Education

Traditional academic recognition replaced with Latin distinctions By Andy Klotz— MUNCIE, IN – More than 300 students walked across the stage at Emens Auditorium Monday night as the Muncie Central High School Class of 2026 gathered for a final time. There was no valedictorian recognized. No salutatorian either. Instead, MCHS honored all high achieving graduates using the Latin honors system, which has three standard levels: Cum Laude – “With Distinction,” requiring a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5-3.74 Magna Cum Laude – “With Great Distinction,” requiring a GPA of 3.74-3.99 Summa Cum Laude – “With Highest Distinction,” requiring a GPA…

By Lisa Kemp— MUNCIE, IN—The Muncie-based Paul Revere Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) proudly announces the 2026 recipients of the DAR Good Citizen Award, an annual recognition honoring outstanding high school seniors across Delaware County. The award highlights students who exemplify the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism, core values the DAR seeks to foster in young people as they prepare to become future leaders in their communities and beyond. Each participating high school in Delaware County selects one senior who demonstrates exceptional character at school, at home, and in the broader community. These students…

By Ball State Communications— MUNCIE, IN— Ball State PBS will welcome families back to downtown Muncie on Saturday, June 6, for Be My Neighbor Day, an afternoon of music, hands-on activities, and community connections inspired by Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and the neighborly spirit of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The event, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled for 1–4 p.m. at Canan Commons, and will bring together more than 20 local organizations and activity booths focused on kindness, helping others, and being a good neighbor. Highlights for families across East Central Indiana include: Meet Daniel Tiger from PBS KIDS Live music…

Support staff, others also honored By Andy Klotz— MUNCIE, IN—Muncie Community Schools (MCS) has named the Teachers of the Year at each of its schools for the 2025-26 school year. All award recipients were presented with commemorative plaques by their building principals and now become eligible for the overall district Teacher of the Year awards, which will be presented at the start of the 2026-27 school year. This year’s recipients are: Nancy Zachary – North View Elementary Heather Crain – West View Elementary Andrea Streaty – Longfellow Elementary Jodi Gray – Grissom Elementary Tiara Taylor – East Washington Academy Tierra…

By Ball State Communications— MUNCIE, IN — Ball State University will host its second annual We Fly Fest from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at the Brown Family Amphitheater. This free, on-campus community event is open to the public and will feature games and activities, live music by Ball State student bands, campus bus tours, food trucks, giveaways, and more for the whole family. “We Fly Fest reflects Ball State’s enduring commitment to fostering strong connections between our campus and the community,” said Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns. “After the success of last year’s inaugural event, I look forward…

Editor’s note: The Future Leaders of America series profiles high school seniors who display leadership qualities in their school and the community. The series is brought to you by Pridemark Construction. By Stacey A. Shannon— MUNCIE, IN—Throughout her high school years at Burris Laboratory School, senior Dorothy Eads has worn numerous hats along with a smile and a can-do attitude. She’s tried everything from scuba diving to circus to gymnastics outside of school. The former homeschooler who started at Burris in seventh grade has strong school spirit and appreciates her time at Burris. Eads has been a member of concert…

By Juli Metzger— MUNCIE, IN—A community-wide effort to improve student success in Muncie is gaining national attention after being highlighted in the 2025 StriveTogether Annual Report for its measurable gains in early literacy and high school graduation rates. The report spotlights Cradle to Career Muncie, a cross-sector partnership that has aligned schools, nonprofits, higher education institutions, faith organizations and local leaders around a shared goal: improving educational outcomes and expanding economic opportunity for children and families across Delaware County. The initiative is being led by the George and Frances Ball Foundation, serving as the backbone organization for the community-wide effort….

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—Donations of new and gently used books, puzzles, DVDs and CDs (music and books) will be accepted for the American Association of University Women – Muncie Branch Used Book Sale starting at 8 a.m. Monday, May 18, at the Ball State University Alumni Center, 2800 W. Bethel Ave. “The community has been very supportive of our sale for more than 45 years,” said Sheryl Swingley, president of AAUW– Muncie Branch. “We look forward to seeing what residents donate this year for purchase by the public.” Carts will be available to unload books at the front door…

By Andy Klotz— MUNCIE, IN—Salem Wilt wants to be a criminal psychologist. The Muncie Central junior is interested in psychology and in law, so she believes criminal psychology could be the best of both worlds. Becoming a criminal psychologist will take a lot of effort and specialized training, but Wilt is already ahead of many of her peers. She just completed Next Gen Academy, Muncie Central’s eight-week program about careers in public safety, social services and leadership. “It’s really different,” Wilt said. “I’ve never been in a class like this, so it’s a new thing for me. We talk about…