2000 W. University Ave. Muncie, IN 47306

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED FALL/WINTER 2017-18

AS CARDINALS, Photo by Domenic Centofanti WE FLY More vocal. More visible. Ball State University is the one to watch. PAGE 30

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS Alumnus Vince Bertram inspires a generation to connect to STEM. PAGE 48 Lasting Impressions Through its new brand, Ball State is letting the world know all the things that make it such a distinctive place (see p. 30). For many alumni, that list would include Frog Baby, the sculpture of a joyous little girl playfully holding a frog in each hand. Frog Baby was moved outdoors, to Dance major Ciara Borg (above) and other students the middle of a fountain near Bracken Library, in help Ball State University share its story with the world.

1993. Students take good care of her, bundling Photo © Ball State University her with a scarf or hat during chilly weather. First Glance Ball State University celebrates its new brand with a bang — literally — as hundreds of students, faculty and staff pack Sursa Hall for the Brand Launch Party. Streamers fly as cabaret students mentored by Tony Award winner Sutton Foster end their performance, a mashup of songs based on the new tagline, “We Fly.” The Nov. 6 launch also included a transformation of the campus and a student social media takeover.

Photo by Don Rogers 2017-18 Alumni Council Executive Committee Chair: Sam DeWeese, MS ’02 Vice Chair: Kelli Lawrence, ’01 FROM THE PRESIDENT Past Chair: Christy Swing Horn, ’81 MA ’10 AlumFALL/WINTERn 2017-18i Secretary: Mike Earley, ’78 Treasurer: Jeff Kingsbury, ’91 At-Large Representative: Laura Cain, ’86 MAE ’98 EdS ’13 EdD ’15 Dear Alumni and Friends: At-Large Representative: Larry Riley, ’71 During my first convocation, I told our faculty and staff that we were going to reveal a refreshed Geoffrey S. Mearns At-Large Representative: Larry Roan, ’77 Ball State University Board of Trustees Representative: Wayne Estopinal, ’79 brand and launch an aggressive new marketing campaign. We are going to be more vocal. We are President Ball State University Board of Trustees Representative: Brian Gallagher, ’81 going to be more visible. We are going to tell the stories of our students and our graduates with the Ball State University Foundation Representative: Larry Metzing, ’71 President’s Cabinet President and CEO: Jen Goins passion and with the energy that they deserve. Marilyn Buck Ex-Officio: Jeff Lang, EVP/Treasurer, Ball State University Foundation We are going to demonstrate that Ball State University should be a student’s first choice — the best Interim Provost and Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Ball State University Foundation Alumni Engagement liaison: Lori Corvino option for students who want an excellent education that will prepare them to have successful careers Kay Bales, EdD ’00 At-Large and lead meaningful lives. We’re going to prove Ball State is the one to watch. Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services Jay Brill, ’74 and Dean of Students The two most visible elements of a brand are its logo and its tagline. K. Douglas Cook, ’79 Sali Falling, MA ’88 Adam Drummond, ’02 MA ’05 EdS ’11 EdD ’14 In our new logo, Beneficence, the symbol of Vice President and General Counsel Jim Fields, ’97 our enduring values, plays a prominent role and Bernard Hannon Scott Franko, ’92 rightly so. The design of the new logo better Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer Liz Hodges, ’87 Loren Malm, ’86 Lana Manikowski, ’97 captures our aspirations as we enter our next Interim Vice President for Information Technology Pamala Morris, ’69 MAE ’71 century. Beneficence goes beyond the shield the Cherí O’Neill, ’89 Beth Snyder, ’78 way our University goes beyond the campus. President and CEO of Ball State University Foundation Nick Zuniga, ’04 “We Fly” is inspired by our University Mark Sandy Alumni Chapters/Clubs community, our faculty, staff, students, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Chicago Area: Blair Kramer, ’05 Kathy Wolf Indianapolis Area: Scott Wenclewicz, ’06 and alumni. Vice President, Marketing and Communications Michiana: Samantha Adamczewski, ’10 So who is the “We” in “We Fly”? Let’s start Northeastern Indiana: Jacqueline Downey, ’87 with our students. They are bright, ambitious, Magazine Staff Professional Societies and curious. They want the active, hands-on Samantha Blankenship, ’15 College of Architecture and Planning: MJ Meneley, ’96 education that immersive learning provides. Multimedia Specialist Miller College of Business: Ed Armantrout, ’01 Elizabeth Brooks, ’95 Journalism: Deana Haworth, MA ’05 Guided by faculty mentors, our students discover Creative Strategist Natural Resources and Environmental Management: the solution to a real problem. Students and Danesa Stolz, ’97 Domenic Centofanti professors are learning partners on the journey. Multimedia Specialist Nursing: Cheryl Riwitis, ’83 Teachers College: Jennifer Conti, MA ’02 Staff, community partners, coaches, alumni, Jennifer Criss, ’98 Office Services Coordinator Telecommunications: Todd Merickel, ’94 and friends, all contribute to an environment of education innovation. Theatre and Dance: Holly Stults Haas, ’89 Dan Forst, ’85 “We” means all of us in the Ball State community, near and far. Account Strategist Constituent Societies And why “Fly” as the verb? Cardinals fly. Flying takes preparation, training, effort, work — Kari Gayes, ’06 Alumni Ambassadors: Dwight Smith, ’87 physical and mental. It is challenging and exhilarating. Account Strategist Black Alumni: Teresa Jeter, MURP ’95 Football Player’s Association: Kyle West, ’76 But a brand is more than a logo and a tagline. It is demonstrating how our University lives up Tim Obermiller Senior Content Strategist And Magazine Editor Young Alumni Council (YAC): Michele Musson, ’06 MBA ’07 to its promises. Marc Ransford, ’83 MA ’07 In these pages, you will see we are doing just that. Metals artist Stacey Lee Webber (p.15), Senior Communications Strategist Alumni Engagement Staff Lori Corvino David Northern of the Lake County Housing Authority (p. 42), and Vince Bertram of Project Kim Rendfeld Senior Director of Alumni Engagement, Lead The Way (p. 48) are only a few alumni who “fly” in their careers and serve their neighbors. Senior Communications Strategist Special Events and Stewardship Our University is strong. We have record total enrollment, a large freshman class that’s the most Don Rogers, ’77 Allison DeWitt, ’09 Multimedia Specialist Director of Alumni Engagement, Regional Markets academically qualified and diverse in our history, excellent four-year graduation rates, top-flight Gail Werner, ’04 Michelle Harrell, AA ’87 technology, and innovative academic programs. Alumni Engagement Coordinator Content Strategist We have a great story to tell — one made possible by you, our alumni and friends. Your loyal Michelle Johnson, ’01 MA ’07 Judy Wolf Senior Director of Alumni Engagement, Homecoming, support has helped make Ball State what it is today. It is a privilege to serve as your president. Communications Specialist Athletics and Reunions Carol Kosisko, ’88 Director of Alumni Engagement, Collegiate Groups Sincerely, EP Graphics, Berne, Indiana, prints Ball State University Alumni Magazine. Paper Alanna Lewis is Chain of Custody-certified by Forest Stewardship Council. Printer uses ink with Alumni Engagement Coordinator soy oil, and all waste paper and solvents used in the printing process are recycled. Lexi Rodebeck, ’12 Marketing and Communications, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 47306, Alumni Engagement Coordinator 765-285-1560. Contact us: [email protected]. Ball State University practices equal opportunity in education and employment and Sue Taylor, ’71 is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community. Ball State wants Director of Alumni Engagement, Collegiate and Affinity Groups Geoffrey S. Mearns its programs and services to be accessible to all people. For information about access Kate Webber, ’98 MA ’99 President, Ball State University and accommodations, please call the Office of Disability Services at 765-285-5293; Senior Director of Alumni Engagement, Alumni Communities go through Relay Indiana for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals (relayindiana.com and Volunteer Management or 877-446-8772); or visit bsu.edu/disabilityservices. Deanna Zimmer Executive Assistant to the Associate Vice President 2 Ball State University Alumni Magazine of Alumni Engagement and Alumni Council Coordinator Photo © Ball State University Fall/Winter 2017–18 3 CONTENTSFALL/WINTER 2017-18

Photo © Ball State University

30 COVER STORY: We Fly DEPARTMENTS Our bold, new brand will tell the world what is distinctive to Ball State: Letter to Alumni . . 6 our education innovation and the culture, values and perfect size to provide it. #BallState . . . . 7 News 8 Shared Experience 35 Students, faculty and community partners combine to make a powerful Arts & Culture . . . 14 impact through immersive learning. Athletics . . . . . 19 42 Building for the Better Empowered . . . 24 With determination and ingenuity, David Northern, ’97, finds new ways Alumni . . . . . 52 to provide safe, affordable housing for North Chicago residents. Class Notes . . . 54 Connecting the Dots In Memoriam 61 46 Ball State’s Career Center provides students with specialized services and personal attention, and it gets them started early. CURRENCY EXCHANGE

Breaking Down Barriers In addition to her solo work, Stacey Lee Webber, ’05, collaborates with fellow artists on projects such as this necklace. Webber and collage artist Mark Wagner combined techniques to create the piece, 48 Under alumnus Vince Bertram’s guidance, Project Lead The Way inspires children to connect to STEM subjects through programs with Webber fabricating silver quarters for the setting and Wagner adding one-dollar bill collages that are both relevant and fun. that change with the turn of a knob. The necklace was among a variety of works by Webber displayed this fall in a solo exhibition at the School of Art’s Atrium Gallery. Read more on p. 15.

4 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 5 #BallState

Join Us as We Reach New Heights Ball State Pet Pride Raise your paws if you love Ball State! We asked for your Pride and Loyalty: These two outstanding characteristics define you, our Ball State best spirited pet photos, and you delivered. alumni. You are proud of your experiences, your accomplishments, the growth of the university and Ball State’s innovative approach to education. At the same time, you are loyal — giving your time, your talent and your dollars to strengthen Ball State. That loyalty also extends to friends, faculty, coaches, staff and others who helped create your experiences and have given you a lifetime of memories. Last summer, we began hosting a series of events that celebrate your spirit and dedication. Your Ball State: Proud & Loyal started locally and is traveling to multiple key alumni markets across the country during the academic year, engaging and inspiring our alumni.

These events have provided a perfect opportunity for Steph Gorrell @princesa.cookie @beth_out.and.about you to meet Ball State’s president, Geoffrey S. Mearns, who not only fully supports academia and the What an amazing GAME DAY! We hosted our families, we congratulated @PresidentMearns community but also believes in the power of alumni Jacob and Shelby after they got engaged at halftime, and our Cardinals won! engagement and philanthropy. — The Ball State “Pride of Mid-America” Marching Band President Mearns and his wife, Jennifer, recently created the Mearns/Proud Family Scholarship, which honors their family legacy and supports their passion for community support by providing Ball State President Mearns (left) scholarships for first-generation students from Muncie has attended many alumni events, including Central High School. Many others have contributed to this scholarship to help it grow, this fall's Alumni & celebrating a new presidency and a new era. Benefactors Awards. It’s truly an exciting time to be a Ball State alumnus. Remember the Alumni With him (from left) are Maureen Hire, ’92 MA Association is here to help you succeed personally and professionally. We invite you ’10; Jen Goins; Benny to stay connected with us, let us know how we can best serve you and to rely on us I enjoyed my time with @MuncieBY5 this morning, award winner Russ for support. Please visit us at bsu.edu/alumni to see how you can get involved, show delivering books for Little Free Libraries in @CityofMuncie Hire, ’88; and Allison your pride, explore our services, update your alumni information and find alumni DeWitt, ’09. and Delaware County. #BetterTogether events in your area. Jennifer and I had With the university’s centennial right around the corner, there will be much to celebrate breakfast this morning and ways to be involved through new experiences and opportunities. We are a part of with @BallState staff an alumni network that is 190,000 strong. Think about that — that’s a powerful number! members who helped And, together, we can do anything and reach new heights. with my installation. I am grateful for their I look forward to seeing you on campus and on the road. hard work.

For Ball State,

Cowan Elementary Students reading for Charlie’s Reading Challenge! Chirp! Chirp! Go Ball State! Jen Goins is associate vice president of alumni engagement for #ChirpChirpFridayCRC Ball State University Foundation and president of the Ball State @BallStateSports University Alumni Association. Contact her via [email protected] @CowanBlackhawks

Editor’s note: Learn more about Charlie’s Reading Challenge on p. 20.

6 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 7 Reports / Projects / Discoveries NEWS ENROLLMENT GROWS FROM ADMISSIONS OUTREACH NEWS By Judy Wolf all State’s fall enrollment of 22,513, the most in its history, online’s director of marketing and communications. Those is the result of targeted efforts that the university plans to seeking graduate degrees are the majority of the 4,670 online #BetterTogether Bkeep building on. students, with many enrolled in highly ranked MBA, nursing Muncie and Ball State are truly better together — the theme The freshman class also set a record for underrepresented and education online graduate programs. of Geoffrey S. Mearns’ installation as president and the The Graduate School’s numbers rose 30 percent from three community forums that followed. What better event to kick populations (20 percent) and, at 4,002, is the school’s second- things off than the United Way’s Day of Action on Sept. 7? largest group of first-time students. Nearly 73 percent of falls ago. “The school’s enrollment plan has been very, very About 360 Ball State employees volunteered for projects in freshmen earned an Academic Honors Diploma, and the helpful, because it’s not just the recruiting office doing the the community, including beautification of Cardinal Greenway. class had a 3.5 grade point average. work,” said Stephanie Wilson, director of graduate recruitment Successful recruitment methods help explain why the and enrollment. “It’s very much empowered the departments university didn’t fall prey to lower regional and national to conduct their own recruiting.” enrollment trends. The percentage of minority grad students has also risen — Relationships are recruiting’s heart, from individual outreach from 8.1 percent in 2012 to 13.6 percent in 2016, a 68 percent to social media, said Chris Munchel. “You want to be in the jump. She points to several efforts to recruit minority students, students’ space, but you don’t want to be in their space too from publicizing assistantships for underrepresented much or too little,” according to the associate vice president students to PhD Pathways, which matches students from of student affairs and enrollment services and executive underrepresented backgrounds with faculty, staff, area director of admissions and orientation. professionals and alumni mentors. “Our faculty and staff do a great job of providing information At the same time, the Grad School is working to boost the to prospective students and families about what students will presence of international students, which adds diversity of be able to accomplish here and ultimately after graduation.” thought to campus, Wilson said. That worked for sophomore Maia Mitchell. “The Ball State Building relationships also has been vital to having more recruiting communications I got were just right,” said Mitchell, undergraduate minority students, Munchel said. Representatives a telecommunications major from Indianapolis. “I think the go to college fairs specific to diversity and to high schools information I received was helpful.” with a large percentage of diverse students. And the university Ball State also streamlined the undergrad application and cultivates relationships with community and business leaders review process while still looking at each applicant holistically. who help promote Ball State to prospective students. Early entry into the market and high-quality programs are “Students learn from others who come from different helping online and distance education beat peers’ generally backgrounds and think differently than they do. … We live in stable enrollments, according to Nancy Prater. It now accounts a global society, so the more diverse our student body, the for more than 20 percent of total university enrollment, said better for everyone.”

