Education

Alison Bell, Chancellor for WGU Indiana. Photo provided

Education August 25, 2019

How Family And My Hometown Influenced My Career In Higher-Ed Leadership

By: Alison Bell, Chancellor for WGU Indiana— I recently had the opportunity to meet with Muncie city leaders, including Mayor Dennis Tyler, to discuss access to affordable college, a visit that was part of a statewide tour we planned after I took on my new role as Chancellor at WGU Indiana. While I was excited to have the opportunity to visit the new local restaurant, Roots, in the Village, I also found myself reflecting on the city and family members who…

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Courtney Crabtree (left) and Sarah Hill (right) have been awarded the Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching Award to recognize their innovation through collaboration in the classroom. Photo provided

Education, Non-Profit August 20, 2019

Cowan Teachers Awarded Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching Award From The Community Foundation

By: Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer— Muncie, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. has announced that Courtney Crabtree and Sarah Hill have been awarded the Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching Award to recognize their innovation through collaboration in the classroom. Crabtree and Hill, kindergarten teachers at Cowan Elementary School, were nominated by former principal, now assistant superintendent, Tim Brown for their partnership to creatively give their students, and students of all ages at Cowan, more access to STEAM…

Located at 2809 W Purdue Ave, Muncie, Indiana 47304. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Education August 16, 2019

Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center Open House is August 24th

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN—The YMCA of Muncie and Ball State University are committed to strengthening the Muncie community. Through a joint partnership, the YMCA and Ball State’s Child Study Center will be relocating all child care services to the newly renovated Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center beginning August 19th.  The community is invited to attend the open house on Saturday August 24th, 2019 from 10am to 12pm. The center is located at 2809 W. Purdue Ave, Muncie, Indiana 47304….

Ryan Hunter, co-founder of TechWise Academy, leads a Minecraft Party in which students get to learn about command blocks and play online in a safe environment. File photo

Education August 15, 2019

Innovation Connector and TechWise Academy Announce New STEM Classes for Fall

By: Brandon Coppernoll, Co-Founder, TechWise Academy— Muncie, IN—The Innovation Connector is partnering with TechWise Academy to host a new lineup of STEM classes through the Coding Connector starting on August 16. These classes help K-12 students learn computational thinking and computer science through coding and robotics. New classes this Fall feature Sphero robots for elementary students and new coding classes for middle and high school students. Younger students from kindergarten through second grade will have more opportunities to build and…

E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center at Ball State University. Photo provided

Education August 14, 2019

High School Teachers Learn About ‘Teaching Economics in American History’

By: Diane Watters, Associate Director, E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center— Muncie, IN—“The problem with hosting a successful program is that you get asked to do it again next year!” said Kathryn Kennison, director of the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center at Ball State University. On June 26, 2019, the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center hosted “Teaching Economics in American History” for Indiana high school teachers.  While the mission of the Center is to offer stimulating intellectual non-credit programs to…

Pictured L-R: United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties Director of Resource Development Denise King and Muncie Community Schools parent and advocate Stephanie Johnson. Photo provided

Education, Non-Profit July 26, 2019

United Way Tweaks Plans for ‘Listen and Learn’ Session with CEO of Muncie Community Schools

By: Jenni Marsh, President & CEO, United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties— Muncie, IN—United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties is retooling the July 29th open to the public Listen and Learn session about Muncie Community Schools. Originally, the event had been capped at a very small number to hold a kitchen table conversation about families’ hopes for Muncie Community Schools. “When Director of Public Education and CEO of Muncie Community Schools Lee Ann Kwiatkowski was able to attend…

Vendor tents surround Canan Commons in downtown Muncie. Photo by: Intersection Agency

Education July 15, 2019

Ivy Tech Community College to host ‘Tidy Up’ Tuesday Event in Downtown Muncie

By: Jennifer Gasiorek— Muncie, IN – Ivy Tech Community College will host “Tidy Up” Tuesday on July 30th  from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 2p.m. to 4p.m. The Tidy Up Tuesday initiative is a collaboration of Ivy Tech Community College, Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, Muncie Delaware Clean & Beautiful and the City of Muncie coming together to keep our downtown clean and welcoming for all who will visit the downtown area.  It will connect Ivy Tech students,…

Lee Ann Kwiatkowski, Ed.D. Photo provided

Education, We Fly July 1, 2019

Muncie Community Schools Announces Director of Public Education and Chief Executive Officer

By: Ball State Marketing and Communications— Muncie, IN— Muncie Community Schools Board of Trustees today voted to hire Indiana native Lee Ann Kwiatkowski, Ed.D., as its new Director of Public Education and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 11, 2019. Kwiatkowski brings with her more than 35 years of experience in Indiana public education where she has held a variety of roles including 18 years as a teacher to Senior Education Advisor for Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. This announcement comes on…

Ashley Evans, Mikayla Fields, Jaila Garrett, Kyla Horst (top row); Brandi Lambertson, Lora McDaniel, Alexia Paine, Erin Roach (second row); Kaitlin Scott, Brittany Slack, Chandler Tucker (bottom row)

Education June 26, 2019

The Community Foundation Announces More 2019 Scholarship Recipients

By: Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer— Muncie, IN—Congratulations to the following graduates –  Ashley Evans, of Cowan Jr./Sr. High School, is the recipient of the Nicholas Brooks Sherfy Memorial Scholarship. Evans plans to attend Ball State University to study nursing. She is the daughter of Tammy Hargrave.  Mikayla Fields, of Monroe Central High School, is the recipient of the Jenny Haskell Memorial Scholarship. Paine, the daughter of Nathan and Susan Paine, plans to study nursing at Indiana University East.  Jaila Garrett,…

Abbigail Sprong, 2019 Delaware County Fair Queen. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Education, Entertainment June 17, 2019

Abbigail Sprong Named 2019 Delaware County Fair Queen

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—Abbigail Sprong was named 2019 Delaware County Fair Queen at the 2019 Delaware County Fair Queen Pageant. (See event photos below.) The pageant was held Saturday, June 15th at Muncie Central High School. Seven young ladies competed for the title of 2019 Delaware County Fair Queen. Abbigail will take part in the Delaware County Fair, and will compete for the Indiana State Fair Queen title. She received a $750 cash award, gifts from local sponsors, her tiara and flowers….