags for Indianapolis.  

Why the NCAA? For me, the internship was a no-brainer. As the heart and mind of college athletics, the NCAA offers an unparalleled opportunity to understand the inner functions of athletics at the highest level. Interning here has been a fantastic experience for me as a former student-athlete to learn directly from the organization that shaped my journey.

My internship took me behind the scenes at the NCAA.

Life as an intern at the NCAA National Office has been nothing short of transformative. I’ve had the privilege of diving into the forefront of collegiate athletics, and the experience has been a game changer.

Located in the heart of downtown, the National Office stands as the epicenter of collegiate sports, where all the logistics behind the games begin. Being here has opened my eyes to the policies, programs, and initiatives that shape student-athlete experiences. And as an intern, I get to apply what I learned as a student-athlete while gaining valuable insight into the administrative side of athletics.

What truly stands out from my experience is the program’s focus on both professional and personal growth. From learning the foundations of student-athlete development to discussing the future landscape of college athletics, this internship has equipped me with the skills and knowledge to jumpstart my career in sports. Because the NCAA isn’t just about what happens on the field. They also prepare student-athletes to find success after sports.

Indianapolis is a great city to live, work, and grow in.

Beyond the professional benefits, Indianapolis has been an incredible place to live during my internship. The city provides a unique balance of work and play, offering endless entertainment and an affordable cost of living. On any given day, you can easily explore local restaurants, unwind at a brewery, catch a live concert, or watch a professional sports game.

Living in downtown Indianapolis, there are constantly teams in town for a game—whether it’s the NBA, NFL, WNBA, or a college basketball showdown for March Madness. With venues like Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Lucas Oil Stadium, and Victory Field all within walking distance, there’s always an event right around the corner.

When you’re not attending an event, you can always enjoy the delicious restaurants around downtown. From hole-in-the-wall spots to fine dining experiences, the food scene in Indianapolis is genuinely a food lover’s paradise. If you’re a fan of pizza or wings, my go-to spots have become Futuro Pizza and Fat Dan’s Chicago-Style Deli.

My time at the NCAA has been a pivotal chapter in my career, and Indy has provided the perfect setting for it. If you’re looking for an internship that blends hands-on experience with a lively city, Indianapolis and the NCAA are the place to be. The opportunities here are endless—and trust me, the city will surprise you in the best way imaginable!

I found my career path at Marian University. 

Growing up in a small town in southern Indiana, I always wanted to venture beyond what I’d known my whole life. Dance was my passion, but I never really considered what career path I would take beyond that. 

Eventually, I sat down with my grandparent’s neighbor—a guidance counselor—to explore my interests. After discussing different fields, we landed on business as a solid choice, and I randomly chose marketing. Little did I know how that decision would shape my future.

As I began my college search, I first found Marian University through dance recruitment. But during my campus tour, I quickly realized that Marian was more than just a university. It was a close-knit community that felt like home. 

That sense of connection made my transition to college so much easier. I had traveled to Indianapolis for dance competitions my whole life, but I never knew just how much the city had to offer beyond those performance venues. With a thriving arts scene and vibrant sports culture, I realized that living in Indy would provide opportunities for growth and exploration like I’d never known before!

Indianapolis introduced me to the world of marketing.

I started my career journey with an internship in the Marketing and Communications department at Marian University, which gave me a strong foundation in website development and content creation. However, I wanted to gain more experience and immerse myself further in the Indianapolis community. 

I spoke with my mentors, who said that agency experience would help me explore the career paths within marketing. So, I leveraged my campus and LinkedIn connections and reached out to Green Loop Marketing. That effort landed me a marketing internship and a whole new world of opportunities!

Interning at Green Loop has been an incredible experience. My role allows me to collaborate on content creation, campaign strategies, and digital marketing initiatives, while learning from some of the best and most experienced marketers. Now, I can proudly say I’ve worked with national and local organizations across all their key client categories, including: member associations, community impact, architecture and construction, and professional services. 

Indy is a place that supports young professionals.

One of the things I love about interning in Indianapolis is the strong sense of community among professionals, especially young professionals. Whether it’s reaching out for a coffee chat or attending networking events, I’ve found that people in Indy are always willing to share their experiences and insights.

From creative blockbusters to design retreats, the professional development opportunities at my internship have been invaluable. On my very first day, I attended the Devour Indy Cocktail Competitions and watched local bartenders showcase a specialty drink to kick off the week-long celebration of food and fun. Not sure I can top that first-day experience! And every day since, Green Loop has given me a wealth of learning opportunities and marketing experience. It’s a great place to intern, and I feel lucky to be a part of the team!

This past summer, I also attended Fast Forward—Indy’s ultimate intern experience. This event helped me connect with other college interns and young professionals in a fun new way. It also showed me how many opportunities Indianapolis has for young professionals to grow, connect, and make an impact, while introducing me to more places to explore.

After leaving for college, I chose to come back home to Indy. 

When I was a senior in high school, the pressure of choosing where to go to college and what to study was quickly coming to a head. I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to move far away from my hometown of Greenfield, Indiana. 

That’s when I came across Eastern Illinois University. It was exactly what I was looking for—a good school far enough from home that it felt like an entirely new and exciting place to explore. Now, four years later, I’ve been so lucky to call Charleston my home. But as I start to plan for the future, my mind always goes back to the same place: Indy. 

Growing up here, Greenfield and the surrounding Indy region has always felt like home. Indianapolis is such a welcoming community, and I love seeing how much Greenfield has grown over the years. Living in a smaller town also comes with more friendly faces and a sense of connection to the people around you. And that’s exactly the kind of community I wanted to start my career in. 

My internship gave me hands-on experience in the health industry.

With my degree being so broad, I knew an internship was crucial for me to narrow down my interests and find a direction for my future career. So, in the summer of 2024, I traveled back to Greenfield to work as the Administrative and Human Resource intern at the Hancock Health network. 

When I was in high school, I was a volunteer at Hancock Health, so I already had some connections within the organization. I decided to reach out directly to their CEO, Steve Long, and he helped me find a position relevant to my studies in health administration.

During my time at Hancock Health, I completed a patient quality care report for four different departments, researched the feasibility of hiring a full-time grant writer, and assisted in looking at policy software. Not only did this teach me about the inner workings of the network, but I also made lasting connections that will open doors for more professional opportunities in the future.

With such a positive internship experience at Hancock Health, I made my decision to move back home after graduation and hopefully start my career at this amazing organization.

Indianapolis connects you with a world-class network of healthcare institutions.

From Eli Lilly and Roche Diagnostics to Riley Children’s Hospital and the IU School of Medicine, Indianapolis offers a wide range of opportunities for interns looking to explore the health sector. Being a smaller city, Indianapolis also provides a more intimate professional community, allowing you to build genuine connections with expert mentors and local leaders. 

But no matter what career you’re pursuing, the Indianapolis region has so many great opportunities for college students looking for internships. With a strong professional community and frequent networking events, interns here can easily connect with organizational leaders to grow and advance their careers. 

During my time at Hancock Health, I went to many events like golf outings, awards ceremonies, and meetings where I was able to network with professionals in many different fields. Now, I am so excited to go back home this May and start my professional career in such a great place like Indianapolis.