Articles by Mike Rhodes

By Lesley DeVoss— MUNCIE, IN—Muncie Manufacturing and Ivy Tech Community College’s WorkMatters program have announced an exciting new collaboration aimed at enhancing the local Advanced Manufacturing and Technology sector. The initiative will focus on fostering stronger industry-education partnerships, preparing students for high-wage, in-demand careers in manufacturing and technology. As part of the partnership, Stephen Brand will join Ivy Tech’s School of Manufacturing, Engineering and Applied Science team as a mentor and liaison between local industry and education. Brand, who brings…

By BSU Communications— MUNCIE, Indiana — Three prominent leaders from Ball State University—Rick Hall, chair of the Board of Trustees; Mike McDaniel, board secretary; and President Geoffrey S. Mearns—this week were awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash, one of Indiana’s highest civilian honors, by Gov. Eric J. Holcomb. The Sagamore of the Wabash, created during the term of Gov. Ralph Gates (1945–49), recognizes individuals for their distinguished service to the state or significant contributions to its heritage. Recipients have included…

Bearcats will play first competitive events this month By Andy Klotz, APR, MCS Chief Communications Officer— MUNCIE, IN – Zach Houser has been “gaming” competitively since he was 13 years old. Now, the third-year Latin and English teacher at Muncie Central High School is about to make history as the first coach of the school’s eSports team. “I have a really deep personal passion for eSports,” Houser said. “It’s a way I’ve met a lot of my friends. It’s just…

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 Shannon— MUNCIE, IN—Attending the same school from kindergarten through 12th grade is bound to create strong emotions of either love or hate. Burris Laboratory School senior Abe Arthur falls into the love category. “The Burris community just feels like my family,” he said. “It’s all my friends…

By Hesham Allam, PhD, MBA/MIS — MUNCIE, IN—At Ball State University, cutting-edge technology is transforming the classroom experience. A local professor is using artificial intelligence (AI) to predict student grades and improve learning outcomes, offering a glimpse into the future of education. By analyzing early semester data such as quizzes, attendance, and class discussions, the AI system provides a detailed view of how students are likely to perform in the course. “The AI gives us a powerful tool to identify…