Articles by Mike Rhodes

Young Entrepreneurs To Compete for Prizes Worth Over $100,000

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, Indiana — Young innovators from across Indiana may learn more about the entrepreneurial process through a pitch competition — and win up to $100,000 in prizes — co-sponsored by Ball State University in partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC) and the Indiana Department of Education (DOE). Innovate WithIN Pitch Competition, now in its second year, is designed for high school innovators who have an idea for a business, product, service, technology component, or other…

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John Carlson: Thanksgiving, In Retrospect

By: John Carlson— By the time you read this, I will have survived my 68th Thanksgiving. Sixty-eight strikes me as lots of Thanksgivings, so I feel confident in explaining exactly what I am thinking, feeling and doing right now. That is even though this column is being written fully two weeks before Turkey Day, so I can sneak in a quick Florida vacation. First, in keeping with yesterday’s holiday, I feel incredibly thankful. What I feel incredibly thankful for  is…


Enchanted Luminaria Walk at Minnetrista Begins November 30th

By: Stephen Mortland— Muncie, IN—There is no better way to kick off the holiday season than with your family and friends at Enchanted Luminaria Walk at Minnetrista, on November 30 and December 1 from 6–9 p.m. each night. “Enchanted Luminaria Walk is one of my favorite events to work here at Minnetrista,” said Discovery and Engagement Manager, Ashley Mann. “It’s our gift to the community and there are so many amazing opportunities for family fun and memory making. The excitement…


MFD’s ‘Toys for Tots’ Donations Accepted at NOEL The Musical and Mannheim Steamroller

By: Kristi Chambers— Muncie, Indiana–Emens Auditorium will be host two spectacular holiday shows this Christmas season. Noel the Musical will be on Tuesday, November 20 at 7:30 p.m. Following that Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis will be November 29, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. In partnership with the Muncie Fire Department’s Toys for Tots, bring a toy donation to NOEL the Musical and Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis  and receive a BOGO (buy one get one free) coupon to…


John Carlson: Movie-Going Is Looking Up

By: John Carlson— Back in my formative years, going to movies was not a big part of my life. This was because we were Baptists, very conservative Baptists. Supporting Hollywood and its lewd, sinful, lascivious ways was a no-no. Nevertheless, against all odds, I somehow managed to see two movies as a kid. One was “Sink the Bismarck.” The other was “Darby O’Gill and the Little People.” Beats me how this happened, but the screaming banshees in the latter made…


CNN’s Brian Stelter To Speak Nov. 27th At Pruis Hall

By: Sheryl Swingley— Muncie, Indiana—Brian Stelter, chief media correspondent for CNN, will speak at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, in Pruis Hall on the campus of Ball State University. His presentation is titled “Truthfully Reporting in the ‘Fake News’ Era.” The event is free and open to the public. Stelter, 33, is the anchor of “Reliable Sources,” which examines the week’s top media stories every Sunday at 11 a.m. on CNN. He also reports for CNN Business and writes a…


Students Driven To Solve Ecological Issues Awarded Coveted Scholarship

By: Ball State University Marketing and Communications— Muncie, Indiana – One Ball State University student wants to solve ecological issues by focusing on water systems while a classmate aspires to help protect the world’s endangered species. Their determination is being recognized with a major scholarship that will help them reach their goals. Ball State undergraduates Maddie Clark and Kaitlin Gavenda are in their senior year of college as winners of the prestigious Udall Scholarship, a $7,000 award that celebrates student…


Ball State’s Entrepreneurship Program Ranked 12th Nationally

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, Indiana – Ball State University’s entrepreneurship program is the 12th best among undergraduates offerings in the nation, according to The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine. The Princeton Review’s 13th annual survey names the 25 undergraduate and 25 graduate schools best for entrepreneurship studies. Ball State moved up from 20th last year. Since its formation in 1983, the Entrepreneurship Center has been a leader in entrepreneurial education — taking creative risks through evidence-based approach — and has been consistently…


A Better Way and United Way-Breaking The Cycle Together

By: Juli Metzger— Muncie, Indiana—Brian and Rhea Graham have spent the last three years pushing aside personal demons and life’s roadblocks to become very public advocates for recovery and redemption. Both recovering addicts, they’ve done it even as they have faced the financial constrictions that keep them just shy of qualifying for federal assistance. They are what United Way calls ALICE, asset limited, income constrained but employed. Today, Rhea takes on one more role – as a spokesperson for A…


Enjoy a Hike at Stout Memorial Woods on Black Friday

By: Julie Borgmann, executive director of Red-tail Land Conservancy— Muncie, IN—People often ask me, what is your favorite Red-tail property?  I honestly have to reply, it depends on the season and the mood I’m in.   When I visit Baskin Robbins, I always have to walk along the cooler before I choose which of the 33 flavors I want to eat. The same is true of planning a hike. What do I want to see, hear, smell, and feel? In late November as…