2021

Muncie Central High School student Taegan Carpenter. Photo provided by Andrea Wolfe.

Education January 24, 2021

Muncie High School Student Named Candidate in U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

By U.S. Office of Public Affairs— Muncie, IN—Muncie Central High School student Taegan Carpenter has been named one of more than 4,500 candidates in the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The candidates were selected from nearly 3.6 million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in the year 2021. Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements,…

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Emery Peck. Photo provided

Education January 23, 2021

Ivy Tech Community College Announces New Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

By Jennifer Gasiorek— Muncie, IN—Emery Peck is the new Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the Ivy Tech Muncie-Henry County campus.  Peck has been with the college for 7 years in various roles. In his latest role, he played an integral part of Ivy Tech’s leadership as the Strategic Outcomes and Innovation Engineer. “Emery is strategic thinker. He is a thought leader and his passion in leading in this role is developing outcomes that lead to student success,” said Jeffrey…

BSU President Geoffrey S. Mearns is pictured during a ZOOM meeting today accepting the official 21st Century Talent Region designation. The governor’s proclamation is pictured beside him on the left. Over 100 local and state officials and guests participated in the ZOOM meeting presentation.

Government January 22, 2021

State Officials Designate East Central Indiana as 21st Century Talent Region

By Indiana Office of Career Connections and Talent— Muncie, IN– Indiana Secretary of Career Connections and Talent Blair Milo virtually joined state and local officials today to announce the East Central Indiana Region as Indiana’s tenth 21st Century Talent Region, a statewide designation awarded to Indiana communities focused on working collaboratively to attract, develop and connect talent. “Over 70 individuals across the East Central Indiana Region have dedicated their focus to establishing East Central Indiana as a place where people…

Set of television lectures offers lessons from the delicious to the stomach churning. Photo by Nancy Carlson.

Carlson January 22, 2021

John Carlson: They Say This Class Will Kill Ya

By John Carlson— These days, I think we’re all ready for some serious self-improvement. That’s why, having received a catalog explaining our new TV’s option to watch a channel called “The Great Courses Plus,” Nancy and I checked it out. Flicking through the available classes was an eye-opener. For example, there was one called “Baking Bread.” Was I interested? Nah, but at least I understood the concept, bread being what I’ve spent a lifetime spreading peanut butter on. Other classes…

This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion.

Health January 21, 2021

Delaware County Weekly COVID-19 Update, January 21st

Editor’s note: The following COVID-19 update is brought to you through a collaboration of healthcare partners including Delaware County Health Department, Delaware County Emergency Management Agency, Delaware County Office of Information, and other major healthcare providers. Delaware County weekly COVID-19 updates are released every Thursday and include information from the Indiana State Department of Health county metrics dashboard, which is updated every Wednesday afternoon.  The state of COVID-19 throughout Indiana is looking—tentatively—better. While the Indiana State  Department of Health’s county…

Suzanne Clem, Director of Community Awareness, Open Door Health Services. Photo by Matt Howell.

Business January 21, 2021

Open Door Health Services ‘Redefines Typical’ Providing Healthcare For All, Listening to Neighbors’ Hopes and Needs

By Kate Elliott— Editor’s note: Shafer Leadership Academy and the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership are partnering on a six-part series to highlight innovative leaders who are redefining typical during these extraordinary times.   Muncie, IN — Suzanne Clem is in the business of listening. As director of Community Awareness at Open Door Health Services, Clem connects with neighbors about their needs related to healthcare and access. She hears what makes them feel valued and safe, then she works with leaders at Open Door to build those…

Young Artist Competition participants are pictured during a ZOOM meeting.

Non-Profit January 21, 2021

Muncie Symphony Orchestra Announces Awards From Young Artist Competition

By Stephanie D. Wilson— Muncie, IN—The world seems a little bleak right now. Yet wonderful things are happening with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and 26 young people from around the State of Indiana. The Muncie Symphony Orchestra hosted a Young Artist Competition on Sunday, January 17, 2021 in Sursa Hall on the campus of Ball State University for 26 young artists.  According to the Dr. James Thompson, education coordinator for the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, the Young Artist Competition provides a…

The Red Carpet Inn at 29th and Madison was finally demolished by the City of Muncie. Photo by Gretchen Cheesman

Non-Profit January 20, 2021

Muncie Action Plan 2020 Task Force 4 Update

By: Gretchen Cheesman, Chairman Task Force 4— Muncie, IN – The Muncie Action Plan spent 2020 preparing for the City of Muncie’s next strategic investment planning process in combination with an update to the Delaware County comprehensive plan. The last large-scale MAP planning took place in 2009 and although two updates have been completed since, it is time to re-visit the document with another large-scale engagement effort whereby residents help create a new vision for Muncie’s growth and investment. Representatives from the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan…

Photo provided by Ball Brothers Foundation

Non-Profit January 20, 2021

Ball Brothers Foundation Calls for Teacher Nominations, Announces Judging Panel for 2021

By Ball Brothers Foundation— Muncie, IN—Ball Brothers Foundation will again honor Delaware County teachers in 2021 through the Foundation’s Excellence in Teaching Award. Nominations from school districts are due on Monday, February 1. This will be the ninth year that the award will recognize teachers who bring innovation, enthusiasm, and 21st century skills to their classrooms. The announcement of the call for nominations comes in the midst of what has been a challenging year for teachers who have done a…

Sharon Louden. Photo provided

Entertainment, We Fly January 20, 2021

Ball State’s Fred Meyer Lecture Series to Feature Sharon Louden

By Audrey Barcio, Assistant Professor of Art— Muncie, IN—Sharon Louden is an artist, educator, advocate for artists, editor of the Living and Sustaining a Creative Life series of books, and the Artistic Director of the Chautauqua Visual Arts. She graduated with a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA from Yale University School of Art. Her work has been exhibited in numerous venues including the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, the Drawing Center, Carnegie Mellon University,…