Articles by Mike Rhodes

From left to right; top to bottom: Luke Butler, Elliott Godfrey, Jackson Ingenito, Claire Price, Shelby Sanders, Sarah Shohatee, Grace A. Van Horn, and Aleah Wright

Education June 3, 2022

More Community Foundation Scholarships Announced

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, Ind.—Congratulations to the following scholarship recipients – Luke Butler, a graduating senior from Wes-Del High School, is a recipient of the Jon Hunter Memorial Scholarship. Luke plans to study computer engineering at Purdue University. He is the son of Brad and Melissa Butler. Elliott Godfrey, a graduating senior from Burris Laboratory School, is a recipient of the Arthur D. and Josephine M. Robling Scholarship. Elliott plans to study urban planning and Spanish at Ball State University….

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Education June 2, 2022

Early College and Ivy Tech Ensure High School Students Graduate with College Credit

By Lesley DeVoss—  MUNCIE, Ind. – Through the Early College partnership with Ivy Tech, Delaware and Henry County high school students are able to graduate with a college degree or certification from Ivy Tech Community College Muncie-Henry County. Students can complete an Early College application during their 8th grade year to take part in the Early College Program. The application process includes a review of the student’s attendance record, ILEARN scores, formative assessments (NWEA or i-Ready) and class work based…

Entertainment June 1, 2022

Muncie’s ‘Brink of Summer ArtsWalk’ is June 2nd

By Intersection— MUNCIE, INDIANA – Come out for the 2022 Brink of Summer ArtsWalk happening in DWNTWN The Original Muncie on Thursday, June 2 from 5–8 p.m. This special edition of First Thursday will offer a wide variety of events celebrating the arts and culture of Muncie. Attendees are invited to welcome the summer season as they enjoy all that DWNTWN has to offer. The Brink of Summer ArtsWalk will feature: Flower Hour – Explore DWNTWN and collect flowers from…

David Letterman and scholarship winners. Photo provided by Ball State University

Education May 31, 2022

Ball State University, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Announce First Recipients of Esports Scholarship

By BSU Marketing and Communications— MUNCIE, Indiana – Ball State University and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) have selected the first two recipients of a first-of-its-kind scholarship program for esports student-athletes. The Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Scholarship provides $5,000 annually to two members of Ball State’s varsity esports team each year from the 2022-23 through 2025-26 academic years. The scholarship program, which advances the University’s mission of recruiting and retaining the top esports talent in the world, is a key…

From left to right; top to bottom: Samuel Brumley, Woodrow Elliott II, Kloee Felton, Julia Hodes, Taryn Sallee, Matthew Schaller, Lauren Smith, and JT Trinkle.

Education, Non-Profit May 30, 2022

Community Foundation Announces Additional 2022 Scholarship Recipients

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, Ind.—Congratulations to the following scholarship recipients – Samuel Brumley, a senior at Yorktown High School, is the recipient of the Jim Leffler Memorial Scholarship. Samuel plans to study computer science at Ball State Univetsity. He is the son of Joel and Susan Brumley. Woodrow Elliott II, a senior at Muncie Central High School, is the recipient of the Dylan T. Stafford We Before Me Scholarship. Woodrow plans to study business and health and human performance at…

Ponder and Plunge Members: Top left to right: Jill McCarthy, Patricia Lang, Janice Engstrom. Middle: Joan Anderson, Angela Lykins (back) and Beth McCrady (front), Connie Ruebel. Bottom: Sue Brooke

Non-Profit May 30, 2022

Fifty-Year Old Women’s Stock Club Full of Muncie History

By Patricia L Lang, Professor Emerita, Chemistry MUNCIE, Ind.—It’s not Plunder and Lunge. It’s Ponder and Plunge, a woman-only stock club in Muncie, Indiana. The name says it all, with emphasis on the PONDER part. The club recently celebrated 50 years of stock investment education. The club was founded in 1971 by four accomplished Muncie women: Esther Ball, Thelma Hiatt, Martha Wickham and Aline Emens. All of these women began as teachers and had remarkable careers. Esther Ball served the war…

The Grow-a-Row project encourages local gardeners to donate excess garden produce to community partners that can distribute the produce to neighbors in need. Photo by storyblocks

Non-Profit May 27, 2022

New ‘Grow-a-Row Produce Donation Network’ in Delaware, Blackford, and Jay Counties

By Lindsey Cox— MUNCIE, Ind.—The Food Council of East Central Indiana is spearheading a project this growing season in Delaware, Blackford, and Jay counties: Grow-a-Row. The project encourages local gardeners to donate excess garden produce to community partners that can distribute the produce to neighbors in need. Gardeners can purposefully Grow-a-row specifically for donation. Or, gardeners can also choose to donate their extra produce at the point in the summer when they’ve got so many veggies, they don’t know what…

Students explore robotics technology at a previous MTEN workshop. Photo by Kyra Zylstra.

Non-Profit May 27, 2022

Educators Lead STEM and Maker Programs at Madjax

By Kyra Zylstra— MUNCIE, Ind.—Robotics, drones, engineering, bookbinding, and more.  Join Madjax this summer for camps and workshops for students and families led by professional teachers. Camps will be held in Muncie and Anderson and will serve elementary through high school students and include options to learn as a family or with a mentor. Muncie Puppy Publications, June 13-27 Technology Career Exploration, June 27-30 Innovating with a Maker Mindset, July 11-14 Anderson Food Engineers, June 13-17 Robobusters, June 27-30 Drones and…

First Merchants Corporation

Business May 27, 2022

First Merchants Bank Named to 2022 List of ‘Great Employers to Work For’ in Indiana

By First Merchants— Best Companies Group ranks Muncie-based bank 4th for superior work environment MUNCIE, Ind. – First Merchants Bank was ranked fourth in the list of the 2022 ‘Great Employers to Work For’ in Indiana by Best Companies Group, a BridgeTower Media Company. The honor considered a review of practices, programs and benefits, and anonymous employee surveys. BCG categorizes its winners in three separate groups: small, medium & large employer, which First Merchants Bank falls under the large Employer…

Heidi Keever is pictured.

Education May 26, 2022

Muncie Community Schools Recognizes Teachers of the Year for 2021-22

By Andy Klotz— Support staff, Rising Stars, school partners also honored. MUNCIE, Ind. – Muncie Community Schools has named the 2021-22 Teachers of the Year at each of its schools. All award recipients were presented with commemorative plaques by their building principals and now become eligible for the overall district Teacher of the Year award, which will be presented at the start of the 2022-23 school year. “I can’t say enough about this group of outstanding educators,” MCS Director of…