Total Fall Enrollment Fall Freshman Class Diversity Online-Only Enrollment for (on and off campus) Undergraduate, Grad Students 23,000 20.0 5,000 22,513 4,670 +2.3%

21,998 of 4,097

ethnic minorities 18.5

students 22,000 percentage +3.8% students 4,000 3,499 21,196 17.0 +2.6% 3,057 21,000 3,000 20,655 +0.7% 15.5

20,000 14.0 2,000 2014 2015 2016 2017 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 Photo by Samantha Blankenship

8 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 9 NEWS NEWS

5 QUESTIONS FOR SIMON BALTO FOUNDATION FOR A NEW CENTURY Simon Balto joined Ball State’s history department in 2015 with a mission in mind: to bring back the President Geoffrey S. Mearns will build on his accomplishments to set a new university’s African-American Studies minor, which was last offered in 2010 and returned this fall. strategic plan and vision as Ball State prepares for its next 100 years. Below, Balto speaks about the program’s broad appeal, its relevance to current events and more. By Kim Rendfeld

Do you discuss current events Is there a practical benefit to such as the controversy over having an African American Photo by Domenic Centofanti 1 Confederate monuments in 3 Studies minor? the history classes you teach? It’s a demonstrable fact that employers Absolutely. One of the benefits — and, want to hire people who are knowledgeable frankly, responsibilities — of teaching about diversity and its role in American histories of the modern era is that it society. This is true across disciplines, allows me to help students make their from advertising to teaching. And it’s only current world more intelligible. We live going to be become more true over time, in an age in which so many different as the country continues to become things are being contested politically more and more diverse. and socially. But you can look at practically any hot-button issue right What sparked your interest now and trace its historical lineage. 4 in history? I often tell my students that I don’t What got me hooked on history really care what their politics are. I just as a major was an introductory survey to want the politics they have to be well- African American history I took with Tim informed and historically aware. People Tyson, who was teaching at the University who are of college age right now are of Wisconsin and is now at Duke. It was President Mearns and his wife, Jennifer, (not pictured) speak to often driving the debates that roil our like a lightning bolt for me. When someone students, faculty and staff during national politics, and it will certainly be teaches African-American history well, an informal tour of the Art and people of that age that ultimately inherit I don’t know that there’s a more beautiful Journalism Building. them. Why not let the classroom be a class a student can take. Because the space for them to think about these things? core of the history is one of survival, resistance, persistence, struggle, Why should non-black students achievement, love and, above all ecord enrollment. A large, academically qualified, even the unsuccessful ones, say a lot about generosity but learn about African-American else, humanity. diverse freshman class. Rising on-time graduation also the persistence of our community. 2 history? Rrates. An enhanced partnership with Muncie. A new brand. “Undoubtedly, we face some significant challenges — My pitch to all of my students is that Is there book you’ve read It’s a great time to be president of Ball State University, and challenges that are primarily because of external economic black history is American history. You 5 recently that you would Geoffrey S. Mearns knows it. He has high hopes about the forces. But we can solve them. We have before.” cannot understand how the United States recommend? future of the institution he leads and for the community to Since he started in May, Mearns has invested a lot of time rose to economic preeminence without I’ve been reading a lot more fiction lately, which he belongs. and energy meeting with students, faculty and staff on understanding the degree to which slavery and my two favorite novels that I’ve read “I’m optimistic about the future,” Mearns said, “and one campus and alumni, friends and government officials near allowed that rise to happen. You cannot recently have been Jesmyn Ward’s “Sing, source of that optimism comes from our past. and far. At his request, he led a series of community forums understand the contours of American Unburied, Sing” and Viet Thanh Nguyen’s “This year, our University will celebrate our centennial. this Fall in partnership with Muncie’s newspaper, The Star democracy without understanding how “The Sympathizer.” Both authors recently We are here today because of the generous support from the Press. The forums — which engaged community members in black people labored for generations won MacArthur ‘Genius Grants’ for their Muncie community — support that dates back to the people lively conversations about neighborhoods and education, arts to expand people’s access to the vote. work, so I’m not exactly tilling the soil of who founded this institution nearly 100 years ago. It was not and culture, and local and regional economic development — You’re not just studying some “niche” originality by praising them. But they both the community’s first attempt to bring higher education to followed his official installation as Ball State’s 17th president aspect of U.S. history. You are deepening resonated really deeply with me. Muncie. Prior efforts failed four times, but the people in this in September. He also frequently attends various community your understanding of your country as a community didn’t give up. Not until Ball State began as a events in Muncie. whole — warts, triumphs and all. Visit magazine.bsu.edu to public, state-assisted teachers college in 1918. Those efforts, (Continued on next page) read more of Balto’s interview.

10 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 11 NEWS NEWS

Photo by Domenic Centofanti

“President Mearns has worked tremendously hard to get to know the campus and its stakeholders,” said Rick Hall, ’89, GIFT TO MUNCIE chair of the Board of Trustees. “He eloquently articulates a President Mearns and his wife, Jennifer, have made strong vision that ensures all members of the Ball State a personal commitment to Muncie by establishing community will have meaningful roles in shaping the University’s the Mearns/Proud Family Scholarship for Muncie future. He wants us all to have every opportunity to enjoy the Central students who attend Ball State and are success that comes when we all work toward one goal.” the first in their families to go to college. President Muncie native and resident Traci Lutton, ’05, appreciates and Mrs. Mearns have given $100,000. With other Mearns’ commitment to Muncie. As vice president of donations, the fund now has more than $400,000. economic development for the Muncie-Delaware County To contribute, visit bsu.edu/munciescholarship. Economic Development Alliance, Lutton was a panelist with Mearns at the community forum where campus and city leaders discussed economic development. “I found him to be gracious, approachable and sincerely University’s support as we tackle difficult community interested in getting to know the Muncie community in order challenges and celebrate and enhance our existing assets.” to find ways in which we might work together,” she said. “He Kathy Berryhill, a junior from Indianapolis and a construction sees the direct correlation between the success of Muncie management major, served on the presidential transition and the success of Ball State. It certainly bodes well for future committee and met Mearns during an event last summer partnerships between the University and the city. at Bracken House. “There is new energy and mounting anticipation around “He was exactly what I had been asking for in a president,” a new era at Ball State. This is only the beginning, but I am she said. “From what I’ve seen, he’s been wonderful at excited about our trajectory. I am looking forward to the facilitating community interactions and making sure that

students are aware that he is there for them, but at the same “As indicated by President Mearns, we must be always time, he is great at maintaining the integrity of the University. vigilant of our history and the many accomplishments He’s really friendly. I’ve chatted with other students who have achieved during the first 100 years of Ball State’s history. We interacted with him, and they always walk away in awe of how cannot rest upon our laurels, and we must continue to grow genuine he is. Every interaction with him is a joy.” and reinvent ourselves if we are to remain sustainable while Kourtland Koch, chair of the University Senate and meeting the needs of Ball State, our community and the state professor of special education, has accompanied Mearns of Indiana.” on a series of walking tours the president initiated this Fall As Ball State enters its second century in 2018, it will have in an ongoing effort to meet informally with faculty, staff and a new strategic plan and vision for the short and long term. students. During the tours, Koch heard members of the Mearns will lead the yearlong process to develop the plan. campus community express pride in Ball State and With involvement from all constituents of the Ball State appreciation for Mearns’ visibility and engagement. community, the plan will be finalized by the end of the year. “President Mearns exhibits a true sense of stewardship,” “Our University’s strong position gives us the opportunity Koch said. “Often he refers to the Beneficence Pledge, more to develop our next strategic plan thoughtfully and specifically the pledge to act in a socially responsible way deliberately,” Mearns said. “It is premature to predict precisely by exhibiting ‘civility, courtesy, compassion, and dignity.’ what will be in the plan, but I am confident our plan will retain our commitment to providing a quality education at an affordable price. “Our University will continue to spark intellectual curiosity, Opposite page, top left: Mearns meets with alumni at a Proud & Loyal provide academic innovation and empower students to take event. Top right: Jennifer Mearns reads to children during United Way’s creative risks. We will enhance our commitment to Muncie Day of Action. Below: Greg Fallon, executive editor of The Star Press, moderates a Better Together community forum on neighborhoods and and Delaware County. And we will continue to live the education in Muncie which included Mearns among the panelists enduring values articulated in the Beneficence Pledge — representing the campus and the community. This page, above: Mearns excellence, integrity, social responsibility, respect and and Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler celebrate the campaign kickoff for the gratitude.” United Way of Delaware County in downtown Muncie the night before Mearns’ formal installation as president.

12 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 13 Creations / Occasions / Programs ARTS & CULTURE

ALUMNA ARTIST ENERGIZES STUDENTS By Tim Obermiller

ere pocket change to most, Stacey Lee Webber, ’05, under some of the same professors and has gone on to ARTS & CULTURE uses coins to create astonishing works of art. become the sensation that she is.” MCutting copper pennies by hand with a jeweler’s saw, Webber grew up in Indianapolis, a self-described “artsy Webber solders them into sheets she uses to shape hollow, kid who could make things.” At Ball State, she studied with ghostlike re-creations of tools such as a pair of shovels now Patricia Nelson, George and Frances Ball Distinguished on permanent display at Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery. Professor of Art emerita. “Pat Nelson really swept me up and Recently, she switched to power tools, all made with pennies showed me metals, and between just loving the material that she purchases in 20-pound bags on eBay. and being frustrated by the material and loving Pat Nelson, The painstaking labor she puts into these sculptures is I knew I had a major,” Webber said. a reflection on America’s blue-collar work ethic — a theme Her dream to be a full-time artist came true in 2015. Along she first addressed as an MFA student at the University of the way, she learned what pieces moved people. From her Wisconsin and continues to explore in the Philadelphia studio experience working for a jewelry store, she launched her own she shares with her husband, a fellow artist. line of handcrafted jewelry and accessories, now sold at This fall, the School of Art hosted an exhibit of Webber’s shops across the country and on her website. unique pieces in the Atrium Gallery, inviting her to give a Webber exhibits her artwork internationally and tours lecture at the closing reception. She also critiqued students’ America, giving lectures, workshops and selling her art at work and spoke to them about making and selling art. trade shows. She also strives to grow as an artist, challenging Taylor Fentz, a senior art major, was impressed. herself with increasingly complex pieces and exploring new “Sometimes it is hard for me to fully believe that I could forms. For her new Specimen Series, she delicately slices have a successful career making things that I am passionate objects such as a padlock or gun and purposefully arranges about,” Fentz said. “It’s nice to meet someone like Stacey who the pieces in resin, “pushing the viewer into seeing them from has graduated from the same university I’m attending, studied a new perspective.”

Photo by Samantha Blankenship

Left: Webber described her Atrium Gallery show as a “full-circle moment.” Below: She critiques work by junior Emma Jo Rohlfing. “Students are interested in hearing her story and understanding Visit magazine.bsu.edu the road she traveled to reach that level of to learn more of success in her career,” said Associate Professor Webber and her work. of Art Jessica Calderwood. SMART About Art The David Owsley Museum of Art hosted fourth-graders from Muncie Community Schools as part of the School Museum Art Readiness Tours (SMART) program. Funded by a Ball Brothers Foundation grant and based on Indiana educational standards, the program introduces students to the history and culture behind several key works of art, with a focus on artists from Indiana. Visit bsu.edu/artmuseum for more about the

Owsley Museum and upcoming exhibits. Photo by Samantha Blankenship

14 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 15 ARTS & CULTURE ARTS & CULTURE

uncie is lucky that Braydee Euliss hung around. Without Jasper’s empowering example, Euliss said, “I expect M Not only is she smart and passionate and possesses it would have been more difficult for me to make sense of how THE ART OF a knack for welcoming people into the arts, but she staying in Muncie could let me do the things that I wanted to understands on a subterranean level how contributing to your do and support me the way that it ended up supporting me.” community is transformative. After graduating, she went full time at Gordy’s and became INVESTING IN “If you want to be connected to meaningful work, if you its gallery manager. She started a small exhibition series, with want to know that your contributions are making the world some shows just for Ball State art seniors, graduate students around you a little bit better for even just a few people, cities or recent grads. YOUR COMMUNITY like Muncie, that’s where you do that work,” said Euliss. “It’s Since 2014, Euliss has been co-curator and co-host of the most emotional return on investment.” Final Fridays at David Owsley Museum of Art. The following Alumna Braydee Euliss, ’11, helps It’s a return that the city appreciates and the Muncie Arts & year, she co-founded CritChat, an ongoing monthly chance bring Muncie together around art. Culture Council (MACC) is enjoying with Euliss, its new for young Muncie artists to see each other’s works and offer executive director. constructive criticism. By Judy Wolf “She understands the significance that arts and culture play Also in 2015, she was named the inaugural Next Generation in a strong and healthy community. That’s terrific,” said Betty Artist at the Mayor’s Arts Awards. She said that was important Brewer, MACC board president who’s also president and CEO because it meant the city “was thinking about the future and of Minnetrista. was prioritizing young people and their contributions to our Before her MACC appointment, Euliss served on its working city, helping them feel like there is a place for them here. board and helped wrap up an unrelated yearlong project that “It gave me a lot of confidence in my decision to stay here.” brought a huge mural to the side of downtown’s Mark III Taproom. Inspired by the 2016 mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, it’s a tribute to Muncie being If you want to be connected a welcoming and supportive community. Now fully focused on MACC, one of Euliss’ biggest to meaningful work, … cities like projects is a $50,000, two-year National Endowment for the Arts grant to start an artist-in-residence program and bring Muncie, that’s where you do that in nine outside residents a year. Each will collaborate with a community organization or group on a public art project or work. It’s the most emotional programming that addresses a community issue, in addition to working on personal projects. return on investment.” This year, she plans to restart monthly conversations so members of the creative community can exchange ideas, — BRAYDEE EULISS, ’11 get help with endeavors and possibly create programs. For someone who once had no idea you could do art as In 2016, M Magazine named her one of its annual 20 Under a career, this Muncie native has done an amazing amount 40 Next Generation leaders — while she was in her 20s. in a short time. So, is Euliss glad she’s still here? She began a part-time framing job at Gordy Fine Art & “Oh, yeah. It’s rocky. I won’t lie about that. It’s hard to have Photo © Ball State University Framing Co. in high school and stayed through college. wave after wave after wave of friend groups leave.” But she A sculpture major at Ball State, she was a co-president of knows she can get through that and has deepened her the student Fine Arts League and, before graduation, was self-understanding. part of two off-campus group exhibitions and had her first “If I had decided to leave Muncie immediately after solo exhibition in Muncie. graduating, I don’t know that I would have been afforded Along the way, Euliss was inspired by one of her School of opportunities to learn as much about myself as quickly as Art profs, Maura Jasper, who moved to Muncie from a bigger I learned. That I like nonprofit work. That I do actually like Euliss (left) advocates the power of local arts and culture city. “She came to Muncie and valued it and celebrated it and collaborating with people. That just working on things by to fuel community growth and transformation. Active in recognized the good here and the possibility here,” Euliss said. yourself all the time is really lonely and usually ineffective.” both the downtown and arts communities, she has helped “And that the work that could be done here was just as Yeah, she’s glad she stayed. “You just have to know develop several collaborative projects, including the painting meaningful as the work that could be done anywhere else.” what’s important to you.” of a large mural on a South Walnut Street building that The teacher praises her former student. “What she brings illustrates Muncie’s acceptance of and support for people here is needed here. She can apply her energy and her skills Visit magazine.bsu.edu to read more about Euliss’ of all backgrounds. in a way that can really make change happen. And that’s cool.” collaborations with Ball State students and faculty.

