September 2025 News
Dr. Jo Tuite – IAG Proposal Accepted
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Congratulations to Associate Director of Admissions, Dr. Jo Tuite, for being accepted to present at the upcoming Indiana Association for the Gifted conference in December. She will be presenting on a very relevant topic titled “AI Fluency in Gifted Education: Building a Culture of Innovation and Ethics.” She will be presenting at the conference in downtown Indianapolis on Tuesday, December 16.
Dr. Sean Scott Published
Monday, September 29, 2025
Congratulations to faculty member Dr. Sean Scott for having two articles recently published: “James Lynch and the Merging of Religious and Political Reconstruction in Mississippi” in the Fall/Winter issue of The Journal of Mississippi History, and “Episcopalians in Civil War Washington: loyalty, prayer, and the struggle over religious authority within the Diocese of Maryland” in American Nineteenth Century History.
The scholarly accomplishments of our faculty are a testament to the Indiana Academy’s success in cultivating academic excellence.
Indiana Academy Alum Named NASA Astronaut Candidate
Friday, September 26, 2025
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities alum Yuri Kubo (Class of 2004) was named one of NASA’s 10 new astronaut candidates on September 22, 2025.
“We’re incredibly proud of Yuri and his achievement. His selection as a NASA astronaut candidate exemplifies the kind of excellence and scientific curiosity we strive to nurture at the Indiana Academy,” said Dr. Dain Kavars, Executive Director of the Indiana Academy.
After graduating from the Indiana Academy, Kubo went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 2008 and a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering in 2015, all from Purdue University. He has worked at SpaceX, Vandenberg Space Force Base, and most recently as the senior vice president of Engineering at Electric Hydrogen.
More about Yuri from NASA’s website: Astronaut Candidate Yuri Kubo
This is not the Indiana Academy’s first connection to a NASA astronaut. Retired astronaut David Wolf, the uncle of a Class of 2010 Academy graduate, carried an Indiana Academy pennant to the International Space Station in 2009 as part of the STS-127 mission.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s Recap
Monday, September 22, 2025
Saturday, September 20, Indiana Academy students helped with the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in downtown Muncie. Students raised $4,320.70 to support the cause, an increase of over 30% compared to last year! This outstanding effort reflects the heart of our school community—students who not only excel academically but also step forward to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Through initiatives like this, our students demonstrate that authentic leadership means using their talents and energy to serve causes greater than themselves.
National Merit Scholarship Program
Friday, September 19, 2025
We are excited to announce this year’s Indiana Academy students who were selected for the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP). The National Merit Scholarship Corporation chooses senior students based on their PSAT/NMSQT exam scores taken the prior year. Of the over 1.3 million eligible students, only a small percentage are chosen. This year’s Indiana Academy NMSP participants are:
Finn Almandmoss (Commended)
Isaac Fischer (Commended)
Sarah Glunt (Commended)
Ayesha Khan (Commended)
Alex Overmars (Commended)
Rachel Ward (Commended)
Maria DeLong (Semifinalist)
Jason McGrew (Semifinalist)
Yohan Shin (Semifinalist)
As Semifinalists, Maria DeLong, Jason McGrew, and Yohan Shin are in a select group of approximately 1% of eligible high school students nationwide who will continue to compete for one of the prestigious National Merit Scholarships. Please join us in congratulating all of this year’s Indiana Academy NMSP participants!
Robert P. Bell Education Grant Award
Thursday, September 18, 2025
Earlier this week, the Indiana Academy was awarded a Robert P. Bell Education Grant by The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County. The grant, spearheaded by Dr. Joel Olufowote, provides $2,500 in funds to support the Indiana Academy Student Government (IASG) in its first year. Funds will be used to purchase start-up items and provide professional development to this year’s IASG students.