April 15, 2021
Dear Colleagues:
At Ball State University, we are celebrating the extraordinary success of our third annual One Ball State Day on April 6. Because of the generosity of our students, parents, faculty and staff, alumni, and friends around the world, we received more than $775,000 in that 24-hour window — our best single day of fundraising ever.
To further quantify that success, we had more than 9,000 total gifts this year, an increase of more than 40 percent from last year’s total of 6,300. For a second straight year, we received donations from all 50 states.
One of the other aspects of the great success that can’t be quantified is the positive energy, optimism, passion, and pride that was generated and celebrated that day. I am so proud and fortunate to serve as the President of Ball State University.
Money raised on One Ball State Day supports academic programs, student organizations, and the numerous funds that enable us to achieve our mission of preparing our students to have fulfilling careers and lead meaningful lives.
I am grateful for such generosity. With these philanthropic investments, our University continues to have a transformative impact on the lives of thousands of women and men.
Below are a few more stories that I hope you will enjoy and then share. Let your friends and colleagues know how “We Fly” at Ball State.
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Sincerely,
Geoffrey S. Mearns
President
Ball State University
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Ball State University’s first Spring Homecoming to be held
April 26–May 1
Ball State University is calling upon its graduates around the world to celebrate its first Spring Homecoming from April 26–May 1, 2021. While last year’s 94th annual Homecoming celebration was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Spring Homecoming will feature virtual gatherings, socially distanced campus activities, Cardinal spirit contests, and more. The week-long celebration will culminate with the annual Spring football game on Saturday, May 1.
Most of the Spring Homecoming events will be held virtually, and some will be available to stream on Ball State’s website or via the University’s social media platforms. Check out a listing of events, which includes information on how to access them online.
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Spring Commencement to be held May 7, 8, and 15
Ball State will hold a series of smaller, outdoor commencement ceremonies at Scheumann Stadium for all members of the Class of 2020 and for Spring 2021 graduates. The ceremonies will take place on May 7, 8, and 15 and will be outdoors, rain or shine. All graduates and attendees of Spring Commencement exercises will be required to wear masks.
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Register today to be a part of Saturday’s Day of Beneficence
Despite the challenges of the past year, Cardinals are resilient, and we care about one another and the communities we serve.
Join fellow Ball State alumni in your area to show you care on Saturday, April 17, for the third annual Day of Beneficence. Assist in an organized in-person volunteer opportunity to serve your local community, volunteer digitally by writing a welcome note to an admitted student and/or congratulations note to a graduating Ball State senior, or register and perform individual volunteer service.
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Ball State University unveils our Esports Center
With its virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony completed, Ball State University’s state-of-the-art Esports Center is ready to go. The University’s College of Communication, Information, and Media is the home of the University’s new Esports program. Ball State’s team is one of 12 members of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) to join the newly created independent Esports Collegiate Conference (ESC). The conference fields teams in League of Legends, Rocket League, and Overwatch divisions. The 3,611-square-foot Esports Center, which features top-of-the-line computers, stadium seating, an interactive classroom with smart display, and more, is located in the Robert Bell Building.
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Ball State to distribute more than $8 million in HEERF II grants to eligible students
Ball State University began disbursing nearly $8 million in federal financial aid to eligible students. These resources were provided to Ball State in the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) II, part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, which was signed into law in late 2020. The act authorized $81.88 billion nationally to support education.
Ball State’s goal is to assist as many students as possible in accordance with federal guidelines. More than 9,000 eligible undergraduate and graduate, including online students, currently enrolled at Ball State will receive between $500-$1,000 in one-time grants through this program.
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Ball State University partners with Anderson University on a dual-degree program
Ball State University is proud to announce a new partnership with Anderson University, through which students will have the opportunity to earn a dual degree. Ball State students will study either astronomy or physics from Ball State alongside one of Anderson’s ABET-accredited engineering programs (computer, electrical, or mechanical) housed within Anderson’s School of Science and Engineering.
The partnership program is designed to take five years to complete and will allow Ball State University students to identify with their home campus, while also drawing on all the benefits of a high-impact engineering program through Anderson University. Students will take classes exclusively at the Ball State campus during their first two years, then will take a combination of courses at Ball State and Anderson’s campuses during their final three years in the program.
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New York City digital theater production includes a Ball State student and two faculty members
Filmed live at New York City’s famed City Center, the concert premieres at 7 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 28, with on-demand viewing through Monday, May 31. Rivera is one of Foster’s students as an Instructor of Theater at Ball State. Music Director Michael Rafter, Associate Professor of Musical Theater at Ball State, will accompany the cast on piano.
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Sundance Film Festival includes premiere of film co-produced by a Ball State graduate
Alicia Herder, a 2014 Ball State TCOM graduate, co-produced the film “La Leyenda Negra” in 2018, which was selected to premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
“When I was at Ball State, I dreamed about having a film in Sundance,” Herder said. “I thought it would take decades to do something like this, if it ever happened at all. So, having it happen this quickly is still a source of amazement to me. And in my heart, I know that if not for my time at Ball State, this would never have happened.”
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Ball State University dedicates Ginn Woods as nature preserve
Owned and maintained by Ball State, Ginn Woods is Indiana’s second-largest protected old-growth forest. The land is 161 acres and is the largest and highest quality woodland in East Central Indiana. Ginn Woods is located along the Mississinewa River corridor in a predominantly agricultural and unincorporated area in northern Delaware County.
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Next Cardinal Compass airs April 16
In this episode: Key community stakeholders join forces to increase educational attainment and economic opportunities through the East Central Indiana Talent Collaborative. With a focus on reaching those goals, discussions are underway between President Geoffrey S. Mearns; Blair Milo, Indiana Secretary of Career Connections and Talent; and Delaina Boyd, Ball State Associate Vice President for Community Engagement. Cardinal Compass is produced by Ball State University students in the College of Communication, Information, and Media.
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