16 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 17 ARTS & CULTURE News / Events / Profiles

STUDENTS RECORD ALBUM WITH BROADWAY GREATS By Kari Gayes, ’06 ATHLETICS

ot many people can say they’ve recorded with a Broadway powerhouse, but such is the case for some NBall State students. Since 2010, two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster has visited Muncie every year as a member of the Department of Theatre and Dance’s faculty. This year, Foster had an idea. What if she recorded her next album at Ball State? She and her longtime music Members of the Ball State Symphony Orchestra, plus the Department of Theatre and Dance’s senior cabaret class, record tracks for Sutton director, Emmy Award winner Michael Rafter, worked with Foster’s upcoming album in Sursa Performance Hall and a recording faculty in the department and the School of Music to bring studio in the Music Instruction Building. the idea to life. In November, Foster’s senior musical theatre cabaret class and members of the Ball State Symphony Orchestra (BSSO) got to perform on tracks for her really impactful part of our Ball State education. But to work on upcoming album. something with her as an artist was a totally different opportunity Sophomore violin performance major Megan Simmons than any of us have been able to have,” Martin recalled. said recording with Foster was an awesome opportunity. The experience reminded Weatherington how well Ball State Keeping “The BSSO expects a high caliber of has prepared him for his career. “Sutton always tells us to just performance, and this carried even more go out there and do it — know that you’ve done the work, and Things Perfect Senior Alyssa Heintschel was named a first-team pressure to achieve perfection because trust yourself to make it happen.” Academic All-American, becoming the first Ball State recordings don’t lie. It was an honor to As for Foster, she couldn’t be happier with how everything soccer player to earn that honor twice. The team captain represent Ball State doing what I love.” came together. from Oregon, Ohio, capped her career as the school’s For senior musical theatre majors “I am forever grateful and thrilled to create something winningest goalkeeper. Maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA Tony Weatherington and Courtney so unique and special and so collaborative — celebrating so as a chemistry, pre-med major, she was also named Martin, working with Foster was not many of the amazing faculty and most importantly the students to the Senior CLASS Award First Team as one of five new, but recording was. “Having Sutton at Ball State. This CD will help the entertainment world see players in the country selected for excellence in four Sutton as a teacher, as a mentor, as someone what I already know — that the talent at Ball State University C’s: community, classroom, character and competition. Foster we’ve always looked up to has been a rivals any program in the country.” Photo by Don Rogers

18 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 19 ATHLETICS ATHLETICS

In some 60 central Indiana he scene: a little elementary school gym in the middle of “The program began with one pilot school and jumped schools, Ball State’s reading T Indiana. Kids file in, led by their teachers. Many teachers to about 20 in the spring of 2017,” Sullivan said. “This fall, MAKING READING challenge translates kids’ wear “Ball State Alumni” T-shirts. Most students are decked it grew to about 60 schools. We’re overwhelmed by the admiration for Cardinal student- out in red to show their support for Ball State. great response.” athletes into a passion for books. Shawn Sullivan, Ball State’s assistant athletic director for According to Sullivan, the program has distributed over marketing and fan engagement, says the reason he and other 5,000 Charlie Cardinal bookmarks and approximately 2,200 By Dan Forst ’85 Ball State reps are here is because they are proud of how well tickets. While not every school receives a visit from Charlie IRRESISTIBLE the students are doing during Charlie’s Reading Challenge. and Ball State student-athletes, the plans are to make more He then directs their attention to four Ball State women’s visits as the program continues to expand. volleyball players. After each athlete introduces herself, With their busy schedules, it’s sometimes easy for student- Sullivan asks them to share with the students the books they athletes to overlook “the kind of positive impact we can have loved to read as kids. There was “Junie B. Jones.” There was on the community,” said senior Bailey Baumer, a member of “Amelia Bedelia.” From the students, there were nods of the women’s volleyball team who made a school visit this fall recognition and many happy faces. with Charlie’s Reading Challenge. “It was so much fun to see After a bit more book discussion, Sullivan tells the kids that how the kids look up to us as college athletes and how there’s “one more special guest.” Right on cue, Charlie Cardinal excited they were to be a part of the program.” charges into the gym with high-fives for each student. Before Ball State’s Office of Community Engagement (OCE) the program finishes, each student learns the “Chirp! Chirp!” was a critical partner in launching the challenge. The office hand motion. serves as a “front door” for community partnerships in

Both Charlie Cardinal (opposite page) and members of the women's volleyball The athletes and Charlie pose with Shenandoah students. team (above) paid a visit to children participating in Charlie’s Reading Challenge at Statewide some 2,200 tickets to Ball State sporting events Shenandoah Elementary School this fall, one of about 60 schools that participated. have been given to students who completed the challenge.

There’s also the strong hope they’ve learned a lifelong Muncie and Delaware County. “Working with Athletics to lesson in the value of reading. get this program off the ground was a pleasure,” said Suzie Launched in the fall of 2016, Charlie’s Reading Challenge Jones, OCE project coordinator. “It’s the kind of effort that has proven to be a valuable supplement to area elementary truly fits well with our mission, and with the mission of the school teachers and students. The program rewards students university as a whole.” for reading and also brings the Ball State brand to students Sullivan indicated that Charlie’s Reading Challenge will and teachers across central Indiana. continue into the basketball season and will look at adding Each student at a participating school is asked to read a coloring contest for preschool and kindergarten students. four books at his or her reading level and complete an But wherever the program goes in the future, one thing’s for assignment corresponding to the readings. Progress is sure: It’s leaving behind some happy students and teachers. tracked in each classroom using posters provided by “We loved Charlie’s Reading Challenge so much,” said Ball State Athletics. Participating schools also receive a Shenandoah (Middletown, Indiana) Elementary teacher Lindy challenge banner, and students who complete the program Holdren, ’98. “It’s great for both the teachers and students. Photo by Don Rogers received two free tickets to a Ball State sporting event. Go Ball State and ‘Chirp! Chirp!’”

20 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 21 ATHLETICS ATHLETICS

CARDINAL BASKETBALL ICON RETURNS TO MUNCIE By Dan Forst, ’85

ne of the great names in Ball State men’s basketball history has returned home to Muncie. OChandler Thompson, who lettered three years at Ball State and played on the Cardinals’ NCAA Sweet 16 team in 1990, was recently named head coach at Muncie Left to right: Ed Shipley, Cary Chandler, 1994 Women’s Volleyball Team Central High School. Peyton Stovall, Matt Baccarani, Linda Fluharty Thompson, a Muncie native, will be coaching at his alma mater. He starred at Muncie Central, leading the Bearcats to a 28-1 record and an Indiana state MATT CARY championship as a senior in 1988. CHANDLER NEWEST HALL OF FAMERS For the past 11 seasons, Thompson served as an assistant coach at Lawrence BACCARANI Men’s Track New inductees into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame North High School in Indianapolis. Muncie Central will be his first head coaching job. Men’s Tennis and Field “People ask me if I feel any pressure coming back home, but as a basketball were honored in December at the Alumni Center. The latest player and a coach, I look forward to the pressure,” Thompson said. “Feeling LINDA PEYTON class includes a highly-ranked tennis player, an All-American pressure and dealing with pressure is what makes champions.” FLUHARTY STOVALL sprinter, a sweeper from an outstanding era of Ball State field At Ball State, Thompson had a championship-caliber career. He lettered three “THE DUNK” Field Hockey Men’s Basketball hockey, one of the most successful volleyball teams in MAC Chandler Thompson said it “put years for the Cardinals and ranks 21st in school history in both points scored him on the map.” For Ball State (1,219) and rebounds (534). history and a long-time contributor to Ball State Athletics. men’s basketball fans, as well as “We are excited to have Chandler as our head boys’ basketball coach,” said 1994 WOMEN’S ED SHIPLEY Visit the new web home of the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame thousands of others who’ve seen Muncie Central Athletic Director Tom Lyon. “I think our kids will respond very well VOLLEYBALL Contributor (ballstatesports.com/halloffame). The site includes bios on all inductees it, it’s known simply as “The Dunk.” to a coach that has a state championship banner in our gym.” TEAM and allows for sorting by name, sport, induction year or graduating class. In fact, it was a legendary putback Thompson remembers the personal interest his coaches took in him during his dunk by Thompson in the 12th- time at Ball State, a philosophy he’ll bring to his new job at Muncie Central. seeded Cardinals’ near upset “I knew my coaches at Ball State cared about me beyond basketball, and that’s of eventual national champions something I will bring to my new job as well,” he said. “We will always focus on life University of Nevada, Las Vegas situations and how to handle the ups, as well as the downs. For me, that’s just the Three Awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships (UNLV) in the 1990 NCAA National way I will operate.” By Dan Forst, ’85 tournament. Thompson’s son Josh is a current member of the Ball State men’s basketball team, Thompson was named to and daughter Peyton is a freshman at Ball State. wimmer Tanner Barton, tennis player Matt Helm and science at Ball State. His goal is to become a Certified the NCAA All-West Regional team baseball player Caleb Stayton were awarded coveted Diabetes Educator. that year after leading Ball State SNCAA postgraduate scholarships in 2017. The three Ball State Helm, a native of Bloomington, Indiana, earned a pre-med in scoring in all three of its student-athletes were among 174 national winners of the prep/biology degree at Ball State and is now a first-year tournament games. He helped the one-time, non-renewable $7,500 awards that recognize medical student at Texas Tech University. Cardinals advance to the Sweet 16 excellence in academics, athletics, extracurricular activities Stayton, originally from Goshen, Indiana, earned a with wins over Oregon State and and community service. telecommunications degree at Ball State. He is currently Louisville, before scoring a game- Only four Mid-American Conference athletes were awarded taking online courses through the Wesley Seminary at Indiana high 21 points in the narrow an NCAA postgraduate award this year, three coming from Wesleyan University. He plans to become a minister. 69-67 loss to UNLV. Ball State. The scholarships must be used to support For a fun trip down Ball State postgraduate studies. basketball memory lane, just “Tanner, Matt and Caleb represent excellent examples of search for “Chandler Thompson true student-athletes on and off the field,” Ball State Director Dunk” on YouTube. Then you’ll of Athletics Mark Sandy said. “All of us at Ball State wish see why one of America’s most them continued success in their fields of study.” honored sportscasters, Brent Barton, a native of Dublin, Ohio, also received the MAC’s Musburger, was moved to exclaim: Bob James Memorial Award which has the same criteria as “Oh my! Chandler Thompson, the NCAA postgraduate scholarship. He just completed his how do you do!” first semester of his master’s degree program in exercise TANNER BARTON MATT HELM CALEB STAYTON

22 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 23 Profiles / Engagement / Learning EMPOWERED

ith a history teacher for a father, Maren Orchard was pilot’s license. The other told the story of the Mercury 13, a raised with an acute awareness of the past. But it group of women who underwent secret testing in hopes of Wwasn’t until she had her father as her high school history becoming America’s first female astronauts. Both exhibits teacher that she began to be influenced by his passionate remain in circulation at events, schools and libraries. interest in the long struggle for gender equality. “I’m not sure I’ve taken that big of leap of faith before as I EMPOWERED Now a senior at Ball State University, Orchard has explored did for this internship. I needed to go to a city,” Orchard said. both interests as a double major in public history and women’s “I needed to go do this internship somewhere else just to and gender studies during her time at Ball State. While her prove to myself that I could go outside my comfort zone.” double major has kept her busy in the College of Sciences Keeping out of her comfort zone has been a trend as she and Humanities, she’s also been an advocate for the Honors spent two of her summers studying abroad. Her experiences in College, through which she recently received funding for an Italy and Greece were both made possible with encouragement internship at International Women’s Air & Space Museum and financial guidance from the Honors College. Also in in Cleveland. November, she and the co-author of her senior Honors “The Honors College is what made me choose Ball State. College thesis attended the National Collegiate Honors It’s been the thing that has defined my college experience, Council Annual Conference in Atlanta, where they led a and I can’t imagine having not had the Honors College,” the roundtable discussion on how to create sustainable community Muncie native said. involvement in organizations such as the Honors College. TAKING FLIGHT Inspired by her Honors College-supported experiences, senior Maren Orchard shares her passion for women’s history.

By Jillian Wilschke ’19

Orchard serves as the president of Student Honors In looking to her post-graduation future, Orchard said she Council, where she fosters the Honors College community hopes to work at a large museum and continue to introduce and ensures students are taking advantage of benefits within people to the oft-untold history of women in America. She the college. She’s received guidance from many of her recalled the joy of a little girl approaching her during her professors and administrators in the college — including internship to ask whether she, too, could be an astronaut. Prepared Barbara Stedman, director of national and international Orchard’s answer: “Of course you can!” scholarships and honors fellow. “With Barb, you go over your goals and your passions, and for Takeoff she helps direct you toward scholarships. She’s just someone Student Honors Council President who I’ve always been able to talk to. She encourages me to Maren Orchard wants to continue follow my dreams and to not forget what’s really guiding me. her exploration of history as part of her career, possibly working She provides clarity.” for a museum. She visits (left) the With Stedman’s guidance, Orchard received financial National Model Aviation Museum assistance from the Honors College to spend last summer in Muncie, dedicated to collecting interning at International Women’s Air & Space Museum. and preserving significant pieces She incorporated both of her majors to create two traveling of aeromodeling history. museum exhibits. One (right) focused on famed stunt pilot Photo by Domenic Centofanti Bessie Coleman, the first African-American woman to hold a

24 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 25 EMPOWERED EMPOWERED FULFILLING HER LIFELONG ASPIRATIONS Hayat Bedaiwi discovers new insights and a welcoming community at Ball State. By Tim Obermiller ayat Bedaiwi remembers many acts of kindness extended Her announced plans to become an English teacher were to her from the Ball State community, but one, in greeted by laughter from her high school classmates, with Hparticular, stands out. one shouting, “You’re a dreamer!” Undeterred, she went on to She was leaving Bracken Library when a university police earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English literature officer passing by asked if he could give her a high five, and language at King Saud University and later became an “because it was such a beautiful day, and he wanted to make academic adviser, teaching assistant and lecturer at the me feel welcome in his own way. I high-fived back as this was school’s all-female campus. Ball State Expands Media one of the most memorable moments of my time here,” she A professor at King Saud recommended Bedaiwi consider recalled. Ball State for her doctoral studies. In 2014, she moved to Partnership With NCAA When Bedaiwi arrived at Ball State’s campus to begin Muncie with her husband, who is a master’s student in nursing studies in the English department’s doctoral program, it education at Indiana University Kokomo, and their young son. tudents in Ball State’s award-winning Sports Link was the first time she had been to America. She was born in The following year, their daughter was born. program and staff in the NCAA’s championships digital Medina, a city in western Saudi Arabia that is a major Islamic Being apart from family back in Riyadh has been hard, she Sand social media group will collaborate during the 2017-18 pilgrimage site. When she was 6, her family moved to England said, but technology like Skype helps her stay in touch; she year on social content development for NCAA championship after her father was given a scholarship to study abroad. was even able to attend her brother’s wedding virtually this fall. sports properties. “My brain became saturated with British culture,” said The NCAA digital and social media group and Ball State Bedaiwi. “Most of my first conversations with people were SPECIAL INSIGHT have worked on various projects over the past seven years about the weather, what they had for tea time and how it’s While enjoying life in Muncie, Bedaiwi stays focused on her involving social media creation for the men’s and women’s always raining. studies. She finished her oral examination and is now working basketball tournaments. Sports Link students now will have “I think it was my life in England that really influenced how on her dissertation, which focuses on Arab-American literature the opportunity to work with more NCAA championships and I thought of myself as a woman and a scholar.” in the 20th and 21st centuries. significantly enhance the quantity and quality of the content In her teenage years, classmates “began to see that I was “I hope to examine many different genres like novels, placed on various social media platforms. different. It was then that I wore the hijab and was bullied poetry, short stories, autobiographies, memories, graphic “This enhanced collaboration with the NCAA is a pivotal because of the way I dressed. It was only at that stage that novels, television series and movies — and even stand-up growth point in our program’s future,” said Chris Taylor, I realized that I was different and, in some way, that I am not comedy. I use many genres because it mirrors Arab-American senior director of digital sports production and lecturer of as British as I thought. writers’ desire to reach a wider audience. By using literature telecommunications at Ball State. “The skills our students “So, I started to embrace my Islamic and Arabic identity, as a medium, these writers are creating a more empathic are learning, in addition to the variety of digital content being praying on time and reading the Quran with my mother. I used image for Arabs and Muslims in the Western imagination and produced, are highly sought after in today’s job market.” to hate that we spoke Arabic at home, but when I embraced providing a partial solution for breaking down the negative As many as 28 digital sports production students in who I was, I couldn’t wait to get home to see some Arabic stereotypes.” Sports Link will manage social content throughout the shows and listen to Egyptian songs. I embraced the month When she’s finished, she will return to Saudi Arabia to preseason, regular season and postseason. The students of Ramadan, as our house was the most alive in this festive become a full-time professor and is also contemplating a will get firsthand instruction on how to create strategies month.” career in politics, “in order to help advance women’s causes and tactics for social media management for the NCAA Her family returned to Saudi Arabia when her father was in my country and in order to contribute to enhancing the brand. Several students in the program also will have the hired as a professor at King Saud University, a large public educational experience in Saudi Arabia,” she said. opportunity to travel and produce content at team-assigned university in Riyadh. Bedaiwi experienced “culture shock. … Along with Deborah Mix, Molly Ferguson and Emily Rutter, NCAA championships. To facilitate the project, Ball State’s I was not familiar with the everyday Arabic everyone spoke, or Kathryn Gardiner is among the English professors Bedaiwi Department of Telecommunications has dedicated a student wearing the long, modest abaya. I missed reading and going cites for their support and friendship. “It's been fun to see workspace in the Ball Communication Building to serve as to the library and just getting ice cream from the roaming ice Hayat’s confidence grow as both a scholar and as a learning the NCAA social collaboration center. cream van in our neighborhood. I know these might sound like teacher,” said Gardiner. “She brings a special insight and Ball State’s innovative digital sports production track is trivial things, but they meant the world to me at the age of 15.” perspective to her work, I feel, and we benefit from her the first program in the nation to offer students a four-year presence at our university.” concentration in sports media production. The Sports Link “I believe it is here at Ball State University that I finally program, which allows students to create content for Bedaiwi’s passion for books is expressed in frequent visits to the Ball State Bookstore. Her love for English literature began when she read Robert found myself, embraced my identity and excelled in my field,” distribution across multiple platforms, has won numerous Photo by Don Rogers Louis Stevenson’s “Kidnapped” as a child growing up in England. said Bedaiwi. state and national awards.

