April 2023 News
Academy Gameathon Raises Over $900 for Charity
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
On Saturday, April 1, the Indiana Academy partnered with Extra Life in the 24-hour Gameathon, where Academy students earned community service hours and raised money while playing various video games. 62 Academy students participated in the event, as both gamers and volunteers, and raised a total of $936.24 for the Riley Hospital for Children.
Student Life Counselor Vincent Rivera says, “I wanted to use this opportunity to thank all who participated, as well as those who volunteered to help run the event and make having it at all possible in the first place. Among those students who participated, I wanted to recognize Addy Stefancik, Aaron Ruark, D. Martin, and Mahlon Ilyas, as each of them raised at least $100 for the Riley Hospital for Children during Gameathon. Addy raised the most, having brought in a whopping $200 for charity. Thanks to them, but also thanks to all who participated and helped raise money for a worthy cause.”
Thanks go also to Leiton Haack, Bridgett Nesbit, Chayleigh Swartz, Sydney Craig, Elijah Buck, and Mahlon Ilyas for volunteering to help run Gameathon. All of them made rounds throughout the day in order to monitor and record student participation. Special thanks to Mahlon Ilyas, who contributed his own games, consoles, and equipment toward the running of activities in the downstairs lounges throughout the day. According to Mr. Rivera, “Gameathon this year wouldn’t have been possible without him.”
Academy/Burris Future Problem Solving Team Wins State Tournament
Monday, April 3, 2023
On Saturday, April 1, the Indiana Academy and Burris Future Problem Solving (FPS) team won first place at the Indiana state tournament. As a result, the team will be advancing to the FPSPI international conference June 7-11 at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. In addition to the team’s first place finish, Academy junior Anna Gu won first place in the Scenario Writing competition for her short story.
The combined Academy-Burris team consists of Academy students Sadie Berg, Anna Gu, and Jess Littleford; and Burris student Owen Ross, who plans to attend the Academy next year. Sadie Berg and Jess Littleford serve as coaches for the senior team, and also act as senior coaches for the Burris junior team.
Congratulations to our Future Problem Solvers!
Senior Charlie Behrman Awarded National Merit Scholarship
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Senior Charlie Behrman was recently notified he was chosen as a recipient of a National Merit Scholarship. When he reached finalist status in February, Charlie established himself as one of the top 1% of high school seniors in the state of Indiana with his PSAT scores. Now, Charlie is one of just 7200 students in the country to receive a National Merit Scholarship. Congratulations, Charlie! We’re very proud of you!
Spanish Teaching Position Available
Thursday, March 23, 2023
The Indiana Academy currently has an opening for Assistant Lecturer of Spanish. Details about the position can be found at the link below.
Academy Seniors Present at Science Conference
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Congratulations to Academy seniors Charlie Behrman and Abby Coffman for their poster presentations at the 2023 Indiana Academy of Science annual conference held in Indianapolis, IN. Charlie’s poster, “Molecular Adsorbtion at the Liquid/Liquid Nanoemulsion Interface” and Abby’s, “Evaluation of Thermodynamic Stabilities of in silico Designed Nucleic Acid 3WJ Motifs,” are featured here.
Junior Sarah Edmonds Commits to Murray State University
Monday, March 20, 2023
Congratulations to Academy junior, Sarah Edmonds, for verbally committing to further her education and soccer career at Division One Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. Sarah, a standout on the soccer pitch for the Burris Owls Girls soccer team, was named a finalist for MaxPrep athlete of the week, scored a total of 18 goals and dished out 28 assists this season, and led the Owls to a historic 15-1 record that consisted of 12 shutouts and a 3-1 sectional championship victory over her former school, Wapahani at Triton Central High School. “I was aware Sarah was being recruited by several Division One schools but didn’t fully understand the extent of her talents on the soccer field until catching a game last Fall,” says Dr. Joel Olufowote, Director of Academic Affairs. “Sarah’s accomplishments playing soccer further highlight the fallacy that high level athletic competition at an institution like the Academy is unachievable.” Dr. Olufowote continues to say, “despite our clear academic identity, we want our students to be well-rounded with multiple passions. I’m grateful for Sarah’s example and for her agility in both the classroom and the soccer pitch.”
Spring 2023 Midterm Director’s List
Monday, March 20, 2023
Congratulations to the following students on their midterm academic performance at the Academy!
The Director’s List recognizes those students who are carrying at least three As and no Cs (or lower) in their Academy classes, as well as having no cases of academic misconduct reported.
Academy Students Attend DECA Conference
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Academy students Anna Gu, Kennedy Horner, Betsy Rayle, Jaehun Kim, Hannah Q, and Elise Adams attended the DECA State Career Development Conference from March 5-7 in Indianapolis, IN, where they participated in competitive events. This was the Academy’s first year competing in DECA and the students followed up their stellar effort at district with additional recognition at State. Congratulations goes to Anna Gu, Academy junior, for being recognized with a competency medal for a stand out performance in the Accounting Applications competitive category!
Academy Senior to Present at Conference
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Congratulations to senior Academy student Charlie Behrman on his upcoming conference presentation, “Molecular Adsorption at the Liquid/Liquid Nanoemulsion Interface” at the Indiana Academy of Science annual conference this March on March 18 in Indianapolis! Charlie’s research with two BSU graduate students, under the supervision of BSU Chemistry professor Dr. Mahamud Subir, explores the effect of surfactant compositions, and thereby, the interfacial charges on the adsorption proclivity of different organic compounds using a surface selective laser-based technique. According to Dr. Dain Kavars, Executive Director, “Charlie is taking advantage of the opportunities available to Indiana Academy students to actively engage in cutting-edge research that has the potential to shape the world. We are proud of his many accomplishments and are very excited that he was selected to present at a professional conference!”
Please note: While similar in name to our school, the Indiana Academy of Science is a non-profit a professional membership organization of Indiana scientists and is not affiliated with the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities or Ball State University.
Academy Instructors Receive Lilly Endowment Fellowships
Friday, February 24, 2023
We are extremely proud to announce that Academy Instructors David Haynes, John Marsh, and Sean Scott have each been awarded a Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship! To have three teachers from a small school receive the fellowship in the same year is an incredible accomplishment. The credit, of course, goes to Mr. Haynes, Mr. Marsh, and Dr. Scott for the hard work they put into preparing their applications and the dedication they have to their Academy students.
David Haynes’ fellowship, “Made in Massachusetts and the Editing Room” expands cinematic education by creating an audio-visual memoir of his family’s origins and experiences in Massachusetts, creating a wholly personal film from inception to completion.
John Marsh’s fellowship, “Seeking Educational Theater and Classroom Inspiration in Britain” inspires the creation of youth educational theater scripts through a transformative journey across Great Britain.
Sean Scott’s fellowship, “A Hoosier Historian’s European Grand Tour” deepens historical knowledge through visiting some of the most iconic landmarks, museums and cathedrals of England and France and hiking portions of the Tour du Mont Blanc, Swiss Alps and Scottish Highlands.
Congratulations to all three on this wonderful news!