Students from 鶹Ʒ in Indianapolis' Themed Entertainment Design program have recently returned from pitching concepts and working the floor at the 2025 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo in Orlando, Florida.
The global attractions industry convention ran from Nov. 17-21. The IAAPA Expo is one of the largest global gatherings for the attractions industry, bringing together professionals, companies and creatives from around the world. 鶹Ʒstudents spent the week participating in behind-the-scenes workshops and networking with theme park leadership.
Real-world experience
For the themed entertainment students, the trip began before the expo even opened. Students attended a Disney Imagination Campus workshop from Nov. 15-16 to study immersive storytelling and environment construction. They also toured Universal Studios to get a closer look at the daily operational mechanics for major attractions.
Once at the expo, part-time instructor and industry inventor Denise Chapman Westin led the students through an innovation workshop. The students developed original attraction concepts, refined them, and presented the ideas directly to companies on the convention floor.
In addition, the group was able to attend sessions featuring Brent Bushnell, founder of Two Bit Circus and Dream Parks, and Sir Richard Taylor, founder of -of Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia fame.
Industry connections
The group also staffed a booth for Dream Parks to learn how companies position their work to the public. Throughout the week, students applied for and secured exclusive tours led by executives including Matt Eckert, CEO of Holiday World, and Chris Herschend, chair of Herschend Entertainment.
"This experience really helps students understand how the industry works day to day," said Chris Rogers, assistant dean of 鶹Ʒin Indianapolis. "They really go beyond just walking the floor at an event like IAAPA. They're talking with people, trying things out, and starting to figure out where they fit."