26 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 27 EMPOWERED EMPOWERED

Photos by Gail Werner Peterson said partnering with Bliss on the project was HANDCRAFTING important to her. “I support prison education because I believe rehabilitation should be the focus of incarceration. Adrienne has worked with this program a long time, and PRECIOUS I admire her dedication to it.”

MEMORIES PROMOTING THE COMMUNITY Since its launch in fall 2016, the Book Arts Collaborative In creating baby books for incarcerated has been both a purveyor of printed goods and a successful demonstration of Ball State’s commitment to immersive women, students experience strong learning. What started as a yearlong Virginia B. Ball Center emotional connections. seminar has entered a new era of sustainability. With the mentorship of Peterson and a cohort of supporting faculty By Gail Werner, ’04 and staff, students glean artistic and business skills in a supportive entrepreneurial environment. Working at the collaborative, students also make an rowing up, Tier Morrow found comfort in pouring out impact in the Muncie community. Take, for example, the her feelings in a journal. Remembering how it felt to BAC’s involvement with the Delaware County Historical Ghave a space to record her emotions provided the Ball State Society. “We print bookmarks for their little free libraries freshman extra motivation to tackle her first project as a around town,” Peterson said. “Promoting literacy is one of student of the Book Arts Collaborative (BAC). our objectives, so we’re thrilled to work with them.” She and 11 other bookbinding apprentices created Another town-gown partnership involved the BAC working baby books last semester for expecting and new mothers in spring 2016 with Ball State Spanish professor Elizabeth incarcerated in the Indiana Women’s Prison in Indianapolis. Bell, whose students went to a Muncie elementary “I’m giving someone else the opportunity to do something school and had children tell them stories. I’ve always loved to do and that’s always made me feel Together her class and the elementary better,” said Morrow, from Warsaw, Indiana. “It makes me students wrote the stories in English, and appreciate what we’re creating all the more.” then translated them into Spanish. The Rai Peterson, left, is faculty mentor for the project, The immersive learning project was the brainchild of elementary students illustrated the in which junior Kayla Bickham, right, Tier Morrow Ball State English professors Rai Peterson, who oversees (inset right) and other students are handcrafting stories, and the BAC bound them the collaborative, and Adrienne Bliss, who also has been a baby books for incarcerated women. into books volunteer librarian and instructor at the prison since 2013. “My students felt the project gave In her volunteer role, Bliss periodically puts out a call to them skills they wouldn’t have had the Ball State faculty for books to donate to the prison. Bliss opportunity to learn otherwise,” Bell had asked Peterson if she would provide hand-crafted members of the campus and Muncie communities “An incarcerated mother doesn’t get said, “and the hands-on experience of journals created by students participating in the BAC. The apprentice-based crafts such as letterpress printing, to take her baby home from the hospital, bookbinding enriched their learning.” collaborative is in its second year as an initiative that teaches bookbinding and paper decorating. take the baby out to visit relatives, take Among the most popular ways the “Adrienne and I went from talking about giving inmates the baby to a store to see its eyes light up BAC promotes itself to the community a diary or journal to making baby books,” Peterson said. at a toy,” Peterson said. “Our students talked is by participating in downtown Muncie’s Our students talked about “I thought the idea would strike a chord with my students, about how they hoped the mothers would write monthly First Thursday events. The students how they hoped the mothers who are all young women this semester.” personal things in these books — how bright their throw open the doors of their makerspace and invite would write personal things in The exact type of book her students created for the project babies’ eyes are, when they learned to sit up, when they said a everyone — adults and children alike — to experience the these books — how bright their is a “case book,” which happens to be the hardest style of word — like all mothers do, but they also hoped these mothers art of letterpress printing. babies’ eyes are, when they book to make. “You start with just plain paper and thread, and would write out their dreams for their children as well.” “Little kids are the best because they get so excited,” learned to sit up, when they said you turn that into what anyone would recognize as a book,” Students finished the books in September, after which Morrow said. “Most are shorter than the massive presses so they are boggled by the machines. I’ve impressed myself a word … but they also hoped Peterson explained. Bliss provided them to the prison. While they didn’t meet the women receiving them, the students were pleased with the by how much I have been learning here, even though I’ve these mothers would write out their WRITING OUT THEIR DREAMS products they provided. “Mine wasn’t perfect — being that it been so indulged by the program, it doesn’t feel like learning. dreams for their children as well.” As the students worked on the books, they tried imagining was my first time bookbinding — but the pages didn’t fall out It’s been great to find something I’ve become so dedicated — RAI PETERSON, FACULTY MENTOR how their use might differ from how their own mothers kept and the paper wasn’t glued on crooked so I was proud of it,” to as a freshman. Otherwise, I think I would have been lost.” baby books for them. said junior Kayla Bickham, from Chicago Heights, Illinois.

28 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 29 WE FLY Empowered, Engaged, Exhilarated.

BALL STATE UNIVERSITY IS A SPECIAL PLACE. WE ARE BENEFICENCE. WE LIVE BENEFICENCE. We’re inspired by our core values and focused on creating a We live the Beneficence Pledge because it is the right thing meaningful impact across our community and the world. By to do and the foundation of our ultimate education goal: to now, you probably have noticed the advertising, social media, propel students to successful careers and meaningful lives. news media stories, banners, signage and other displays We are committed to excellence, honesty and integrity, social representing Ball State’s new brand and marketing campaign. responsibility, gratitude and respect for the inherent worth of Our new brand helps us tell the Ball State story with every member of our community. renewed passion and energy. We would like to share with you the key messages supporting our new brand. These messages WE EMPOWER STUDENTS AND FACULTY TO FLY. are your messages. They are based on what we heard from all AND THEY LOVE IT. members of the Ball State community — prospective and We empower faculty, staff and students because responsibility current students, faculty and staff, alumni and friends. is assumed. We encourage them to take risks because we These messages convey who we are, what we do and why believe failure is a step closer to success. We insist faculty it matters. We’ve got a great story to tell, and we encourage and students be learning partners because we understand the you to help us share it. quest for knowledge and greater understanding is a shared experience. They are given freedom and flexibility, and are BALL STATE UNIVERSITY IS THE ONE TO WATCH. expected to be engrossed and persistent. We know flying is Propelled by an innovative, immersive approach to education challenging, but it’s also exhilarating. So we foster a culture and guided by clear and enduring values, Ball State is on the that believes in students, faculty and staff, and we demand minds and in the hearts of every potential student, elected they believe in themselves. official and community leader. We are a source of pride for our alumni and our community. OUR CAMPUS IS OUR CANVAS. Place matters, and that is particularly true on our beautiful THERE IS MORE TO BALL STATE UNIVERSITY campus — our size, our people, our culture and our amenities. THAN YOU MAY THINK. Our perfect size is one of the reasons students choose us. While we are proud of our roots as a Teachers College, we have grown far beyond them. Ball State is a world-class WE’RE ABOUT MORE THAN EDUCATING STUDENTS. university. Our students and alumni are designing extreme WE’RE ABOUT SERVING OUR NEIGHBORS, weather shelters, providing animation for major motion NEAR AND FAR. pictures, holding key positions in major media and news At Ball State, we graduate scholars who are changing the organizations, and winning songwriting competitions, to world. And we’ve dedicated our university to do the same. name a few. We have more than 190 undergraduate majors, Jennifer Pease, ’14, who is finishing the master’s program in more than 140 graduate programs, and more than 200 architecture, describes this kind of service as “a transformative study abroad programs. experience, allowing us to share our passions and efforts with and for the community around us.”

WE FLY We spark intellectual curiosity. Spirited and motivated, we learn, grow and take flight. Our faculty and staff — everyone in our community — treat students as partners, from day one. In classrooms and labs, on the athletic fields, in immersive learning projects off campus — with agility and perseverance — Cardinals fly. We are grounded in our values, lifted by our knowledge and go confidently upward toward even greater Meet a student who exemplifies opportunities. Ours is a simple promise: to challenge each other to excel. And with Beneficence as our guide — We Fly. Ball State’s spirit

Dance major and Presidential Scholarship recipient Ciara Borg (left) shows her pride and support for Ball State and its renewed brand. In addition to our cover, she can be seen on a large banner on the Teachers College Building and an interstate highway billboard as part of the brand launch heralding the university’s “We Fly” spirit. Borg says Ball State’s audition process sold her on the dance program; she has since been featured in several productions. Go to magazine.bsu.edu to read more about Ciara Borg.

30 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Photo © Ball State University Fall/Winter 2017–18 31 ALUMNI WE FLY Empowered, Engaged, Exhilarated. SHARED EXPERIENCE Students, faculty and community partners combine to make a powerful impact through MICHAEL HORGASH, ’86 SADIE MATCHETT President of PoleZips Inc. Junior, elementary education immersive learning experiences.

“Ball State is keeping its solid reputation as a leader in higher “‘We Fly’ embodies perseverance and resilience. It embodies education, not only in the state of Indiana but in the world. It working through struggles regardless of where you come from makes me feel proud. Ball State University is continuing to improve or what your background is. Ball State has given me the voice and grow in the competitive educational market, and it is always I need to do the work I want to do. It’s empowered me to have at the cutting edge of quality learning for its students. It shows the voice to do what I’m passionate about. My immersive learning opportunity and progression. I am grateful Ball State gave me my experience, Schools Within the Context of Community, changed wings of opportunity!” my life completely.”

JENNIFER PALILONIS, ’96 MA ’04 TONY PEREZ George and Frances Ball Distinguished Professor of Multimedia Junior, nursing

“Ball State University fosters a holistic teaching and learning “I was concerned about being a number at a university. I chose environment that values innovation, collaboration and exploration. Ball State and was pleasantly surprised by the availability of the We pair traditional undergraduate and graduate curricula with professors — how much they care about students. I couldn’t be hands-on experiences in which students work with public and happier with the faculty at Ball State. The hands-on experience private partners to solve real problems. Our mission is to advance I get here builds a strong sense of confidence and prepares me Faculty mentor Pam Harwood and students’ creative problem-solving skills and prepare students for for the future. I love the staff. I love the faculty. I love Ball State.” students admire plantings for a new pavilion careers that span far beyond their first jobs.” built as part of an immersive learning project. Photo by Madeline Curtis-Long

34 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 35 WE FLY Empowered, Engaged, Exhilarated.

or most people, the films of Alfred Hitchcock bring feelings of dread and anxiety. For Amber Freidenfelds, ’17, those I would absolutely recommend Fmovies now give her “a feeling of comfort.” They remind her of the immersive learning course she took at Ball State in these kinds of courses to Ball State which she and other students developed materials used by students. Go out there, diversify Turner Classic Movies (TCM) television network for its retrospective of the “Master of Suspense.” your resume, learn a new skill and “They bring me back to a time during my last semester of college where I was frantically losing sleep over a project, make contacts with the real world. pouring my heart into my work, learning about myself in the Make an impression on the world. process and succeeding gracefully,” said Freidenfelds, a digital production major. Big or small.” — AMBER FREIDENFELDS, ’17 Mentored by Richard Edwards, executive director of Ball State’s Integrated Learning Institute, Freidenfelds’ student team designed digital materials and a social media campaign that were incorporated into TCM’s national marketing and communication plan for the retrospective. She used the experience to help her win a highly competitive, paid internship at Turner Broadcasting this fall. The fact that her immersive learning team had traveled to Atlanta to present their work at Turner’s Techwood campus especially impressed hiring managers for the broadcasting giant. “I can’t help but rant on and on about how much it meant to me and how it brought me to where I am today,” said Freidenfelds of her immersive learning experience. “I would absolutely recommend these kinds of courses to Ball State students. “Go out there, diversify your resume, learn a new skill and make contacts with the real world. Make an impression on Teamwork and community involvement are hallmarks of immersive learning. Collaborating with residents of a Muncie neighborhood, the world. Big or small.” students involved in the Maring-Hunt Community Garden Pavilion Ball State students are doing exactly that. Thousands take project assumed many hands-on roles, from marketing and budget immersive learning courses each semester, with hundreds of Photo by Don Rogers management to digital drawing and construction. projects to choose from. During the 2016-17 academic year alone, 4,409 student experiences were reported among a total of 334 faculty-mentored projects. President Geoffrey S. Mearns and articulated in the Teamwork is another major distinction, with interdisciplinary and assessment for entrepreneurial learning, is struck by Immersive learning experiences bring together university’s new brand (see p. 30), highlighting Ball State’s groups of students working together toward a common goal. the number of Ball State faculty who “are so passionate interdisciplinary, student-driven teams guided by Ball State’s “innovative, immersive approach to education.” “The best thing about this immersive by far has been taking about this method of teaching and learning that happens faculty to create high-impact learning experiences. Through That approach is “about more than educating students,” part in a collaborative process with my peers to truly make with immersive projects. Many of them are very interested immersive learning, students earn credit for working the brand messaging states. “We’re about serving our something great,” said junior Max Harp, a digital production in contributing to society, solving problems and participating collaboratively with businesses, nonprofit and government neighbors, near and far.” Such service is reflected in the video major from Indianapolis, who worked on a documentary in this conviction that a university should be partners with agencies to address community challenges. number of immersive learning courses that have left a lasting tied to the university’s upcoming centennial. “I get to watch the community in a mutually beneficial way.” Immersive learning was among the hallmarks of Jo Ann impact on schools and neighborhoods as well as businesses them and thereby learn skills invaluable to the field.” Plesha, who herself has taught many immersive learning Gora’s 10 years as Ball State’s president, and before retiring and nonprofits. Perhaps the biggest appeal that immersive learning holds courses, said faculty are gratified at the level of university from the position in 2014 she mentioned it as a point of This community engagement differs from internships, for both students and faculty is its commitment to values at support for such projects. Internal funding is available through distinction for the university. “What sets Ball State apart,” volunteer work and other more traditional service learning, the core of Ball State’s tradition of service to the community. sources such as Provost Immersive Learning Grants, college- said Gora, “is the level of collaboration and commitment of says Kelli Huth, MA ’13, director of immersive learning. “There’s a growing urgency to address the world’s big level mini-grants, an immersive learning travel fund and our faculty, staff and students. We truly have redefined higher At Ball State, students create marketing plans, websites, questions and a greater emphasis on interdisciplinary Discovery Grants provided by the Ball State Women’s Fund. education through our focus on immersive learning, an approach documentaries, community education programs, publications collaboration, along with a focus on innovation, new ideas Many projects are also funded at school or department levels. to education that clearly puts our students at the center.” and more in their immersive learning courses — demonstrating and new methods,” said Huth. “Immersive learning addresses In addition, faculty have received external grants from Immersive learning remains a shining example of Ball State’s that they can effectively enhance and apply lessons they have all of these elements.” foundations, government organizations and community commitment to empowering its students, as confirmed by learned in the classroom. Suzanne Plesha, MA ’05, director of faculty support partners, as well as the Ball Brothers Foundation.

36 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 37 WE FLY Empowered, Engaged, Exhilarated.

