Education

By BSU Marketing and Communications—  MUNCIE, IN – Ball State University’s Multicultural Center has announced the schedule of events for Unity Week 2023, which kicks off on Jan. 16—this year’s official observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. “Unity Week is designed to educate, celebrate, and promote diversity, inclusivity, and solidarity in an evolving social climate,” said Gabrielle Lloyd, interim director of the Multicultural Center. “2023 marks the 45th anniversary of the Unity Week celebration at Ball State University. This year’s theme is ‘Be real. Be you. Unlock your full potential.’ We want to offer students, faculty, staff,…

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—A representative of the Indiana Coalition for Public Education will be the guest speaker for a joint meeting of the Muncie branches of the American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters of Delaware County. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting will start at 10 a.m. and wrap up no later than noon on Saturday, Jan. 28, at Motivate Our Minds, 2023 E. Highland Ave. The topic of the discussion is “The State of Public Education in the 2023 Indiana Legislative Session.” Two proposals the Indiana General Assembly might consider…

By Andy Klotz, Chief Communications Officer, MCS— MUNCIE, IN – Despite having very few incidents within its own buildings over the years, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) will soon implement random security checks and locker searches at its high school and two middle schools as part of its regular security protocols. The MCS Board of Directors approved the new procedure unanimously at Tuesday night’s board meeting. The checks will include “wanding” students with hand-held metal detectors as they arrive at school as well as using specially trained K-9 officers from the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department to determine if any illegal items…

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, IN—Delaware County high school seniors and current college students can apply for scholarships through March 1. The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County manages more than 50 scholarships. Scholarship awards totaling more than $200,000 benefit students each year. Students should visit DelawareCountyScholarships.com to begin their application. WHO CAN APPLY? Requirements vary from scholarship to scholarship. Most scholarships are available for high school seniors in Delaware County, Ind. Some scholarships are also available for current college students. These vary based on student major and enrollment. HOW DO I APPLY? Apply for scholarships from The Community Foundation…

By Ball State Marketing and Communications— MUNCIE, IN – Darrell Clark will join Ball State University as associate vice president for people and culture, effective Jan. 17, Alan Finn, vice president for Business Affairs and treasurer, announced. As the university’s chief human resources officer, Mr. Clark will oversee and provide strategic leadership to Ball State’s University Human Resource Services. Guided by the university’s strategic plan and enduring values, he will work in service with administrators, faculty, and staff to lead, build, and maintain a customer service-oriented human resources function that focuses on talent acquisition, employee development, employee well-being, benefits, compensation, and…

By Michelle Kinsey— MUNCIE, IN – The East Central Indiana Talent Collaborative (ECITC) welcomes Ashley Surpas as the new associate director for Regional Initiatives at Ball State University. In this role, Ms. Surpas will oversee the university’s role as the backbone organization for the ECITC, a collective-impact initiative advancing talent attraction, talent development, and talent connection across Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Grant, Henry, Jay, Randolph, Rush, and Wayne counties. Since joining Ball State’s Office of Community Engagement on Oct. 3, Ms. Surpas has served as the primary ECITC point of contact. She has provided strategic, project management, and infrastructure support for the…

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—The Muncie Central High School Alumni Association’s Memorabilia Room will be open to people attending Central home boys basketball games through February 2023. The Memorabilia Room will open 30 minutes ahead of each boys varsity game and will close after halftime. The room will be open on Friday, Jan. 6; Friday, Jan. 13; and Friday, Jan. 20; Jan. 28; Saturday, Feb. 8; and Tuesday, Feb. 14. Graduation classes organizing reunions and interested in including a visit to the Alumni Association’s Memorabilia Room as part of their activities are welcome to contact Charlotte Shepperd, charshep@comcast.net, or Nora…

By BSU Marketing and Communications—  MUNCIE, IN—The Entrepreneurship Center at Ball State University has provided seven students with funding to develop and advance their entrepreneurial ventures. Twice a year, all enrolled students at Ball State are invited to apply for pre-seed grants of up to $2,500 per student, per semester for venture development. This fund was established to help students take their new or established business concepts to the next stage. Funding has historically been used to conduct market surveys, create digital renderings, earn certifications, and more. “We had a record-breaking number of applications this semester due to increased marketing…

By Lesley Devoss— MUNCIE, Ind. – Difference makers are those who step up and support the community through their active participation in and with the community they serve.  The 2022 Ivy Tech Difference Makers are Pastor Andre Mitchell, Joseph Anderson, Wayne Johnson, Duane Clemens Sr., and Bright Afriyie.  Pastor Andre Mitchell serves as the Senior Pastor of Deliverance Temple, Material Handler for GM, and Campus Board of Trustee member for Ivy Tech Community College Muncie-Henry County. He was born and raised in the Muncie Community and his family instilled a sense of community in him from an early age.   “My great uncle,…