Education

By Stacey A. Shannon— YORKTOWN, IN—When Madden Moore was 12, he lost his wallet. That one seemingly trivial act had a spiral effect that has impacted numerous residents of Delaware County and beyond. The now 16-year-old sophomore at Yorktown High School said his mom posted on her Facebook page about his lost wallet wondering if anyone had come across it. The response overwhelmed his family as people started giving money to replace what he had lost. “I ended up with a lot more than I started with,” Moore said. He wanted to find something to do with that extra money…

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—The Muncie Central High School Alumni Association has awarded four teachers, a guidance counselor and an administrator at Muncie Central $4,250 in grants for 2025. Since 1998, the alumni association has awarded nearly $45,000 to cover the cost of materials needed by educators at Muncie Central. Normally, $2,000 in grants is awarded each year, but the alumni board voted at its January 2025 meeting to more than double the amount of money to be awarded this year. Recipients of the 2025 grants are as follows: Kyle Padgett, football coach, helmet and shoulder pads, $1,000; Sarah Hofmann, math…

By Megan Custodio— MUNCIE, IN—Jackson Taylor from Muncie has been named to Orr Fellowship’s newest cohort for 2025. He is among 74 talented college seniors who have been matched with leading Indiana-based partner companies to embark on a two-year Fellowship upon graduation. Taylor is currently a student at Indiana State University (ISU), graduating this May. Following graduation from ISU, Taylor will begin his Orr Fellowship as a Business Development Representative for Toolsey, a cloud-based lead management platform for the home services industry. Orr Fellowship is an early career development program for versatile high-achievers and future-focused businesses in Indiana. The program recruits,…

By Ball State University Communications— MUNCIE, IN — The Ball State University Foundation today revealed the recipients of the University’s newest “Top 100 Student Awards.” This annual awards program honors 100 exceptional junior and senior undergraduates who embody the spirit of Beneficence—Ball State’s iconic statue representing the generosity of the five Ball brothers, whose land donation helped establish the University. The full list of Ball State’s 2025 Top 100 Students is available on the Foundation’s website. “We are grateful for the opportunity to recognize Ball State’s outstanding junior and senior students for a fourth year through the ‘Top 100 Student…

By Lesley DeVoss— MUNCIE, IN – As of September 2024, there were more than 300 posted open positions for special education teachers in Indiana. To help meet this need, Ivy Tech Muncie-Henry County is one of a few Ivy Tech locations that offers a Special Education program. This program serves as a foundation for accessible and inclusive learning environments through its students. The 60-credit hour, four-semester program is designed to equip aspiring educators with the skills and knowledge they need to transform the lives of students with differing abilities. Future educators complete the program and transfer to a four-year partner…

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— DALEVILLE, IN—Daleville Junior/Senior High School senior Zoe Shihemi is passionate about advocating for children and others who cannot do so themselves. As an eighth grader in Pendleton, she became a member of the Best Buddies Club, which pairs students with special needs classmates. Though she moved to Daleville her sophomore year and the program wasn’t available, she remains connected to her buddy from Pendleton.  “I’m still…

All students, visitors to pass through weapon detection system By Andy Klotz— MUNCIE, IN—Beginning Friday, February 14, all Muncie Central students will start entering the high school through a new, discreet weapon detection system. This system, purchased with funds provided by the City of Muncie, enhances current security measures, providing another layer of safety for everyone inside. Any visitors to the school will also be required to pass through the new system. “We are all aware of unfortunate situations that have occurred in schools around the country, and we want to do everything we can to prevent something like that…