1

‘ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM’ Vision planning included new gardening areas designed Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of Ball State’s brand of for residents to learn about horticulture and sustainable Immersive Explorations immersive engagement is how community members are equal environmental practices such as composting and recycling. For immersive learning courses offered this fall, students and faculty mentors teamed up with partners in the Muncie community and beyond. Here is a sample of projects: partners in the process. Other elements included a picnic and grilling area, a “We have so many great community partners who work community kitchen and a market pavilion and a storytelling 1. Rinard Orchid Greenhouse Video Project | Community Partner: Ball State effectively with students on finding solutions to community and story-acting pavilion for children’s programming. In early University’s Rinard Orchid Greenhouse. Guided by faculty mentor Tim Pollard, problems and who also enhance our students’ learning March, the students revealed plans to the community and students made videos to promote the renowned orchid greenhouse. experiences,” said Plesha. the build began. 2. Architecture in Extreme Environments | Community Partner: American Institute “They’re great mentors, and they are willing to share their During several community build days, neighbors helped of Architects Indiana Chapter. George Elvin is faculty mentor for this ongoing, problem-based learning project in which students design, build and test shelters with tasks such as ripping up sod, making gravel paths, knowledge and expertise with our students. These projects adapted to a future made more inclement by climate change. are really set up to be win-win for the community partners creating a bio-swale, digging holes and setting columns for 3. Creating Community Through Drama: Outreach at Muncie Civic Theatre | the pavilion structures and plantings. Many of those same and for our students and their learning outcomes.” Community partner: Muncie Civic Theatre. In a yearlong project, faculty mentor Huth agreed that engagement efforts are best sustained neighbors returned again this fall to work on the market Peggy Fisher and students are partnering with this newly renovated and historic when anchor institutions like Ball State strive for “shared pavilion and outdoor kitchen. theater to improve its outreach efforts and overall community impact. value” — pursuing educational goals for students and Harwood sees the project as impactful not just in the ways 4. Betsy’s Best, Food Science and Nutrition Sensory Research & 2 achieving positive change for community partners at the same it addresses specific community needs but in the sense of Development Project | Community partner: Betsy’s Best. Faculty time. Though many Ball State immersive learning courses pride it instills among the neighborhood’s residents. mentor Deanna Pucciarelli and students teamed with registered dietitian/entrepreneur Betsy Opyt, ’99, in a research project to have cropped up across the state and beyond, there has been determine if recipes for Betsy’s Best gourmet and all-natural an emphasis on issues that are most pressing in the Muncie CREATING A NATIONAL MODEL products could help people with certain chronic diseases. community. Such efforts have focused on neighborhood At the same time that community partners are benefitting from 5. Summer Learning Fun at Camp Adventure | revitalization, K-12 education, health and well-being, and Ball State’s commitment to immersive learning, such projects Community partners: Camp Adventure, Inspire support of business and the economy. can have an even wider impact. One notable example is Academy and Muncie Community Schools. An example of how the community process works is the Schools Within the Context of Community (SCC), which has A collaborative effort gave pre-service teaching candidates guided by faculty mentor Stacey Maring-Hunt Community Garden Master Plan Pavilions become a national model for teaching elementary education Allred a chance to create, plan and implement Project for Muncie’s Thomas Park/Avondale and South students. So far more than 20 institutions have visited the standards-based lessons with real students Central neighborhoods. While the garden had given residents campus to learn about SCC and improve their own programs. in an authentic environment. access to fresh produce since 2003, neighbors felt there was This partnership between Ball State and four Muncie 6. Cardinal Weather Service | Community Partners: 3 much room for improvement. organizations teaches 20 elementary education majors about Cardinal Greenways, Delaware County Futbol Club, Lindsey Helms, MA ’12, a neighborhood resident who children’s lives outside school, which helps them meet their Ball State Athletics. Faculty mentors Nathan Hitchens and Petra Zimmermann and their students are has volunteered to help manage the garden since 2010, students’ needs in the classroom. The students spend an developing a new weather service providing approached Pam Harwood after seeing how the architecture entire semester at Longfellow Elementary School, which is in forecasts based on clients’ wants and needs. The professor had helped Muncie Children’s Museum and Muncie a low-income, predominantly African-American neighborhood, project is being developed into a class that will be Head Start with innovative design-build projects. and supplement the work of Longfellow teachers in school offered each semester. “She saw potential right away and reached out to other and after school. In addition, SCC students are matched with 7. Digging in to Muncie’s Local Food System | Community community and Ball State partners to make this happen,” local mentors and attend community and family activities Partner: Farmished. Many immersive learning projects in recent Helms said last summer. “We are so appreciative of the such as dinners, sporting events and church services. years have focused on finding innovative solutions to food insecurity and helping local farmers expand their share in the food energy and enthusiasm the project brought to the “Our students need to build authentic market. Through a variety of formats and platforms, faculty 4 neighborhood. We needed it!” relationships with children and mentor Kate Elliott and her students produced compelling 5 7 Harwood created an immersive learning project, with families in a diverse journalism in collaboration with a Muncie nonprofit. funding from an Academic Excellence Grant, CAP Makes community,” said Eva Muncie Makes Community Design Build, a Provost’s Zygmunt, the Helen Gant 6 Immersive Learning Grant and a Building Better Elmore Distinguished Neighborhoods Grant. After a community input session Professor of Elementary attended by more than 100 people last February, Harwood Education. “To excel, and her 15 architectural design and historic preservation our students needed to students developed a plan. learn the context of “(They) took the ideas and excitement from the community children’s lives and and ran with it,” Harwood said of her students. Each student apply that to their held a critical role, offering expertise in public relations and teaching.” marketing, construction, digital drawing, plant and building Through their materials, and budget management. immersive experience,

Photos courtesy of Robbie Mehling except no. 2, courtesy of George Elvin 38 Ball State University Alumni Magazine and no. 6, courtesy of James Longwith Fall/Winter 2017–18 39 WE FLY Empowered, Engaged, Exhilarated.

students are better prepared to educate increasingly diverse Center. “We started SCC in 2009 by listening,” said Zygmunt, student populations when they become teachers. Their and “and we based our efforts on what neighborhood leaders Ball State Student Is All About Immersive Learning their professors’ work are also benefitting K-3 Longfellow said they needed. It was important that we not come in Though there are no formal stats to verify it, it’s possible that students who participate in after-school and summer with a predetermined notion. All of us are pleased with this Michael Harris, shown below, Michael Harris has had more immersive learning experiences enrichment programs. One measurement is the pass rate for partnership and glad to share what we learned with other captures a campus vista on video. than any Ball State student. Since his first semester, the Indiana’s standardized test for third-grade reading. In the past universities.” Frankfort, Indiana, native has taken an immersive course, four years, Longfellow students in the after-school program Jacob Layton, ’17 — now teaching elementary students in totaling 10 projects. had pass rates that exceeded the state average, including Fort Collins, Colorado — said his SCC immersive experience Receiving his bachelor’s as a video production major two years with 100 percent. revealed the passion that will guide his career as an educator. in 2016, his streak has continued in telecommunications’ Among its national awards, SCC was recognized by the “Applying what I had learned in a classroom and immersing digital storytelling master's program. In the fall, he worked American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, myself in my students’ community gave me the sense of as director of photography for a documentary on Ball State (AACTE), American Educational Research Association, purpose that I had been searching for,” he said, adding that history being prepared for its upcoming centennial. “Through American Association for State Colleges and Universities and he hopes to live and be active in the community where he shooting the interviews of faculty, alumni, staff and students, the Southern Poverty Law Center. As with many immersive teaches, as well as inspire young activists for social change I have found a deeper appreciation for the rich history of learning projects, SCC also resulted in published scholarship, by his example. Ball State and Muncie as well,” said Harris. It’s this reward this time in the form of a book, “Transforming Teacher This kind of self-discovery may be the most important of achieving a deeper understanding that’s a big part of Education for Social Justice,” that Zygmunt co-authored with aspect of immersive learning at Ball State. “We, as Ball State his attraction to immersive learning, as he explains. fellow SCC founder Patricia Clark and which received the students, are so lucky and appreciative to have the resources 2017 Outstanding Book Award from AACTE. and knowledge that we do on campus,” said Jennifer Pease, Another commonality with other immersive learning ’14, a graduate student in architecture. “But learning can and When I am talking with those in hiring projects is SCC’s reliance on community partners for should take place outside of the classroom, so why would I its success. Those partners include Muncie’s Whitely not take advantage of these incredible opportunities? They positions about my immersive learning neighborhood, Longfellow Elementary School, Huffer prove to be transformative experiences that allow us to share experiences, they are surprised at the Memorial Children’s Center and Roy C. Buley Community our passions and efforts with and for those around us.” amount of work I have accomplished at such an early time in my career.”

What was your first immersive learning course? My first was as a freshman in the fall of 2012. We worked over the course of two semesters to develop a mentorship program as a free resource to the Muncie small business community that would be led by the Innovation Connector. The faculty mentor, Peggy Fisher (assistant professor in the Inset photo courtesy of Allison Griffith. Department of Communication Studies), later said that the Main photo courtesy of Cole Callahan. project I participated in was the first project that she had allowed freshmen on the team, and there were two of us! are surprised at the amount of work I have accomplished What made you want to take such courses? at such an early time in my career. In many of my internship I’ve always been much more receptive to hands-on learning. interviews, the interviewer was much more interested in my While theories, techniques and concepts are great, unless immersive learning projects than any classes I was taking you know how to implement them in “real-world” situations, at the time. they’re useless. Once I had realized what great portfolio pieces and marketing tools these projects could be, I sought If a freshman asked your advice on whether to take an one out every semester. immersive learning course, what would you say? Jacob Layton, ’17, shown Life’s too short to do just what’s expected; go the extra mile, with students at Muncie’s How have these courses prepared you for your future? find what you love to do and be a part of something bigger Longfellow Elementary School, I think I wouldn’t have gained an advanced experience and than yourself. If you put in the effort, getting involved with said his immersive learning I think I wouldn’t stand out as much in terms of being a job immersive learning will probably be the best thing you do in experience revealed the passion that guides his career as an educator. applicant. Often when I am talking with those in hiring your four years at Ball State University and the best thing positions about my immersive learning experiences, they you can do for your degree.

40 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 41 WE FLY Empowered, Engaged, Exhilarated. BUILDING FOR THE BETTER

With determination and ingenuity, David Northern, ’97, finds new ways to provide safe, affordable housing for residents in the communities he serves.

By Tim Obermiller

avid A. Northern Sr. is often introduced as “the first.” That’s a bigger challenge than ever. Many families across He is the first African-American to become chief executive the country are now struggling to afford basic housing. Dofficer of Lake County (Illinois) Housing Authority (LCHA), one According to new research by Harvard University, almost of the leading housing authorities in the nation, serving 40 million Americans live in housing they can’t afford, in part Chicago’s northern suburbs. And he is the first African- because home prices in many markets continue to rise while American elected to the Board of Education of Community wages have not kept pace. The National Low Income Housing Consolidated School District 46 in northeastern Illinois. Coalition reported that most poor families devote more than Northern appreciates the significance of such milestones. half their take-home pay to rent. The coalition also estimates “I am privileged to have been the first,” he said. But he’s more a nationwide shortage of 7.2 million affordable and available interested in finding ways to use these positions to create units for a population of 10.5 million low-income renters. positive change as “an advocate for the needs of all citizens.” These problems can impact an entire community, Northern Northern regards as a career milestone the 2017 believes. When a child or an adult is living in an unstable groundbreaking of a $49 million development, Brookstone housing situation, their ability to function in school or work and Regency at Coles Park. The project will bring 220 units can be impaired. of affordable housing to the North Chicago community in “Actually, I look at our job as also providing workforce Lake County. For funding, Northern and his team developed housing for our clients. Many of our clients hold jobs that add a public–private partnership so that only about $2 million to the stabilization of the community. Our combined client of the project will be taxpayer supported. income is over $44 million, and our agency budget is roughly Taryl Bonds, ’96, said the project’s successful launch $32 million — those two alone provide $76 million to the speaks to why Northern is regarded as a housing industry community’s economy,” he said. leader. “While some housing authorities are just beginning to take on such innovative endeavors, David has successfully ‘SETTING THE CHESSBOARD’ been exploring these waters for some time, having to operate Northern was born in Gary, Indiana, “the murder capital of the outside of the box to be sustainable,” said Bonds, who is chief U.S. during the ’90s, when I lived there. I love and appreciate procurement officer for the Gary (Indiana) Housing Authority. my hometown, but it was not the easiest place to be raised,” Northern's childhood growing up in Gary, No matter what the obstacles or political climate, Northern he said. At the same time, it sparked an “intense drive to Indiana, sparked an “intense drive to create a better quality of life for others.” He has said, “our goal will continue to be to provide decent, safe and create a better quality of life for others.” He credits family become a passionate advocate for the kind sanitary housing to the citizens we represent.” members, especially his mother, as well as teachers and of education offered at Ball State. Photo courtesy of Cooley’s Video coaches for being the “village” that raised and inspired him.

42 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 43 WE FLY Empowered, Engaged, Exhilarated.

He came to Ball State with dreams of playing football but MAKING A ‘TOUGH SELL’ Winding through many levels of political approval was couldn’t overcome injuries from high school. He also struggled After many “long nights and disappointing moments,” another daunting task. Helpful to gaining that approval was with educational shortcomings early on. Always good at math, Northern is enjoying watching the $49 million development an analysis showing that not only would the $49 million he focused on an accounting degree, encouraged by the fact called Brookstone and Regency at Coles Park become a investment enhance the community but the embedded $36.3 that “many strong leaders get accounting and other business reality. When finished, the 220-unit development on North million construction costs “will have a total effect of 346 jobs degrees to help them get placed in CEO jobs.” Chicago’s west side will provide affordable housing to 50 and expand to $56.3 million output to the community,” he said. Northern sums up his Ball State experience as “amazing. seniors and 170 families. The project reflects Northern’s skills and character, said I loved every minute.” He cites great professors like Professor Construction for the development began in August. It Bonds. “David is a very focused, goal-driven leader. There of Accounting James Schmutte, “who worked hard to ensure replaces the Marion Jones housing complex, which was built are so many benefiting from his leadership and his example.” I graduated.” While enjoying an active social life (and earning in 1961 and needed over $22 million to bring it to today’s Bonds hopes to soon attend the 18-month NeighborWorks his nickname “Disco”), Northern showed a serious side as a housing standards, said Northern. “The decision to invest in Achieving Excellence Program for community development — facilitator for C.H.O.I.C.E.S., an alcohol- and substance-abuse a new affordable housing development versus repairing the the same program Northern completed in 2016. Bonds joked prevention program, and as a resident hall assistant. old was simple.” Still, convincing a community “where people that he “is finally doing something David didn't do” by earning Bonds and Northern grew up on opposite sides of Gary live and play and raised their families … was a tough sell,” a mixed-finance housing development certificate from the but got to know each other at Ball State. “We never really he said. National Development Council. discussed future plans,” said Bonds, “but as we got closer to A second barrier was obtaining financial resources. “HUD “David continues to amaze me,” said Bonds. “He has graduation, I could tell that David was beginning to focus in is no longer building large communities utilizing federal walked with kings; he has literally been a housing delegate and buckle down.” Bonds sees, in hindsight, that his friend dollars,” said Northern. His extensive background in housing that worked with a South African country and attended its was “setting the chessboard” for his future. redevelopment helped him determine “that public–private housing summit and initiative — who does or gets to do that? Northern became the first in his family to earn a college partnership was our only available option.” But he has not nor will he ever lose the common touch.” degree. His mother, Kathy Hotchkins, was the second. “I joke Photo courtesy of Cooley’s Video all the time that she followed in my footsteps because she Robert Dold (right), then-U.S. representative for Illinois’ 10th received her accounting degree a semester after I graduated.” congressional district, consults with Northern during a site visit as Since then, many more in his family, inspired by his example, a decaying public housing complex is demolished to make way for have earned college degrees. a $49 million development that will provide affordable housing for After graduation, Northern went to work for an agency Lake County residents. operating public housing in northwest Indiana. He was hired as deputy director at LCHA while finishing a master’s in public Keon Jackson also sees Northern as a mentor, first as his administration from Indiana University-Northwest. high football coach. “It was easy to gravitate toward David He also married Crystal (Fleming), ’00, whom he met at because we had such similar backgrounds and experiences. a fundraiser for his Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. “She brought He has had a tremendous impact on my life personally and several of her Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sisters to the event professionally. I can honestly say that I don’t know where I to support us. When my would be and how different my eyes locked on my life would be if I had not met sunshine, I knew that she Innovation means being him at that early stage,” said was the one.” Crystal is Jackson, who now works with now a senior administrative keenly aware of the needs of Northern at LCHA as director of assistant at Rosalind capital improvements. “He cares Franklin University, where the community and responding and wants others to succeed.” she’s also finishing her Northern especially wants that master’s degree in health- swiftly and appropriately.” for his two teenage children, care administration. Dasanie and David Jr., whom he Northern stayed in touch — DAVID NORTHERN, ’97 calls “my motivation.” They often with Bonds, encouraging hear their dad tell them, “Enjoy him to consider a career in housing and also urged him to school and embrace every learning opportunity.” Northern has pursue a master’s in public administration, which Bonds even brought them to some meetings of the school board on earned in 2011. “David is still the ever ‘you need to consider which he serves. “That is the main reason I got involved; I this’ friend, fellow scholar, industry colleague, fraternity care about the future of my kids and the community’s kids. … Northern enjoys a beautiful fall Homecoming day at CharlieTown brother — and, even though we’re the same age — mentor,” One of my favorite quotes is, ‘Either you’re at the table or on with his wife, Crystal, ’00; son, said Bonds. the menu.’ Now I am at the table.” Photo by Don Rogers David Jr.; and daughter, Dasanie.

44 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 45 WE FLY Empowered, Engaged, Exhilarated.

