By Ball State Marketing and Communications—
Muncie, IN – Ball State University has named Minnetrista Cultural Center the 2020 Community Partner of the Year for collaborating with college students on an award-winning educational video game project.
The annual award recognizes a Delaware County business, organization, or agency that demonstrates excellence as part of a Ball State community-based learning experience during the previous year. Partners are nominated by Ball State faculty and staff. Past winners include the Youth Opportunity Center (2018) and the Islamic Center (2019).
Delaina Boyd, the University’s associate vice president for community engagement, presented the award on October 28 to Minnetrista’s Betty Brewer, president and chief executive officer, and George Buss, vice president of visitor experience.
“We are deeply grateful for all of the years that Minnetrista has welcomed Ball State as a partner and collaborator,” Boyd said. “We look forward to many more.”
Minnetrista earned the award for a two-semester partnership with Paul Gestwicki, a computer science professor, and his classes on game design and software production.
The class explored the fundamentals of educational game design, proposed game concepts linked to the Oakhurst home renovation. It developed an original educational video game, Canning Heroes, which is installed at Minnetrista.
“Mr. Buss invested enormous personal and professional effort to help this project succeed,” said Gestwicki, who nominated Minnetrista for the award. “Through him, the students gained an appreciation for the history of the Ball family, Ball State, and Muncie. Indeed, many students who are not from the area came to love our community through this experience.”
“Canning Heroes” has received numerous external accolades, including a first-place award at the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Midwest Conference and a silver award at the 2019 Serious Play competition.
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Founded in 1918 and located in Muncie, Ball State University is one of Indiana’s premier universities and an economic driver for the state. Ball State’s 21,600 students come from all over Indiana, the nation, and the world. The 790-acre campus is large enough to accommodate first-rate facilities and 19 NCAA Division I sports, but our welcoming and inclusive campus is small enough to ensure the friendliness, personal attention, and access that are the hallmarks of the University. Destination 2040: Our Flight Path establishes Ball State’s ambitious goals for our second century. We Fly!
