Latest News
Mr. John Marsh’s Play, The West Wind, at Muncie Civic Theatre March 20-29
Friday, March 13, 2026
A new play written by Mr. John Marsh and his wife Jenni, The West Wind, is being produced for the first time at the Muncie Civic Theatre. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh are directing it as well. Recent Academy grad, Lily Ellis, created some artwork for the program, and current Academy student Maria Munoz Rossello made some props.
The play is a comedy set on a transcontinental train trip from Chicago to San Francisco in 1908. Some of the characters are dealing with the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake 2 years earlier.
The show runs over 2 weekends beginning Friday, March 20, and running through Sunday, March 29. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 3:00 p.m.
Student tickets are $15, and may be purchased online here: www.munciecivic.org/2025-2026/the-west-wind. Hope to see you there!
TSA Competition Results
Friday, March 13, 2026
On February 27 and 28, the Indiana Academy Technology Student Association (TSA) team competed in the Indiana State TSA Conference. “I am incredibly proud of this dedicated group,” says faculty sponsor Susie Cunningham, as every member earned either a medal or an honorary distinction. The team’s hard work resulted in a total of 13 top medals—gold for first place, silver for second, and bronze for third. It was a thrilling final awards ceremony as the Indiana Academy truly swept the competition.
Engineering Design – 1st Place
Yedaam Cho, Leo Kim, Jennifer Vo, and Nathan Witkemper
Prepared Presentation – 2nd Place
Leo Kim
Coding – 3rd Place
Gabby Li and Ryan Zhang
Photographic Technology – 3rd Place
Keneda Yang
Video Game Design – 3rd Place
Tan Srisuthum, Jennifer Vo, Keneda Yang, Ryan Zhang, and Henry Dinh
Debating Technology Issues – 4th Place
Kim Cao
Photographic Technology – 4th Place
Zaina Nasir
Children’s Stories – 5th Place
Kim Cao, Yedaam Cho, Leo Kim, Gabby Li, Penelope Magrill, Maria Munoz-Rossello, Zaina Nasir, and Andres Bertuchi Soares
Dragster Design – Top 15
Dannicka Sorensen
A special thank you goes to Candy Manship, Renee Drumm, and Anna Sammelson for their invaluable help with the travel paperwork and invoice processing!
Academy/Burris Winter Sports Success
Monday, February 9, 2026
Two Indiana Academy student-athletes have advanced out of the Regionals in their respective winter sports. Wrestling was introduced this year for the first time in school history. Academy junior Brayden Saleem won third place at the Jay County regional and has advanced to the semi-state to continue his quest for a state championship. Academy junior Emiliia Kadurina won the 200-yard freestyle competition at the Jay County sectionals and will now compete in the state competition this weekend. Congratulations, Brayden and Emiliia!
Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship Grants
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
The Lilly Endowment recently released the list of the 2026 Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship grant recipients. This program provides $15,000 grants to K-12 educators in Indiana to engage in educator renewal projects. We are excited to announce that grants were awarded to two Indiana Academy faculty/staff.
Chris Buczek – “Elements of Discovery: A Personal Odyssey to Chemistry’s Historic Heartlands for Educational Renewal” – travel to Europe to explore chemistry through history’s greatest scientists (Curie, Rutherford, and Copernicus) and discover how historical context transforms scientific understanding.
Dain Kavars – “Recapturing Wonder: How Minor League Baseball Can Transform Educational Vision” – attend minor league and semi-pro baseball games across America to better understand how to sustain community, inspire achievement, and bring people together.
Indiana Academy faculty/staff have been awarded eight Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship grants in just the last four years!
Indiana Academy Resumes Normal Operations January 27
Monday, January 26, 2026
Dear Indiana Academy Students and Families:
The Indiana Academy will follow the same operating schedule as Ball State University, with normal operations resuming on Tuesday, January 27th.
Students, please monitor your email closely for any individual course changes. Your teachers will notify you of any changes in their courses.
The safety of our students, families, and faculty/staff is a top priority. If the road conditions in your area are unsafe to travel to the Academy on Tuesday, please call the Attendance Office (765-285-8110) to report your student’s absence. Students unable to travel to the Academy due to weather will be excused. Please note that the call must come from a parent/guardian. Students who are absent are responsible for contacting their teachers to review expectations for class materials.
Dain Kavars, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Monday, January 26 Classes Will Be Online
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Dear Indiana Academy Students and Families:
Ball State University has announced that all classes tomorrow, Monday, January 26, 2026, including Indiana Academy and Burris classes, will be held online. Students, please monitor your email closely for your teachers’ instructions. In-person classes will resume on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. All dining facilities will remain operational tomorrow.
Please take extra care and be safe if you go outside.
Sincerely,
Dain Kavars, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Academy DECA Members Qualify for State Competition
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Students from the Indiana Academy competed alongside Yorktown High School and Union City Jr./Sr. High School at the DECA District Competition held on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Six students represented the Academy, participating in both individual and team events. Their results are listed below:
Elva Gu – Apparel and Accessories Marketing Series (1st Place)
Leo Kim and Doris Li – Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making (1st Place)
Jeevisha Dhanda – Marketing Communications Series (1st Place)
Zaria Yin and Cynthia Shen – Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making (2nd Place)
All participating students qualified for the State DECA Competition, which will be held at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown from March 1-3, 2026.
Congratulations!
Indiana Academy and Inspire Academy Working Together Around Student Success
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Students from the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities and Inspire Academy this semester are coming together through tutoring to accelerate student success for the benefit of both institutions. “Through a conversation with the Executive Director of Inspire Academy, Leslie Draper, in late 2025, it occurred to me that the Indiana Academy and Inspire Academy have several goals in common and that an intentional partnership between our two schools carries the potential of accelerating overall student success,” remarks Dr. Joel Olufowote, Director of Academic Affairs at the Indiana Academy. “We agreed that while Academy students can serve as tutors in strategic curricular areas for Inspire elementary and middle schoolers, Academy students are mutually enriched and better prepared to deliver upon our school mission of pursuing the Common Good during and after their high school years through the intentional immersion into communities like Inspire Academy with similar values and a likeminded institutional vision.”
The first group of Academy tutors consisted of members from the Indiana Academy Student Government and Black Student Union.
Chemistry Teaching Position Available
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
The Indiana Academy currently has an opening for Assistant Lecturer or Assistant Teaching Professor of Chemistry, with an application deadline of February 4, 2026. Details about the position can be found at the link below.
Assistant Lecturer / Assistant Teaching Professor of Chemistry
Fall 2025 Directors Lists
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Congratulations to the 103 Indiana Academy students who have earned recognition for outstanding performance across all classes for the fall 2025 semester!