The Career Center’s services, including career coaching, resume reviews and practice interviews, are open to alumni. If you are changing careers or looking to advance in your current profession, contact Brandon Bute CONNECTING at 765-285-2425 or [email protected]. Alumni are also invited to join the Cardinal Career Network, which offers students direct contact with alumni to learn more about their industries THE DOTS GET INVOLVED and professions. Contact Jeff Eads at 765-285-2434 or [email protected].

Ball State’s Career Center adopts cutting- “Think of a career coach as any sports coach,” he said. “Career coaches assess the current situation and make edge practices that provide students with action plans to help move a student forward. We help them specialized services and personal attention. develop skills and challenge them to improve by focusing on outcomes and results. We encourage personal responsibility By Kim Rendfeld so they can continue the process post-graduation.” Career coaches actively connect students with everyone in the process, from faculty to employers. Associate Professor hen Arlee Post was a junior apparel design major at of Sociology Melinda Messineo appreciates the specialization. Ball State, a career coach from the university introduced “The staff at the Career Center listen to find what our Wher to Elizabeth (Etzell) Murray, an alumna who would unique needs are,” said Messineo, also interim associate eventually become her mentor and supervisor at L.L. Bean. provost for diversity. “Their efforts are energized, proactive It started with the Cardinal Career Network, connecting and forward-thinking. The people working in the center are alumni employers with students. “I decided to pick Elizabeth’s the most committed and collegial you will ever find. They brain about her job in Maine and her experience at other care about us as a program and our students. companies,” said Post, ’15. “There is often a concern that if a department focuses Murray, who graduated in 2007 with a degree in consumer too much on jobs that students will lose track of the bigger and family sciences, was glad to talk. “When I was at Ball State, picture of what it means to be an educated and altruistic I didn’t know much about technical design and other jobs that citizen. Our center knows how to address the pressures of I could do with an apparel design background,” she said. helping students find work while also embracing disciplinary “There is a lot of focus on becoming a fashion designer, but values that lead to better people and better communities. there are so many other roles in this field. I like being able to “We have developed a real partnership with the center speak frankly about the industry and give insight to an area Photo by Samantha Blankenship and our students’ career coach. It uses their career skills that is more unknown. I do love helping!” and our disciplinary expertise to find the best resources for In 2014, Post landed an internship in Southern California, our students.” again with the help of her career coach, Jeff Eads, senior The Career Center starts working with students in their assistant director at Ball State’s Career Center. After freshman year, rather than waiting until they’re ready to graduation, Post learned about an opening at L.L. Bean graduate. Two programs, Intern-Ready and Career-Ready, and contacted Murray, who connected her with the manager. help students prepare for life after college. That position was already filled, but Post kept in touch with “We asked employers what skills and experiences they wish the manager. A year later, Post got a call that a position had students had prior to applying for an internship,” McAtee said. opened. A few interviews later, she got a job offer. “Using their feedback, we created the Intern-Ready program. Today, she and Murray work together on outerwear for men, Also, we collaborate with our faculty internship coordinators women and children; men’s sportswear; and accessories from to provide them with tools and support for their work. concept to production. They develop fit and construction for “The Career-Ready program is an extension of Intern- these new products as informed by the design team. Ready, adding leadership experience, experiential learning, Post is among thousands of students who have gotten service and a series of life-skills workshops.” personal assistance from career coaches, and that assistance The Career Center’s approach has received national helped Ball State achieve a 93 percent career placement rate. recognition, including a 2017 Career Services Excellence Award In fact, each Ball State student has a trained career coach Top: Students seeking jobs and internships have a chance to meet Above: At an October Professional Etiquette Dinner hosted by from the National Association of Colleges and Employers. with dozens of potential employees at the fall Cardinal Job Fair. the Career Center at Allègre Restaurant in the Applied Technology who specializes in industries related to their major, said Jim “We set out five years ago to become the career center of Above: With guidance from the Career Center, Arlee Post, ’15, Building, students learn which fork to use, how to make small talk and McAtee, director of the Career Center. Ball State shifted to connected with Elizabeth (Etzell) Murray, ’07, who would eventually other skills needed to navigate a professional dining engagement. 2025 early,” McAtee said, “and I am almost ready to say we career coaching and connecting activities about five years ago. become Post’s mentor and supervisor at L.L. Bean. have arrived … almost.”

46 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 47 WE FLY Empowered, Engaged, Exhilarated.

y goal is to ensure that every child in America has Majoring in education at Ball State, he received his “M access to PLTW,” said Ball State alumnus Vince bachelor’s in 1991 and went on to earn MAE, EdS and EdD BREAKING DOWN Bertram. PLTW stands for Project Lead The Way, the nation’s degrees from the university. He also holds a master’s in leading provider of science, technology, engineering and education policy and management from Harvard University, mathematics (STEM) curriculum for grades K-12 across and MBA degrees from Georgetown University and ESADE the United States. Business School in Spain. As president and chief executive officer of PLTW since It was at Ball State that Bertram learned to appreciate 2011, Bertram has led the Indianapolis-based nonprofit education’s transformative power. He’s since shared that through a period of exponential growth. More than 10,500 power with ever-widening circles of young people: first as a elementary, middle and high schools in all 50 states and teacher and coach, next as a principal, then as superintendent BARRIERS the District of Columbia offer PLTW programs. “We focus of Indiana’s third-largest urban school district and now on making learning relevant for students,” said Bertram. leading PLTW. He has authored two best-selling books: “One “They must understand the importance of math and Nation Under Taught: Solving America’s Science, Technology, science and how it applies to the real world.” Engineering and Math Crisis” and “Dream Differently: Under alumnus Vince Bertram’s guidance, Among many accolades, Bertram received an honorary Candid Advice for America’s Students.” Project Lead The Way inspires children to connect to STEM doctorate in engineering from the Milwaukee School of In the fall, Bertram received the Ball State University Engineering and was named a Distinguished Hoosier by then- Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award, its highest subjects through programs that are both relevant and fun. Gov. Mitch Daniels. In 2014, the U.S. Department of State honor. He took time to share his thoughts on why he feels named him an education expert for its U.S. Speaker and effective teaching of STEM skills is vital for the future and how By Tim Obermiller Specialist Program, and he has served on the Indiana State PLTW’s approach can “improve education in our country and Board of Education since 2015. change the way teachers teach and students learn.”

Bertram heads Indianapolis-based Project Lead The Way. His early experience as a basketball coach influenced his path to becoming a top educator, he said. “As a leader, you’re always coaching. That’s what leaders do.”

Photo by Domenic Centofanti

48 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 49 WE FLY Empowered, Engaged, Exhilarated.

What was your early life like? season I was fortunate to be an assistant coach for Dick students, and we are training more than 10,000 teachers each All of my childhood was spent in Henry County (Indiana). My Hunsaker when Ball State competed in the Sweet 16. It was year. We have over 200 team members at PLTW and have younger sister and I started school in New Castle Community the catalyst for my career. grown from an $8.5 million organization to over $75 million. Schools and then moved to Blue River Valley (BRV). I graduated I eventually discovered that it wasn’t basketball that How do you account for this growth? from BRV in 1986. My parents divorced when I was in middle I loved. It was helping kids. That’s when it became clear school. It was difficult for my mother, who had dropped out that education wasn’t something just for me to have but One reason is that we’ve been successful in helping people of high school, but she went back to school and earned something to share, to use to inspire others. My career understand the need to offer real and meaningful educational certifications, developed skills and was able to hold is focused on finding ways to provide that inspiration for experiences. We cannot expect students to be inspired meaningful work. It was hard making ends meet, but she children through educational experiences, to help them to learn third-grade math because they are going to have worked at it, and I learned so much from her. understand the importance of education and hopefully to a test at the end of the year. We cannot test our students to That experience helped me develop empathy for people inspire them to go on, do great things and have great careers excellence; we have to inspire them. We have to make learning who face similar challenges. And I know what I experienced and lives. It was the Ball State experience that helped me relevant by connecting it to career goals and real-world doesn’t come close to what so many kids face today. I was also understand the transformational power of education. examples. They have to understand that what they’re learning very fortunate that I had teachers and people in our community in mathematics applies to the real world and to their future. How has PLTW grown under your leadership? who believed in me and gave guidance and support. Another reason is we’re getting compelling results. Several We are experiencing exponential growth. When I started studies by universities and other groups have consistently When did you realize that education was a means to in 2011, we had 30 team members, programs in 2,500 shown that PLTW students significantly outperform their achieve and have a better life? schools and about 300,000 students. We offered high school non-PLTW counterparts, and they perform remarkably engineering and biomedical science programs, and a middle- well in college and careers. It has been exciting to hear from I don’t think that happened until I got to Ball State. I knew I Among Bertram’s stops on a fall visit to campus was the Applied wanted to teach and coach. I had coached basketball, even in school gateway program. We have since added a computer universities and companies that actively recruit PLTW students. Technology lab where he examined student-produced designs made high school, and it inspired me to pursue teaching as a career. science program, and an elementary program — today we by a 3-D printer. Standing behind him is Roy Weaver, interim dean of How do PLTW programs differ from traditional STEM I was on the coaching staff here, and during the ’89-’90 have programs in nearly 11,000 schools with millions of Teachers College. On the right is Dea Moore-Young, ’91 MAE ’98 coursework? EdS ’14 EdD ’16, who is director of elementary education for Muncie Community Schools. We develop activity, problem-based (APB) curriculum, and

Photo by Don Rogers we train teachers to design effective APB classrooms. For instance, rather than simply trying to solve a math equation, right now. We still have three-quarters we’re not in, so we’re students apply math to design a bridge. focused on that a lot. But we’ve penetrated many of the There’s not one answer to most real-world problems. largest districts. And we have chosen to go where it’s hard — How many different ways are there to build a bridge or a chair where kids need us the most. We have to break down barriers or a house? We’re trying to teach students that perspective and do everything possible to ensure students have access to at a very early age, as early as preschool. They learn the PLTW. As an organization, we must be open to the idea that design process and how to solve problems, think critically, we may be the barrier. We must innovate and be willing to collaborate and communicate effectively — and when they challenge our own structures and requirements. do, the world opens up to them. Throughout your career, you’ve stayed in touch with As I wrote in my last book, I’m not pushing students Ball State. What are your impressions of the university toward STEM careers. But if you go to college and believe today and where it’s going in the future? you’re not good at math and science, many career paths are simply closed to you. I’m very impressed with President Mearns and the overall leadership of the university. There is a vision for Ball State’s role Does PLTW work in different kinds of school settings? in our local community and how we can be an economic driver We are particularly proud that PLTW can be found working for our state and have influence on a national level. We have in every type of school: public, private, public charter, urban, programs that rank among the best in the world, and I want suburban, rural, low-income and affluent. It’s for all students. others to hear the message: that Ball State is a place where We are in schools on the Yakama Indian Reservation, for you can get a great education and be empowered to go solve example, which at one time was listed as a dropout factory. some of the world’s most vexing problems in many areas. Now it’s one of the highest performing schools in Washington I am incredibly proud of Ball State — and I’m even more state. They credit PLTW. I credit their leadership, because proud today than perhaps I was as an undergrad. It was a During Homecoming, Bertram received they refused to have low expectations for their students. They place where people believed in me, inspired me and didn’t set Ball State's Distinguished Alumni said, ‘We’re going to give you a really challenging curriculum, limits, but rather exposed me to a world of possibilities. It’s no Award. With him are his son Ryan; we’re going to put PLTW in all grades and we are going to coincidence that I have dedicated my entire life to education, wife, Jill; and son Drew. push you and support you.’ and it’s because of what Ball State gave me that has allowed We’re in about a fourth of all school districts in the U.S. me to do the work I’m doing today.

50 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 51 Legacy / Commitment / Traditions ALUMNI INDYCAR ALUMNI IN THE FAST LANE By Tim Obermiller

his past September, Bryan Mattingly, ’91, took advantage So how did so many telecommunications (TCOM) alumni ALUMNI of a unique opportunity to capture a portrait of Ball State wind up as part of the IndyCar Series crew and the decades- Talumni at work. Mattingly was in Sonoma, California, preparing long American tradition of open-wheel racing? for his job as technical director of the Verizon IndyCar Series Mattingly believes a contributing factor is Terry Lingner, “a couple days before the season finale and championship ’77, founding partner of the production company Innovate race,” he recalled. “I realized that we have a pretty large and Emmy-winning producer of many televised sporting number of Ball State alumni working on the series. events and documentaries. “Terry has always been a “I took a head count and came up with 18 members of supporter of Ball State TCOM students and alumni. ... His a roughly 60-member crew — a significant percentage. We involvement and love of racing has created a lot of opportunity could include one more to make it 19 if we include David for freelance television professionals to work in Indy and Letterman, ’69. He isn’t on the NBC crew but is a team perfect their craft. And as he has taken on bigger projects, owner and part of our IndyCar family.” those Ball State grads in Indiana went with him. Mattingly, who serves as technical director for the IndyCar “The best part of the IndyCar Series is the people. We work Series, was inspired to take a group photo. Those pictured together all day and then we hang out at night back at the include “the producer, technical director, graphics, on-air hotel or dinner out somewhere. We do that from Wednesday talent, tape operators, fiber technicians — a wide range of to Sunday for between 11 to 16 weeks a year, and then we people and abilities all who started their television careers all go do other stuff and can’t wait to get back to IndyCar. I at Ball State.” think it’s like any other job really, sometimes fun, sometimes “I work all over the country and on all kinds of sporting stressful … but I wouldn’t want to do anything else with any and entertainment events. I have never run into another other people!” situation where such a large number of people are from the same school.” Visit magazine.bsu.edu to read Mattingly’s entire interview.

Photo courtesy of Bryan Mattingly

6 4 8 11 2 13 5 7 9 10 12 1 3 14

15

Riverside Roll The annual Bed Race provided a rush of excitement again this fall. Each team of five is encouraged to dress up and must push a bed frame on wheels 100 yards down Riverside Avenue to win the fastest time in their 1. Jesse Ochoa 5. Bryan Mattingly, ’91 9. Terry Lingner, ’77 13. Rob Sweeney, ’92 Not pictured in photo: division — which include males, females, alumni and faculty. The races 2. Courtney Terrell, ’03 6. Brian Neer, ’81 10. Lance Coler, ’93 14. Kim Gratz, ’79 Robert “Bud” Bray, ’79 began in 1980, with students using beds from a nearby fraternity house. 3. Mike Crist, ’04 7. Mike Pope 11. Eddie Sharpe, ’92 15. Julie Wark, ’86 Kevin Lee, ’93 Since then safety precautions have been added, but the race is still one 4. Tim McClure, ’79 8. Jeff Feltz, ’97 12. Kevin Rogers, ’89 Katie Hargitt, ’13 of the university’s zaniest traditions. Photo by Don Rogers

