Dear Colleagues:

     At Ball State University, Commencement is a celebration of the achievements of our students, who will now begin the next stage of their life journeys. At our latest celebration—Ball State’s 198th Commencement ceremony, held May 4 on our beautiful Quad—our University conferred approximately 3,000 doctoral, specialist, master’s, and baccalaureate degrees.

     Our Class of 2024 heard inspiring words from Stedman Graham, a New York Times bestselling author, educator, business advisor, and 1989 Ball State graduate, who delivered the address at the main ceremony. This year’s Spring Commencement also featured special acknowledgments to two other distinguished guests.    

     Ball State bestowed an honorary degree, a Doctor of Arts in Music, upon June Scheumann in recognition of her remarkable philanthropy, and to her dedication to the betterment of communities. Mrs. Scheumann and her late husband, John, a 1971 Ball State graduate, have created a legacy of generosity that includes their family’s support of the John B. and June Scheumann Football Stadium, the Scheumann Family Indoor Practice Facility, the development of the new Performing Arts Center, and more. Additionally, Mrs. Scheumann supports more than a dozen organizations that reflect her values and commitment to addressing societal needs.

     Dr. Lee Ann Kwiatkowski received the President’s Medal of Distinction—one of Ball State’s highest honors—in recognition of her career dedicated to education and public service. In June, Dr. Kwiatkowski is retiring from Muncie Community Schools, where she served as the district’s first-ever director of public education and chief executive officer since July 2019. In total, Dr. Kwiatkowski has more than 35 years of experience in Indiana public education, including serving as Gov. Eric Holcomb’s senior education adviser and executive director for the state’s Board of Education.

     Generous with their time, treasure, and talents, Mr. Graham, Mrs. Scheumann, and Dr. Kwiatkowski are living embodiments of beneficence, an enduring value we instill in our students as we prepare them to pursue fulfilling careers and meaningful lives.

     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.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey S. Mearns
President
Ball State University

     The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities and Burris Laboratory School have reaffirmed their positions as leading high schools in Indiana, according to the latest rankings released by U.S. News & World Report. Both institutions are operated by Ball State University’s Teachers College. In the “2024 Best U.S. High Schools” listing, the Indiana Academy secured the No. 2 spot in the state, while Burris Laboratory School climbed two spots to No. 12, continuing their tradition of excellence.

     The rankings are based on a comprehensive evaluation of student outcomes, including state assessments, college-level exam performance, and graduation rates. Notably, the Indiana Academy’s strong performance in state assessments and impressive 97-percent graduation rate contributed significantly to its high ranking. Learn more in this Ball State press release.

     A significant Ball State milestone was reached in April when three of the University’s undergraduates—Kyle Carnes, Simon Webster, and Madison Willingham—were selected for Boren Scholarships. This is the first time Ball State has had more than one winner in a single year for this scholarship. Learn more in this Ball State press release.

     Federally-funded Boren Scholarships support undergraduate study in regions considered critical to U.S. interests in order to help students acquire the language and cultural competence needed to communicate effectively across borders, understand other perspectives, and analyze increasingly fluid economic and political realities.

     Taylor Bias, a junior at Ball State University, has also been awarded a Barry Goldwater Scholarship, one of America’s most prestigious scholarships for undergraduates who intend to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research. She was one of 438 sophomores and juniors selected this year from a pool of 1,353 students nominated by colleges and universities nationwide. Ms. Bias is the 15th Ball State student to receive the Goldwater Scholarship, along with nine others who have received honorable mention. Learn more in this Ball State press release.

     On May 3, the Ball State University Board of Trustees approved a $7.8 million construction budget for the University’s new Eric Foss Championship Performance Center (CPC), a 10,000-square-foot strength and conditioning facility that will be adjacent to Worthen Arena and the Dr. Don Shondell Practice Center. Substantial donor support has already been committed to the CPC, including a gift of $4 million from Eric Foss—a 1980 Ball State graduate, and former chairman and CEO of Aramark.

     In addition to connectivity to the existing buildings, the CPC will have accessory program areas including office, nutrition, athletic training, recovery, and storage and building services for 18 of the University’s 19 athletic teams, with the football team continuing to use its own facility. The current strength and performance facility in Worthen Arena will be repurposed for other uses to be determined at a later date.

     Pending state approvals, construction on the CPC is expected to begin in February 2025 and could be completed by late 2025 or early 2026. Learn more about the CPC in this Ball State press release.

     During its May 3 meeting, the Ball State University Board of Trustees approved the naming of the Rhonda Newport Kaspar Stage and the Timothy M. Andrews Monumental Stair in the University’s new Performing Arts Center (PAC). The venue, which will connect to a new boutique hotel, will be the catalyst for the University’s revitalization plan for The Village, the commercial district located immediately adjacent to campus.

     The Rhonda Newport Kaspar Stage is in the PAC’s main theatre, which will have seating for 425 patrons. It is named for 1981 Ball State graduates and longtime donors Rhonda and Robert Kaspar, who have committed a gift of $2.5 million to support the PAC.

     The Timothy M. Andrews Monumental Stair will be located in the lobby of the PAC, a venue that will bring people together for both theatre and dance while providing a space for the Ball State and Muncie communities to congregate and socialize. The monumental stair’s namesake, Timothy Andrews, president and CEO of Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) and a 1984 Ball State graduate, contributed $1 million to the PAC.

     Learn more about the naming of The Rhonda Newport Kaspar Stage and The Timothy M. Andrews Monumental Stair in this Ball State press release.

     Construction on the $60 million PAC project, which will be located on the northeast corner of University and McKinley Avenues in Muncie, is scheduled to begin in Fall 2024 and to be completed by Fall 2026.

     Ball State’s Sports Link—the co-curricular arm of the University’s sports production concentration within the Department of Media (part of Ball State’s College of Communication, Information, and Media)—led a creative video shoot for the Indiana Fever, Indianapolis’ WNBA team. The effort involved the work of Sports Link students & staff. For the project, seniors Cameron Clift and Josh Brunette served as videographers, collaborating with Sports Link alum, Peyton Monnell, the creative director at 4th Floor Creative. The video will be able to be seen on multiple platforms, including WTHR, the NBC affiliate in Indianapolis, for the station's broadcast coverage of the Fever's home games this season.

     Sports Link’s production students create sports content for a variety of outlets, including BallStateSports.com, WIPB-TV, ESPN, Turner Sports, NCAA, and across social media.

     The Fever are the talk of the WNBA after selecting Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark with the No. 1-overall pick in April’s WNBA Draft. Ms. Clark’s economic impact on Indiana, as one of the newest members of the Fever, is expected to be significant, according to research conducted by Dr. Michael Hicks from Ball State’s Miller College of Business, in conjunction with the College of Communication, Information, and Media; and Game Day, a media and marketing agency based in Cincinnati founded by 1972 Ball State graduate Betsy Ross. Learn more about the expected impact and the study in this Ball State press release.

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