By Ball State Marketing & Communications—
MUNCIE, Indiana – Accutech Systems Corporation has been named the recipient of the 2021 Ball State University Community Partner of the Year Award. Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns presented the award on Aug. 2 to Accutech President Adam Unger.
The annual award recognizes an East Central Indiana business, organization, or agency that demonstrated 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 ecoREHAB (2017), Youth Opportunity Center (2018), Islamic Center of Muncie (2019), and Minnetrista (2020).
Accutech, a financial trust accounting and investment management software company headquartered in downtown Muncie, was nominated for this year’s Community Partner of the Year Award by Dr. Huseyin Ergin, assistant professor of Computer Science, for exemplary contributions to Ball State’s senior-level software engineering sequence.
“Working with Accutech has been a joy,” Dr. Ergin said. “They have been extremely friendly, provided great expertise, and hired our students. I can’t imagine what more I could ask for from this perfect partnership. Here’s to many more years of collaboration.”
In Fall 2019, Accutech partnered with Ball State students on three software projects. Trey Gourley, Accutech’s Lead Software Architect and 2005 Ball State alum, was assigned to oversee each student teams’ progress. Additional Accutech experts met monthly with students to move projects from the initial idea phase through the selection of software design tools, implementation, testing, and documentation.
Students had access to the latest industry tools and were welcomed into Accutech workspaces until March 2020, when work continued virtually. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, three software products were completed in Spring 2020 and transferred to Accutech.
The partnership continued in 2020-2021 with 17 new students across four new projects. Accutech has since hired five Ball State students and brought on a sixth student as an intern.
“I appreciate the focus that President Mearns has placed on our community,” Mr. Unger said. “And collaborating with Dr. Ergin on these projects has epitomized what a win-win looks like for two organizations working together.”
Ball State proudly supports city, county, and regional initiatives that guide current and future development. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to connect with these strategic priorities.
Ball State’s local and regional partners include Muncie Community Schools, Heart of Indiana United Way, Next Muncie Central City Plan, Muncie Action Plan (MAP), Healthy Community Alliance of East Central Indiana, VISION 2021 Economic Development, East Central Indiana Talent Collaborative, East Central Indiana Regional Partnership, and Forge Your Path ECI.
About Accutech
Accutech fulfills its purpose to make great things happen for other people by delivering innovative trust and wealth management technology solutions and exceptional, personalized service to 3,000 financial advisors and 200 banks and wealth management companies nationwide. The company also focuses heavily on cultivating a positive and engaging work environment and has been recognized in the top 100 places to work in Indiana. Learn more at trustasc.com.
About Ball State Office of Community Engagement
The Office of Community Engagement serves as a bridge between the University and Muncie, Delaware County, and East Central Indiana. We seek the most effective ways to advance community priorities through authentic partnerships; sustain integration of engagement across teaching, research, and service; and fulfill the university’s strategic commitments. Learn more at bsu.edu/community.
About Ball State
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!