52 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 53 ALUMNI ALUMNI

Lawrence Central High School and is Brent Kado, ’02, Los Angeles, has released Lisa Albers, ’13, Fortville, Indiana, accepted now an education support manager for his fourth feature film on Amazon. The film, a position as compliance project coordinator Conn-Selmer, a leading manufacturer called “A Short History of Drugs in the for the Office of Research Compliance at CLASS NOTES and distributor of musical instruments. Valley,” was shot in northern Indiana. Kado Indiana University, which ensures IU also has directed numerous music videos, conducts its educational, research and Jason Brooks, ’96, Muncie, lectured at the commercials and a web series. clinical activities in a manner that is Entrepreneurial Experience Lecture Series at Dave Schwan, ’80, Chicago, won the consistent with regulatory, statutory and Pruis Hall on the Ball State campus. Brooks Courtney Jarrett, ’04 MA ’07 EdD ’12, 1960s 1970s Silver Dome Award (first prize) for Best organizational requirements. is the owner of Jay-Crew and Brooklawn Muncie, is now the associate director of Sherry Willard, MA ’66, Rochester, Indiana, Steve Archbold, ’71, Indianapolis, published Documentary for his piece entitled, “National Services and spoke on how to start your Disability Services and a Title IX investigator Tyler Dobbs, ’15, Muncie, recently accepted received the Indiana Historical Society’s “Where America Lives and the Faces of Parks at 100: Our Midwest Treasures.” The own entrepreneurial journey. at Ball State University. Jarrett also teaches a position as government affairs and public 2017 Eli Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award Poverty: A Journey through America and award was given by the Illinois Broadcasters for her contributions to the field of history. Portraits of Children and Families from courses in the Women’s and Gender Studies relations assistant at the Muncie-based Association. Juliana Mosley, ’96, Philadelphia, has been She helped establish the Fulton County Shepherd Community Center, Indianapolis.” Program, advises the student group Academy of Model Aeronautics The named Chestnut Hill College’s first College Historical Society in 1963. She served as its Documenting poverty across America, Doug Jones, ’82, Santa Clarita, California, Feminists for Action and recently wrote and nonprofit promotes development of model Officer for Diversity and Inclusion, a first secretary, then its president in 1976. In Archbold took the photos over a 20-year has acted in over 25 films (“Hocus Pocus,” published the textbook “Not Your Momma’s aviation as a recognized sport and cabinet-level position that reports directly to addition to founding the Trail of Courage period and also wrote the book’s text. “Pan’s Labyrinth”) and many television Feminism: Introduction to Women’s & worthwhile recreation activity. Dobbs’ the president. Mosley has held administrative Living History Festival that attracts more the series. He is currently starring as Lieutenant Gender Studies.” position focuses on working with federal, positions in higher education including 12,000 people annually, Willard is also the Cathy Moss, ’72, Louisville, Kentucky, was Commander Saru in the “Star Trek: state and local governments, along with the student life, enrollment management and Andrew Mitchell, ’04, Fort Wayne, Indiana, author of four books and a weekly history elected organizer of the International Chapter Discovery” series and the amphibious Federal Aviation Administration, on multicultural affairs. She holds a PhD in earned certification, granted by the column for the Rochester Sentinel. of the Philanthropic Educational Organization man in “The Shape of Water.” regulations for unmanned aircraft such as (P.E.O.) Sisterhood at the organization’s educational leadership from Miami University American College of Healthcare Architects, models and drones Tom Farris, ’67, Muncie, had a 28" x 22" biennial convention in Charlotte, North Dodd Kattman, ’86, Roanoke, Indiana, and has also been a diversity consultant for for architects who practice as healthcare framed color photograph titled “Symphonic Carolina, in the fall. a partner with MKM architecture + design nearly 14 years. specialists. Mitchell is now only one of four Alicia Kelly, ’15, MA ’17, Indianapolis, Lights Study #2” selected among 62 color, co-presented a lecture, “Culture by Design,” in northeastern Indiana to have earned this joined the marketing and communications Ryan C. Sheppard, ’96, Monroe, black and white and altered photographic G. Stuart Smith, ’73, Long Island, New York, at the LeadingAge Ohio Conference and certification. Mitchell is a senior associate staff at Conner Prairie in Fishers, Indiana. Connecticut, is a partner with Knight Rolleri art images for exhibition in the 2017 recently published a biography of a Trade Show in September 2017. at MKM architecture + design. Kelly was previously a reporter at the Marion Sheppard CPAS, LLP. His extensive Honeywell Center Photography Show at the legendary code-breaker, “A Life in Code: Chronicle-Tribune. experience includes tax and business Margaret Amanda Ruling (Mae), ’07, Clark Gallery in Wabash, Indiana. The juried Pioneer Cryptanalyst Elizebeth Friedman consulting for privately held companies, Los Angeles starred in a short film entitled, Candace Brammer, ’16, Muncie, has been national competition was open to Smith.” The book covers her career from just 1990s individuals and not-for-profit organizations. “Bare Bones,” which was an Impactful appointed director of the Friends Preschool photographic artists residing in the U.S. The before World War I, when she was hired to Amanda Thornburg, ’90, Indianapolis, has He was appointed to chair the Connecticut Award winner at last year’s Festival Academy located in downtown Muncie. subject of Farris’ photo is the colorful light prove there were codes in Shakespeare joined the law form of Bose McKinney & Society of Certified Public Accountants’ Angaelica. Her other credits include another The school was recently updated and display at Sursa Hall on Ball State plays, to the period through World War II, Evans LLP as a paralegal for the Business Professional Ethics Committee. short film, “Off the Grid, which was a James reorganized to include afternoon day care University’s campus. when her Coast Guard group broke the codes of German and Japanese spies. Services Group. She brought to the job 25 Wong Best Picture nominee at the 2017 for children ages 3-5. Gregory Myer, MS ’98, Cincinnati, Ohio, Jeffrey Faris, ’68, Indianapolis, hosted a years of experience working for multi- LMU Film Outside the Frame awards. is a recipient of Franklin College’s 2017 Wes Crouch, ’16, Indianapolis, has created book launch and signing for “Once Upon a Mike Bantz, ’79, MA ’84, Muncie, was national corporations and law firms. Alumni Council Award for his contributions a "for-pay" mobile application that can allow Time 13.81 Billion Years Ago, Volume 1-3” recently named clerk of the board of trustees Diana H.M. Brenner, ’92, Indianapolis, is to his profession, community and Franklin a student to request help with homework. in the fall at The Indianapolis Public of Friends Preschool Academy, one of principal of Brenner Design, an Indianapolis- College, where he is a 1996 graduate. At 2010s Tutors will find the student based on a Library's Central Library. Beginning just Muncie’s longest-running preschools. based architectural firm that has received the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Phill Keene, ’10, Indianapolis, was named request from the app. before the Big Bang, the work “provides the News anchor Dave Barras, ’79, retired many awards — including for its design of Center, Myer is a professor, and directs director of sales for Costello, a startup reader with a thorough, step-by-step in 2017 after more than 37 years with Ball State’s new Ronald E. and Joan M. both research and the Human Performance software company. Keene will oversee the examination of both the known and the Indianapolis-based WISH-TV. The news Venderly Football Team Complex. American Laboratory for the Division of Sports sales rep team, day-to-day management of unknown physics of the creation,” anchor won an Emmy and received many School & University Magazine published the Medicine. He has published more than 300 new business opportunities, sale forecasting according to a comment on the book's Associated Press awards for excellence project in its 2017 Architectural Portfolio. articles in peer-reviewed medical journals and growing Costello in the sales deal website." during his career. In 2015, readers of Brenner Design is the largest woman-owned and several books and chapters related to management market. Previously, he was director of marketing at Octiv and currently Martin Jacobson, ’68 MAE ’71, Manhattan, Indianapolis alternative magazine Nuvo architectural firm in Indiana. his research in injury biomechanics, human co-hosts the #RealSalesTalk podcast. New York, was featured in the documentary voted Barras their favorite news anchor. performance, pediatric exercise, preventive Mark McCorkle, ’92, Muncie, was “Coach Jake.” Shown at the Heartland Film medicine and sensorimotor neuroscience. KEEP IN TOUCH appointed chief technology officer for Vivek Hadley, ’11, Indianapolis, has joined Festival, the film documents how Jacobson BidPal, the leading mobile fundraising Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP as an Submit Class Notes and guided Martin Luther King Jr. High School 1980s platform helping nonprofits raise more associate focused on environmental matters in Manhattan to 16 citywide soccer In Memoriam entries by Amy Ahlersmeyer, ’80, Indianapolis, joined money. McCorkle joined BidPal after 2000s and litigation. Prior to joining the firm, championships. calling the Ball State Alumni the staff of the Indiana State Museum and spending six years as an independent Brandon Mundell, ’01, Muncie, president, Hadley clerked for Judge John G. Baker of Historic Sites as chief marketing officer. She and Kyle Mundell, ’07, Muncie, e-commerce the Indiana Court of Appeals. Association at 765-285-1080 Ehsan Kousari, MA ’69 MA ’71 EdS ’78, consultant, filling roles for a variety of formerly served as vice president and chief director of Toys Forever Models & Hobbies, Muncie, was featured in an art retrospective startup and established tech companies, (toll-free 888-I-GO-4-BSU), marketing officer at Conner Prairie. spoke at Ball State’s Entrepreneurial Eric van der Vort, ’11, Syracuse, New York, “Art and Soul: Celebration of Artist and including WebLink International. emailing [email protected], Experience Lecture Series. They have was named one of the American Political Educator Ehsan Kousari” at Minnetrista Michael C. LaFerney, MA ’80, Lakeville, or filling out the online form Randy Greenwell, MM ’94, Indianapolis, launched a stronger online presence through Science Association’s Congressional Cultural Center in Muncie. Kousari Massachusetts, received the Albert Nelson will be inducted into Music for All’s Bands a newly designed website. Both brothers Fellows. The highly competitive program at bsu.edu/forms/alumni/ taught drawing, painting, ceramics and Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, of America 2018 Hall of Fame. Greenwell graduated from the entrepreneurial embeds political scientists and other submitclassnote photography for nearly 40 years before presented by the editorial board of retired in 2017 as director of bands/ management program. scholars on congressional staffs. retiring in 2013. Marquis Who’s Who in America. performing arts department chair at

54 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 55 ALUMNI ALUMNI

Those attending the annual recognition dinner gave warm GIVING THANKS TO ALUMNI, FRIENDS AND applause to this year's recipients in a variety of categories. PARTNERS WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE The Ball State community honored generous, influential alumni and friends during the annual Alumni & Benefactors Recognition Dinner in October. The day also included activities tied to Homecoming’s “Cardinals Around the World” theme.

PAST CHAIR AWARD HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD FOUNDERS SOCIETY CORPORATE PARTNER FOUNDATION PARTNER Honoring the outgoing chair of the Ball State Honoring friends of the university Honoring friends of the university Honoring benefactors for their OF THE YEAR AWARD OF THE YEAR AWARD University Alumni Council. who have made significant and who have made significant and lasting commitments to Honoring corporations that have Honoring foundations that have long-standing contributions to long-standing contributions to Christy Swing Horn, ’81 Ball State University and for their enhanced philanthropy at Ball State enhanced philanthropy at Ball State Ball State University’s welfare, reputation, Ball State University’s welfare, reputation, MA ’10, The Villages, Florida gifts totaling more than $1 million. University through their dedicated efforts, University through their dedicated efforts, prestige and pursuit of excellence. prestige and pursuit of excellence. Chair, Ball State University time, leadership, passion and generosity. time, leadership, passion and generosity. Alumni Council, Fiscal Year 2017; member, Alumni Council, 2011- 2018; member, Leaders & Loyals

BENNY AWARD Honoring Ball State alumni, faculty and staff, community members and businesses for outstanding service to the university.

Jenny Budreau, ’84, Noblesville, Indiana Leland Boren Bea Wolper and Dick Emens First Merchants Corporation Ball Brothers Foundation Chair, Ball State University LLD ’12, Upland, Indiana Columbus, Ohio Joan SerVaas and Larry Roan,’77, Mike Rechin Jud Fisher Alumni Council, fiscal year 2016 Indianapolis CEO, Avis Industrial Corporation; recipient, Attorneys, Emens & Wolper Law Firm, LPA; President and CEO, Muncie President and Chief Operating Officer, Sagamore of Wabash from three Indiana supporters, John R. and Aline B. Emens Scholars President, Saturday Evening Post Society (Joan); One of the leading financial institutions in East Muncie retired vice president, Business Development, governors; member, Fellows Society–Founders Program; members, Leaders & Loyals Central Indiana. Benefactors, Cardinal Varsity Family philanthropy with a grant-making Russ Hire, ’88, Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf Architects (Larry); Club, First Merchants Ball Park, scholarships, emphasis on East Central Indiana. Benefactors, Fort Wayne, Indiana benefactors, Roan Construction Management immersive learning, university enhancements Emens Auditorium, Dr. Don Shondell Practice Program Support, Roan Distinguished Representative, Northeastern and athletic programs Center, David Owsley Museum of Art, public Professorship in Architecture and Planning, and DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD Indiana Alumni Chapter service, research, university enhancements and Roan Distinguished Professorship in Construction academic divisions The Ball State University Alumni The Ball State University Alumni Management Association’s highest honor was established Association’s highest honor was established in 1959 to recognize alumni for their loyalty in 1959 to recognize alumni for their loyalty Greg Pyle, ’85, and significant contributions to their and significant contributions to their Muncie, Indiana professions, communities and society. professions, communities and society. Member, At-Large GRADUATE OF THE LAST DECADE (GOLD) AWARD ROBERT E. LINSON SCHOLARSHIP Recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of recent graduates. Providing financial assistance to students who contribute their time, energy, and talents Sara McInerney, ’14, Sheri Niekamp, ’10 MA ’12, to student alumni-related programs. Kathy Thomas, ’79, Indianapolis Elkhart, Indiana Oak Island, North Carolina Community Engagement Director of Community Impact, Katie Wolfert, Fishers, Indiana Representative, Specialist, Finish Line Youth United Way of St. Joseph Member, Miller College of Nursing Alumni Society Foundation; Young Athletes County; steering committee Business Honors Program; Session Leader, GiGi’s member, St. Joseph County sales intern, Spot; president, Playhouse, Inc.; member, Health Improvement Alliance; Philanthropy Education Council For service to the Ball State University Young Alumni Council president, Young Alumni Council Foundation Vince Bertram Jackie Johnston Betsy Mills, ’08 MA ’10, Brandon Schenk, ’10, INAL S ’91 MAE ’98 EdS ’01 EdD ’06, ’64 MA ’67, Muncie, Indiana Bill Jenkins, ’95 MA ’96, State College, Pennsylvania Arlington, Virginia D Zionsville, Indiana R Founder, Back to School Teachers Store, Inc.; Muncie, Indiana Lecturer, Department of Founder and president, A

President and CEO, Project Lead the Way, Inc.; member, Ball State University Alumni Council, Emcee, Alumni & Benefactors Schenk Designs & Events; C 7 Communication Arts and 1

author, “Dream Differently: Candid Advice for 1980-2016; established the Johnston Family 0 Recognition Dinner; chair, Sciences, Penn State University; Ascend Experience Leader, 2 America’s Students”; member, Leaders & Loyals Scholarship to help others obtain a college Department of Theatre and volunteer, Big Brothers and Big Ascend Cycle; mentor, Year Up G education to impact their lives, their families H I N Dance and professor of theatre; Sisters, Centre County; member, O M and their communities M E C O Y B IT AL S member, Leaders & Loyals L ER Young Alumni Council STATE UNIV

56 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 57 ALUMNI ALUMNI HISTORY ON GLASS: THE BALL STATE UNIVERSITY TIMELINE PROJECT

s part of renovation of the conservatory at Ball State University's Alumni Center, the Ball State Alumni AssociationA commissioned a permanent photographic display chronicling the university’s first 100 years. As visitors move from panel to panel, they experience the striking changes in the campus and the culture over the decades and immerse themselves in the university's rich history. The full display comprises 92 individual photos spread across 40 individual glass panels. The panels take up four walls inside the conservatory. The photographic images were culled from files housed in the university’s Archives and Special Collections and the Division of Marketing and Communications. The timeline’s launch precedes the upcoming, yearlong celebration of the university’s centennial. Planning of several special projects and events is underway. The Alumni Center is located on the north side of campus near Scheumann Stadium. In addition to the conservatory, the center houses a major assembly hall, break-out conference and meeting room space, a board room and the Alumni Library.

