Articles by Mike Rhodes

Dr. Paaige K. Turner. Photo provided.

Education, We Fly April 20, 2018

Ball State Appoints Collaborator, Strategist As New Communication College Dean

By: Marc Ransford— Muncie, IN – Ball State University has selected Dr. Paaige K. Turner as the new dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media. The former associate dean of the School of Communications at Webster University begins July 15 at Ball State, replacing Roger Lavery, who is retiring. “We believe that Paaige is an excellent addition to the University and the College of Communication, Information, and Media,” said Marilyn M. Buck, interim provost and interim executive vice…

Read More
These days you see zombies on billboards, in crawl spaces ..." Photo illustration by: Mike Rhodes

Carlson April 20, 2018

John Carlson: What Do I Hear Down There?

By: John Carlson— There is a certain level of spookiness encountered at night when one’s old kitchen is torn out in order to put in a new one. This is especially true when – in terms of personal courage – you are an unapologetic chicken, and indeed, the sort of unapologetic chicken who wouldn’t be surprised if supernatural beasts are reproducing like bunnies down in your crawl space. I know this from personal experience. For a few hours there was…

Burris teacher Bethany Clegg expanded a kindergarten classroom unit on dinosaurs into her physical education class. One activity had students completing an obstacle course with dino eggs. Photo provided.

Education April 19, 2018

Teachers Awarded Funding for Creative and Innovative Classroom Projects

By: Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer— Muncie, Ind. – Local teachers will receive $841 in Robert P. Bell Education Grants from The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. during the final grant cycle of the academic year. Across the county, 1,000s of students benefit from Bell Education Grants each year. Clara Chi, Indiana Academy, was awarded $450 to expose high school juniors and seniors to Japanese culture through animation and film. After watching a series of Japanese animations,…

Works of art previously available at the YART sale during a past year's ArtsWalk. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Non-Profit April 19, 2018

Spring 2018 YART To Be Held On May 3rd at Canan Commons

By: Moth Danner— Muncie, Indiana – YART is Coming! YART is a yard sale for art. YART began in Muncie, Indiana with students at Ball State University and continues here and in several U.S. cities – a Muncie original. The Muncie YART is now held downtown, at Canan Commons, twice a year, Spring and Fall, on the First Thursday of every May and October. This community art sale, with a goal of making art affordable and accessible to everyone, brings…

Dale Basham is pictured at the podium making remarks after receiving the Edmund F. Ball Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Non-Profit April 18, 2018

2018 VIVA Award Winners Recognized At Horizon Convention Center

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN – The Muncie Rotary Club, Muncie Sunrise Rotary Club and United Way of Delaware County recognized 8 individuals at the 26th annual VIVA Awards luncheon, held on April 17th at the Horizon Convention Center. The VIVA Awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated the highest level of volunteer activity to serve the civic and social needs of our community.  The event rewards, reinforces and inspires local volunteers to aspire to the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self.” Individuals who live…

Photo by: Robbie Mehling

Non-Profit April 18, 2018

Muncie’s Bridge Dinner Scheduled for April 26

By: Erin Moore, Ball State Office of Community Engagement— Muncie, IN – The Muncie Action Plan and twelve other Muncie organizations are hosting Muncie’s second community-wide bridge dinner on Thursday, April 26, 5:30 – 7:30 pm on the Washington Street Bridge. The event will feature expanded food and drink options for purchase, live music from the East Central Indiana Youth Symphony Orchestra and Ball State University’s Trombone Choir, Muncie t-shirts and art for sale, and a one-of-a-kind location. MITS will generously provide…

Ivy Tech Muncie gold medal winners. Photo provided.

Education April 17, 2018

Muncie Ivy Tech IT Students Bring Home 2 Golds and a Bronze

By: Jennifer S. Gasiorek— Muncie, IN—Muncie Ivy Tech Community College students participated in the 2018 statewide Information Technology Spring Expo. The Expo included opportunities for students to network and distribute their resumes to industry leaders like Cisco, Oracle, Microsoft and Wiley during the Career Expo. During the IT Challenge, more than 100 students competed in 8 different challenges. Ivy Tech Muncie students brought home two gold medals and a bronze medal in the competitions. The gold medal was awarded to the…

Photo provided.

Education April 16, 2018

Talking Race: How to Facilitate the Discussion

By: Molly McGuire— Muncie, IN—This semester at Ball State University, graduate students enrolled in Dr. Ruby Cain’s EDAC 698 Cultural Identities and Community Engagement course have developed and will administer Talking Race: How to Facilitate the Discussion workshop, this coming Sunday, April 22nd, on campus at Ball State University from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. This immersive learning graduate course has been offered at Ball State University for the past seven years. It is constructed from It Is Well With…

A few of Ivy Tech's EDM Awards are pictured. Photo provided.

Education April 16, 2018

Ivy Tech Community College Wins 25 Educational Digital Marketing Awards

By: Kelsey Batten— INDIANAPOLIS – Ivy Tech Community College received 25 awards from the Higher Education Marketing Report’s fifth annual Education Digital Marketing Awards. These awards recognize the best in digital education marketing in 29 different categories. There were more than 1,000 entries received from colleges, universities and secondary schools across the United States. Ivy Tech’s awards include: Gold: “32% in a single day via SEM” in Total Digital Marketing Program category Gold: “Close the Gap” graphic in New Media Content…

Pictured from L-R: Cornelius Dollison - Community Organizer, Jennifer Mearns - Spouse of BSU President Mearns, DiLynn Phelps - Assistant Superintendent, Chris Walker - MCH Principal, Drew Shermeta - Social Studies Department, Ken Hudson - Executive Director - Whitely Community Council, Mary Dollison - Community Organizer. Photo provided

Education April 16, 2018

‘Lunchtime Opportunity Tables’ Expose MCS Students to Community Opportunities

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—Every month, a variety of community organizations and businesses stop by Muncie Central High School during lunchtime to meet and greet students through a program called Lunchtime Opportunity Tables. The program is offered by the Whitely Community Council and aims to put students in touch with local businesses and organizations they may not normally have much contact with.  Lunchtime Opportunity Tables are held during 3 lunchtime periods in the MCHS cafeteria. Ken Hudson is executive director of…