Articles by Mike Rhodes

By Juli Metzger— MUNCIE, IN—Embedded career coaches at Muncie Central High School, a new Freshman Academy and a 10 point jump in the graduation rate were among highlights at a recent gathering of community stakeholders focused on The Opportunity Blueprint: 2030, a five-year community-wide strategic plan. “The better we can make our school system, the better our community’s going to be as a whole,” said Eric Grim, assistant superintendent of Muncie Community Schools. “And we’ve been very fortunate with all these partnerships over the last few years to celebrate a lot of those wonderful wins.” About 250 gathered at the…

By Ball State University Communications— MUNCIE, IN—Ball State University is welcoming award-winning author Christina Diaz Gonzalez to campus this Fall as the guest author for the University’s annual Writer-in-Residence program. Ms. Gonzalez is the author of the Edgar Award-winning mystery Concealed, the USA TODAY best-selling graphic novel Invisible, and the critically acclaimed historical fiction novel, The Red Umbrella. During Ms. Gonzalez’s week-long visit to the University—Nov. 3-6—she will speak to Ball State students in the classroom as well as participate in multiple book-related events with students at various elementary and middle schools in Muncie. The events featuring Ms. Gonzalez that are…

By Lesley DeVoss— MUNCIE, IN—Heart of Indiana United Way, in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College and with support from the Shafer Foundation, is celebrating the successful conclusion of the Road to Reading initiative, a summer program that brought free books and literacy resources directly to families across Muncie Promise Neighborhoods. Launched in May 2025, Road to Reading featured the Ivy Tech RV, fully stocked with books, that traveled to four neighborhood events. Families were invited to “shop” together for books, helping children and adults alike build literacy-rich home libraries and create joyful memories around reading. Over the course of Summer 2025,…

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— SELMA, IN—School pride is important to Wapahani High School senior Kendyl Carpenter. In fact, as a member of student council throughout her high school career, Carpenter helped start a School Pride Committee during her sophomore year and was its chair last year. “I try to help get people involved in school,” she said. “I just try to get people excited to come to school…and be…