Education

By Andrea McDermott, Program Associate at The Future of Work— Muncie, IN—Build connections with your youth exploring STEM together. Ivy Tech Community Engagement and The Future of Work are partnering to offer free Virtual STEM Workshops for youth.The workshops are led by Ivy Tech faculty and feature five unique projects for pre-k through middle school that provide practical and engaging opportunities to reinforce scientific concepts through hands-on activities.  In addition to hands-on instruction, Ivy Tech faculty introduce connections with local educational options and career pathways. A supply list and instruction sheet for each video are also included, with many projects…

By Brian DeRome, Southside Technology Teacher— Muncie, IN—On March 6th, the Southside Middle School Robotics Team competed in the 2021 Indiana VEX IQ State Championships. Southside was one of 80 teams competing in the event out of more than 1,900 teams in the state. The event was virtual so all the matches took place at Southside and were streamed back to judges based in Indianapolis. They qualified for the event by winning an in-person league tournament held at Jay County High School in February. The team uses VEX IQ components to create an original design to play a game that changes…

By Jennifer Gasiorek— Muncie, IN—Ivy Tech Community College is looking to help single moms get the tools they need, by offering a free eight-week virtual course. The course will be offered on four campuses — Lafayette, Indianapolis, Muncie and Sellersburg — as a pilot, but will expand statewide soon. Classes begin March 22, will be offered virtually, and participants will earn college credit. “In the class, students will learn note-taking techniques, how to get aligned with the workforce, knowing their strengths and career options, financial literacy, and networking,” said Dr. Mia D Johnson, Statewide Lead for I.PASS and Chancellor, Ivy Tech…

By Andy Klotz— Muncie, IN—Muncie Central High School’s Class of 2021 will officially graduate inside the Muncie Fieldhouse rather than Ball State University’s Worthen Arena where the ceremony has taken place in recent years. The decision to move graduation is due to the ongoing pandemic and various restrictions regarding large gatherings. “We want to ensure that our graduates have as traditional a ceremony as possible with family members in attendance,” Central High School Principal Chris Walker said. “The Fieldhouse allows for all COVID-19 guidelines to be followed and will be a fantastic venue for this celebration.” Muncie Community Schools has…

By Sheryl Swingley— Muncie, IN—Applications for the American Association of University Women, Muncie Branch, nontraditional student scholarship are due Thursday, April 1. The scholarship is worth $1,500 and is available for the 2021-2022 academic year, effective Aug. 1, 2021, through July 31, 2022. The scholarship must be used for tuition, health fee, books, and other classroom-related expenses for the year, including summer session. To apply, applicants must meet the following selection criteria: Students of any gender identity who are 25 years old or older Students who are an undergraduate or graduate student at Ball State University, Ivy Tech, and/or other approved post-secondary institution –An undergraduate…

By Jennifer Gasiorek— Muncie, IN — The Muncie Campus of Ivy Tech Community College announces its newest endowed scholarship; Irie’s Guiding Fund. The new scholarship opportunity is named for Irie Elisabeth O’Shea, who tragically passed away in a house fire at the young age of 17. Irie was a stand-out Junior at Wes-Del High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, captain of the color guard team, and a tutor to younger students. Irie was known for her kindness and willingness to help others learn and grow. It was Irie’s passion to help others. It was…

By Jen Oliver,  NIET Indiana Director— Editor’s note: This article was first published by The National Institute For Excellence in Teaching and is republished here with permission.  Muncie, IN—While Muncie Community Schools could not have known at the time, the district launched one of the most important initiatives for supporting student success right as the pandemic was moving in: establishing and strengthening a teacher leadership pipeline. The district received a Career Ladders grant from the state in February 2020, right before COVID-19 forced schools to close. Hiring and training expert master teachers in every school, as well as training mentor teachers,…

By Brandon Coppernoll— Muncie, IN—TechWise Academy is announcing its Spring 2021 computer science classes with a focus on robotics and coding for K-12 students. Classes are held in the Coding Connector at the Innovation Connector building on White River Boulevard. The computer science curriculum gives students the tools to find ways to problem solve and explore curiosity and creativity. Students are encouraged to embrace mistakes to learn quickly and grow in confidence in classes. Instructors facilitate an environment where students can take risks and enjoy the learning process. “Our classes are designed to challenge students while giving them foundational problem…

By Susan Fisher, Muncie Public Library, Photos by Laura-Lea Hughes, Burris Laboratory School— Muncie, IN—Muncie Public Library (MPL) and Burris Laboratory School are excited to announce the recent roll out of a READ card program that will put a special library card in the hands of all students, faculty, and staff at Burris. The partnership will increase access to MPL books, audio-visual items, database resources, and eResources. “As soon as the partnership was approved, I shared details about it with our students and they have been very excited to get and use the new READ card,” said Laura-Lea Hughes, Media Specialist…