Photo by Samantha Blankenship

58 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 59 ALUMNI BENEFICENCE IS THE DIFFERENCE IN MEMORIAM

Ball State University was founded on a Alice M. (Asmus) Mooi, ’51, Rochester, John R. Stark, ’62, Michigan City, Indiana, 1930s Indiana, October 17. June 10. legacy of giving. A legacy that continues Ramona J. Holsinger, ’37, Angola, Indiana, June 13. Richard P. Doenges, ’51, Angola, Indiana, Virginia (Stewart) Barnes, ’62, Anderson, to this day through alumni and friends June 18. Indiana, September 8. of the university. From young alumni like Doris E. Wetters, ’51, Ocala, Florida, Maxine R. (Buergey) Wolfe, ’63, Muncie, 1940s September 2. October 22. Cory Spaulding to loyal long-term donors Richard Baker, ’40, Winter Park, Florida, September 25. Mary L. (Sutton) Stultz, ’52, Sheridan, Homer F. Kline, ’63, Warren, Indiana, like former faculty member Sue Whitaker, Indiana, August 14. October 21. the tradition of beneficence continues to Alice M. Lauterbur, ’40, Crown Point, Indiana, July 7. Kermit V. Hays, ’53, Muncie, August 13. Kenneth L. Pickard, ’63, Mission Viejo, help Ball State students like Victoria Ruble California, July 4. Genevieve L. (Addleman) Good, ’41, Salem, Myron H. Henderson, ’53, Fort Wayne, learn, grow, and take flight. Oregan, June 25. Indiana, October 11. George A. Tricolas, ’63, Fort Wayne, Indiana, May 15. Ruth (Clarkson) Grieger, ’43, Hanna, Indiana, Madonna (Burget) Spratt, ’54, Puerto Cortes, June 25. Honduras, May 19. Thomas F. Noel, ’64, Burnt Hills, New York, May 3. Charles W. Gillespie, ’43, Vandalia, Ohio, Jeanne A. (Cross) Greer, ’54, Muskegon, June 22. Michigan, September 3. Robert C. Anderson, ’65, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, October 31 Eugenia Cloud, ’44, Leavenworth, Kansas, Dallas G. Hunter, ’55, Pendleton, Indiana, November 2. June 14. Edward J. O’Donnell, ’65, Matamoras, Pennsylvania, May 31. Annabel J. Rupel, ’44, North Manchester, Dean A. Yoquelet, ’55, Frisco, Texas, Indiana, May 13. September 25. Thomas V. Gehl, ’66, Conroe, Texas, August 20. Helen B. (Brown) McCreery, ’45, Warsaw, Charles H. Greenwood, ’56, Muncie, May 28. Ray L. Valour, ’66, Scottsdale, Arizona, Indiana, May 18. Charles D. Reeder, ’56, Indianapolis, June 27. Rachel J. (Quirk) Joyce, ’45, Indianapolis, May 12. Gyorgy G. Polcz, ’67, Muncie, May 7. June 26. Homer J. Bradburn Jr., ’57, Muncie, Sylvia N. (Washler) Ruhl, ’45, Winona Lake, August 10. John P. Thomes, ’67, Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, September 17. Indiana, May 30. Sherrill L. Hodson, ’57, Cheboygan, Martha J. (Cox) Black, ’46, Muncie, Michigan, September 19. James J. Dillmon, ’68, Anderson, Indiana, October 14. October 4. Patricia R. (Morrison) Vaughn, ’58, Mary Agnes (Hoeferkamp) Titkemeyer, ’46, Indianapolis, May 31. Jack W. Hershman, ’68, Muncie, September 8. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, October 9. Clata R. (Sewell) Ball, ’58, Muncie, June 27. Charles W. Lyons, ’68, Bellefontaine, Ohio, Corrience E. (Beck) Dibble, ’47, Muncie, Charles A. Whitmill, ’58, Indianapolis, July 6. May 21. August 22. Anita F. (Burns) Reynolds, ’59, Oklahoma Carol J. Royster, ’68, Carmel, Indiana, Eila J. (Heckel) Arnold, ’47, Indianapolis, City, September 18. August 17. June 17. From left: Cory Spaulding, ’06 MBA ’09; Victoria Ruble; Henry H. Turner Jr., ’59, Crown Point, Jamesetta (Ray) Jones, ’47, Houston, Lucy A. Wargo, ’68, South Bend, Indiana, Associate Professor Emerita Sue Whitaker. Indiana, August 10. June 10. May 25. Elaine F. (Huber) Slager, ’48, Dublin, Ohio, Charles L. Brooks, ’69, New Castle, Indiana, July 19. 1960s August 15. Vernon J. Conquest, ’60, Muncie, October 4. Your support propels students from all Ruth E. (Thomas) Dempsey, ’49, Syracuse, William S. Koch, ’69, Dayton, Ohio, July 11. Indiana, September 5. William L. Edmonson, ’60, Bradenton, backgrounds and means to achieve Florida, June 6. Barbara A. (Miller) Stutsman, ’69, Martha R. (Worster) Quinn, ’49, Fort Wayne, Columbus, Indiana, October 4. their passionate purpose and makes it Indiana, April 29. Helen M. (Wright) Johnson, ’60, Lynn, possible for the university to offer a top- bsu.edu/give Indiana, September 7. Douglas A. Lanier, ’61, Clinton Township, 1970s Eva L. (Agee) Houck, ’70, Albany, Oregon, value education that draws the best and 1950s Michigan, January 2. Marion E. Black, ’50, Muncie, September 20. June 10. brightest from across the state, nation, Text BSU2017 to 41444 to make James C. Vanek Jr., ’61, Henderson, Michael L. Cox, ’70, Muncie, May 24. and world. your gift from your mobile device. Ned H. Griner, ’50, Muncie, September 15. Nevada, September 24. Jane E. (Faris) Pollak, ’70, Carmel, Indiana, Robert E. Kellems, ’50, Muncie, Linda S. (Daugherty) Friedrich, ’62, Kokomo, June 25. Students are our foundation and September 29. Indiana, July 27. Maurice L. Johnson, ’70, Stout, Ohio, Ball State University Foundation Robert C. Peterson, ’50, Indianapolis, May 29. Olive M. Joannides, ’62, Anderson, Indiana, Beneficence is our guide. You make the October 16. Rosemary H. (Schneider) Dunkin, ’50, October 11. difference at Ball State and together– @BSUFoundation Oklahoma City, October 2. WE FLY. @BSUFoundation Fall/Winter 2017–18 61 ALUMNI ‘Beautiful and Brilliant’ By Kathy Wolf and Kim Rendfeld Karen S. (Niksch) Herlitz, ’70, Valparaiso, Donna L. Williams, ’82, Albany, Indiana, Martha L. (Harris) Haney, ’97, Muncie, Indiana, August 16. October 21. June 24. Timothy R. Davis, ’71, Greenwood, Indiana, Robert B. Bonta, ’83, Aurora, Indiana, July 1. Neil S. Shamberg, ’97, Montpelier, Ohio, he wedding gown displayed in the Applied Technology August 1. September 15. Building was more than a classroom project. Its creator, Cynthia D. Braun, ’83, Cincinnati, June 8. Suzanne (Fahrenkamp) Snelling, ’71, Karen R. Gordy, ’98, Alvin, Texas, August 31. T Sharon M. Alspaugh, ’84, New Castle, Rosanna Grayson, wore it when she married her longtime Noblesville, Indiana, October 22. Indiana, June 7. Tracy M. Grant, ’98, Saint Petersburg, sweetheart in 1952, the same year she graduated with honors James D. Gettinger, ’71 EdS ’87, Edinburg, Florida, June 7. Robert E. Kennedy, ’84, Fishers, Indiana, from Ball State University. Indiana, September 8. October 14. Angela C. (Kirby) Lyons, ’98, Muncie, It is tribute to a 64-year marriage that lasted until Rosanna’s Marcia K. (Hines) Ousley, ’71, North August 23. Elizabeth A. (Abshire) Kern, ’85, New Castle, Manchester, Indiana, June 6. death on Dec. 13, 2016. Indiana, September 28. Ian M. Rolland, LLD ’98, Fort Wayne, Indiana, “Beautiful and brilliant.” That’s how her husband, Dr. Ted Harry R. Ludlow, ’71, Maineville, Ohio, July 8. Stephen T. Baba, ’85, Valparaiso, Indiana, September 10. Grayson, described his wife during a recent visit to celebrate August 18. Angela L. (Frost) McElfresh, ’99, Muncie, Ball State’s consumer and family sciences program. Dale L. (Younce) Wright, ’71, Upland, July 13. Stephen P. Freeman, ’86, Alexandria, Indiana, October 1. Ted and Rosanna met through 4-H and rural youth programs. Indiana, October 15. Sharon L. (Miller) Closson, ’99, Fort Wayne, Allen L. Miller, ’72, Marietta, Ohio, Indiana, July 18. They were on the same tour of schools. Rosanna, then 16, was Miles L. Minnich, ’86, Anderson, Indiana, February 24. recruiting students. Ted, five years her senior, was sent by Farm August 19. Mary E. (Carlson) Melnarik, ’73, Noblesville, Bureau to survey schools. He saw her across the room. Nancy L. Crowe, ’87, Palm Desert, California, 2000s Indiana, May 10. “The sponsor introduced us, but my wife said I just barged October 10. Timothy J. Bricker, ’00, Walnut Creek, John T. Farrell, ’73, Yonkers, New York, California, April 20. over,” he said with a laugh. “She was pretty smart. I was very Brian R. Gollifer, ’88, Muncie, October 8. September 25. Barry D. Copley, ’01, Muncie, May 23. impressed with her.” Barbara A. Hubbard, ’89, Farmland, Indiana, Ida (Sparkman) Combs, ’73, Anderson, Their first date was at a church — her mother’s idea. It was fine September 26. Marilee M. Crosby, ’02, Waynesville, Ohio, Indiana, June 26. July 10. with him. Ted was from a farming family, and money was tight. Leighann M. Patterson, ’89, Indianapolis, Susan K. (Friddle) Van Skyock, ’74, Ted, a 1944 graduate of Sharpsville High School, took classes August 19. Erica T. Widmer, ’02, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Yorktown, Indiana, October 17. July 28. at Indiana University’s new extension school in Kokomo. Rosanna, Patrick D. Murray, ’74, Muncie, August 5. who was from Kempton, graduated from high school in 1948 and 1990s Jeffrey L. Cantrell, ’03 MAE ’09, Chesterfield, Mike Falcon, ’75, Indianapolis, August 4. Indiana, September 28. went to Ball State to major in home economics. Marcy A. Peters, ’90, Tipton, Indiana, May 25. Ora D. Edwards, ’03, Anderson, Indiana, They saw each other only in the summers; Ted didn’t have a car. George V. Williams, ’75, Bloomington, Timothy D. Phillips, ’90, Long Beach, Indiana, July 27. October 3. During Rosanna’s junior year, Ted was hospitalized. With time California, August 30. Joel W. Gabbard, ’04, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Larry W. Blankenbaker, ’76, Parker City, Alfonzo Brooks, ’91, Indianapolis, August 4. to think, he realized he should ask Rosanna to marry him. She Indiana, September 22. October 2. Sharon R. (Klein) Shaffer, ’91, Losantville, said yes, but they agreed to wait until she graduated. Emma V. Bailey, ’05, Whiteland, Indiana, Sheila (McIntyre) Kelley, ’76, Muncie, Indiana, July 31. Ted earned his medical degree from IU in 1953, and the couple July 18. October 6. Pamela K. (Deavers) Stant, ’92, Muncie, moved to St. Louis, where he pursued his residency after two Kelly S. (Black) Crago, ’05, Fort Wayne, Robin O. Emmons, ’77, Noblesville, Indiana, August 17. years in the Navy and started his career as a surgeon. October 18. Indiana, October 14. Roy D. Hendricks, ’92, Richmond, Indiana, They returned to Indiana, and Ted set up his practice. After Dianna J. Eiler, ’05, Springport, Indiana, Douglas A. Tillison, ’77, Chapin, South October 7. their first child was born, Rosanna became a stay-at-home mom Carolina, August 1. September 23. Leona R. White, ’93, Muncie, August 22. after eight years of teaching home ec and business at various high Randall O. Kahn, ’78, Los Angeles, July 18. Susan M. Sandberg, ’05, Michigan City, schools. The couple had three children, one of whom preceded Craig A. Herod, ’94, Haines City, Florida, Indiana, January 20. Melanie K. Swihart, ’78, Indianapolis, July 7. September 23. Rosanna in death. Both of their grandsons are students at Ball State. Adam M. Bailey, ’07, Pendleton, Indiana, Sherri A. (Sample) Bartrom, ’79, Marion, “I think about her all the time,” Ted said. “I see her when she’s Daniel M. Rennie, ’94, Erie, Pennsylvania, September 29. Indiana, October 4. May 26. not there. Being here at Ball State today honors her.” Jessica A. Elston, ’07, Avon, Indiana, July 5. Jacqueline K. Stowers-Shedron, ’94, Richard Welch, ’07, Pendleton, IN, Plainfield, Indiana, September 11. 1980s September 25. Claudia L. (Hunter) Jeffers, ’80, Albany, Phillip R. Bogard, ’95, Pendleton, Indiana, Indiana, October 21. Cameron T. Hicks, ’08, Muncie, May 8. June 7. James H. Jelliffe, ’80, Houston, August 10. Steven L. Emrich, ’95, Pittsboro, North Linda A. (Wallace) Cates, ’80, Houston, Carolina, June 30. 2010s July 4. David T. Cuatlacuatl, ’11, Plymouth, Indiana, Marc A. Prete, ’95, Branford, Florida, April 11. August 31. Pauletta A. Harris-Connell, ’81, Muncie, Robert Z. Schwuchow, ’96, Lafayette, February 11. J. A. Smith, ’11, Trafalgar, Indiana, Indiana, October 6. September 15. Chanette J. Harris, ’82, Selma, Indiana, Susan K. Younce, ’96, Muncie, June 15. July 4. Andrew M. Seever, ’13, Zionsville, Indiana, Ted Grayson did not see his wife, Rosanna’s, Andrew R. Carrow, ’97, McCordsville, September 4. Mark A. Linville, ’82, Fort Wayne, Indiana, wedding dress until she walked down the aisle. Indiana, May 16. October 15. Paul J. Bohman, ’15, Greenwood, Indiana, “I almost fainted.” That day was the start of a Amy C. (Cerny) Ramsay, ’97, La Crosse, July 22. Dianne L. (Parks) Yauch, ’82, Saint Charles, marriage that lasted more than 60 years. Wisconsin, September 16. Illinois, June 5.

62 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Photos by Domenic Centofanti Fall/Winter 2017–18 63 ALUMNI ALUMNI ACCOUNTING DEGREES ADD UP BENEFICENCE EMBODIES BALL STATE SPIRIT By Judy Wolf ince its dedication in 1937, the bronze statue Beneficence has become a symbol of Ball State’s hile the financial world has been on a roller coaster “I’m not a risk-taker. There wasn’t any guarantee that Senduring values. “Benny,” as she is affectionately since 1980, Barb Zipperian, ’80, and Ken Zipperian, we were going to get it up and running.” Yet, she surprised known, is also the centerpiece of the university’s W’79, have weathered the ride with Ball State accounting herself. “I said, ‘Mmmm. ’K.’ ” new logo, as President Mearns discusses in his degrees that helped each become an influential business She nurtured Avenue Bank for more than nine years before letter to alumni and friends on p. 3. Provided leader in two states. it was sold. Now, she’s CFO and executive VP at Tennessee here are a few tidbits of Beneficence facts and lore. They’ve also balanced jobs and a relationship, which Bank & Trust — the second bank she helped start. began when freshman Barb Dunn’s car broke down near For Ken, Ball State was just the right size. “You could campus, and he stopped to help. Married 37 years, their become good acquaintances with your professors.” life includes two sons, now 26 and 29. But his architect’s dream met reality after some classes and Beneficence’s wings represent But first, those names. Why, yes, they have heard jokes chats with a dorm neighbor in the program. “I decided that an the flight into the world that about Barbie and Ken. “From the day we met, his fraternity accounting degree was a good background for business.” students are ready for because brothers (Sigma Alpha Epsilon) would tease us,” she said. Ken first worked for a manufacturer, shifted to public of preparation, training, effort “Today, Ken is the only one allowed to call me Barbie.” accounting and then health care. Next, he became CFO of and work. Barb came to campus to act and sing but decided waiting a small retail Indy chain, which let him get their young boys tables and taking lessons weren’t for her. She chanced upon after school, supervise homework and start supper. “It wasn’t accounting, staying because she likes making things balance. always easy for Barb just to drop things at 5 o’clock. … I took The treasure box she “The leadership skills I learned through my sorority (Alpha a step back in my work, and I don’t regret it.” holds represents the Omicron Pi), as well as my solid accounting degree, put me After working for a contractor, he ran his own business priceless value a on my start to my career.” but missed the social aspects of a workplace. In Nashville, Ball State education That was as an internal bank auditor in Indy, joining Ken he landed as finance manager for a company. He’s now can offer. in the city. By the late 1990s, she and a friend were on VP of finance at Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. Indianapolis Woman magazine’s cover as the city’s first While each has supported the other’s careers, it can two female bank execs. be difficult for two busy executives to find time together. In Her hand stretches to welcome The family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where she was 2016, they bought a lake house. “We mostly do spend every new students to campus and also a Union Planters Bank executive. Then a Nashville banker she weekend together,” Ken said. “It kind of keeps things fresh.” to show the university’s outreach knew asked her to move there to be CFO of a new bank. into the surrounding community Below: Barb and Ken Zipperian met at Ball State, and the world as a source of Photos courtesy of Barb and Ken Zipperian where both majored in accounting. Left: Today they knowledge and good. are busy business leaders in Nashville, Tennessee, and have successfully balanced their work and home lives, including raising two sons. The five Corinthian columns behind the statue represent the Ball Brothers, for whom the university is named. The statue was built as an expression of gratitude to the brothers for selfless service to the campus and community.

The statue's base has been a popular place for marriage proposals over the years. Legend has it that if you kiss your significant other under Beneficence’s watch at midnight, her wings will flap if it is true love.

Photo by Don Rogers

64 Ball State University Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2017–18 65