Roberts and Stuck share their Lugar Series experiences
By HOLLY GASKILL
Rina Stuck first learned about the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series a decade ago from one of its members, former Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, but didn’t think it was the right time to apply.
“It was way out of my comfort zone, but I put it on my bucket list,” she said.
In 2021, when Stuck decided to apply, she called up her friend and former coworker, Laura Roberts. They made a pact to apply together, and support the other if they didn’t both get in. Even with the security of one another, the application process felt daunting.
“I wadded up my application and threw it away at least three times and started over,” Robert said. “The hardest thing is you have to write about yourself. You have to brag about yourself. You have to think about who you are and where you want to be in life.”
Now, the two can hardly believe these were the things that held them back from the experience.
Founded by the late Sen. Richard Lugar in 1990, the Lugar Series is an eight-month training program in Indianapolis that aims to encourage and equip women to pursue more leadership opportunities. Each year, 20 participants are selected through a rigorous application and interview process, aiming to create a cohort of women from diverse backgrounds and industries.
In 2021-22, Roberts and Stuck represented Wells County in the program. In the 32 years it has been held, only a handful from the county have ever been selected. They both currently serve in government — Roberts as a deputy assessor in Wells County and Stuck as a deputy recorder in Adams County.
Being selected reflected both an honor and commitment. The program involved at least one full day of classes monthly, regular homework, and a trip to Washington D.C. — all of which were mandatory to remain in the cohort.
The classes covered various topics related to government, personal development, and practical skills, all with a focus on uplifting women. They were challenged to give speeches, do fundraising, and pursue their aspirations in their own lives.
In every class, Roberts and Stuck were assigned seats next to different people from the cohort. Then, they’d have to get to know each other and work on projects together.
For Roberts and Stuck, it was surprising how natural it all felt. The cohort was comprised of women from all around Indiana, from various walks of life and encompassing a broad spectrum of professions. And yet, when they all came together, it felt like they were bonded under a singular goal.
“I knew the women across the room from me — I wanted to them succeed, and I knew they wanted me to succeed,” Stuck said. “And you don’t see that in today’s world. There was no competition and no jealousy.”
“It was like we’d known each other forever,” Roberts said.
Together, the women encouraged each other to deconstruct their comfort zones. Specifically, they tackled topics about initiative and confidence.
Every environment — personal or professional — benefits from the perspectives and talents of women. Even so, women and men tend to have entirely different dispositions in the matter, Roberts explained.
The point was made: Women tend to wait for the perfect moment. They wait to be asked. They don’t often verbalize their aspirations or fully recognize their accomplishments. And by holding back in these ways, everyone else loses the benefit of their knowledge, skills and leadership.
“It made me look at things differently,” Stuck said. “It made me look at myself differently.”
The very things that had given them pause in applying to the program became the crux of what they were learning.
“You just look back and see how far you’ve come — and it leaves you very humbled and full of self-pride,” Stuck said. “You have to believe in yourself before somebody else will believe in you. You think you believe in yourself, you really do, until (you have to) get out there.”
Now, as alumni of the program, both Roberts and Stuck have brought back what they’ve learned to uplift and serve the women around them. They’ve also stayed connected with their cohort, sharing in the joys and sorrows of life as they each grow toward their goals.
And while they’ve encouraged women around them to apply to the program, they see it as a much broader journey. Empowering women is not about one particular program — it encompasses everyday choices to step out of a comfort zone, take the initiative and support one another.
“You have so much to give — invest in yourself to give back,” Roberts said.
holly@news-banner.com
