May 2026 News
Academy Alum Mason Smith (2005) to be Commencement Speaker
Friday, May 8, 2026
The Indiana Academy is pleased to announce that Mason Smith, Class of 2005, will be the featured speaker at our thirty-fifth Commencement Ceremony, to be held on Saturday, May 23 at 11:30 a.m. in Emens Auditorium on the campus of Ball State University.
Mason is an experienced software engineer in quantitative finance. Originally from Gary, Indiana, he graduated from the Indiana Academy in 2005. Mason was awarded the Rea and Lela Axline Scholarship to attend the California Institute of Technology. He graduated from Caltech with honors in 2009, earning B.S. degrees in mathematics and computer science.
Mason received an AT&T Labs fellowship and an ARCS Foundation Scholarship to attend the University of California, Berkeley to pursue a PhD in computer science. However, he left graduate school early to pursue a career in industry.
For 15 years, he has worked at TGS Management Company in various software engineering roles for building quantitative trading systems and infrastructure to support quantitative research.
He recently served on the Board of Trustees for Caltech and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Trickle Up and Innovations for Poverty Action. He is also a member of the Indiana Academy Alumni Advisory Council.
We are very grateful that Mason has chosen to return to the Academy to share his wisdom with the Class of 2026.
Purdue University John Martinson Honors College Recognizes Senior Finn Almandmoss as Stamps Scholar
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The newest class of Stamps Scholars has been announced, with representation at nearly 40 universities nation-wide. Finn Almandmoss from Kodiak, AK has been named one of the incoming Stamps Scholars at Purdue. He will also be a member of the John Martinson Honors College.
The Stamps Scholars Program covers a student’s full cost of attendance (tuition, room, and board) and connects students with a national network of dedicated peers. With the support of benefactors E. Roe Stamps and his late wife Penny, the award also gives scholars access to an academic enrichment fund of up to $10,000 to finance activities such as academic conferences, study abroad experiences or research experiences.
Eligible students are automatically considered for the Stamps Scholarship upon applying to Purdue. Purdue Stamps Scholars demonstrate academic merit, strong leadership potential and exceptional character. The Stamps Scholars Program welcomes and supports students from all backgrounds and areas of study.
The Stamps Scholarship program was created by Penny and Roe Stamps, originally at the University of Michigan and Georgia Tech. It has since grown to award multi-year merit scholarships across the United States.
Finn plans to study Chemical Engineering while attending Purdue University.
One Ball State Day 2026 Recap
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Dear Indiana Academy Students, Parents/Guardians, Alumni, and Friends:
One Ball State Day (OBSD) at the Indiana Academy was a tremendous success yesterday. We set a goal of raising $100,000, and not only did we meet that by 5 PM, but we also raised an additional $14,000 to finish the day, bringing the total to $114,269 from 350 gifts! Wow!
These funds will be used to directly support students by expanding room-and-board affordability, updating classroom technology and equipment, and improving our classroom and building facilities.
Thank you to everyone who helped make One Ball State Day at the Indiana Academy a huge success, including those who came out to support Meg Wright as she represented the Academy in the Dash and Splash challenge, and Paul Douglas in the dunk tank on a not-so-nice day to be in one.
Yesterday’s big day would not have been possible without your donations and help spreading the word to others. On behalf of everyone at the Indiana Academy, thank you!
Dain Kavars, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Charles Behrman (Class of 2023) Named Goldwater Scholar
Monday, March 30, 2026
Charles Behrman, 2023 graduate of the Indiana Academy, has been named as a 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholar and will be receiving the Goldwater Scholarship.
He was also selected In November to be one of only 15 students across the nation to join the 2026 Fusion Student Delegation, which will be gathering in Washington, D.C. in May.
Charlie is in his third year at Purdue University, where he is majoring in Nuclear Engineering and minoring in Spanish.
Congratulations, Charlie!
Academy Senior Awarded Second Place at Indiana Academy of Science Annual Meeting
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Congratulations to Academy senior Vivana Bhagat who presented her research at the Indiana Academy of Science’s 141st Annual Academy Meeting held in Indianapolis on Saturday, March 21.
Vivana’s poster, “Identification of Candida albicans Mutants that can Filament in the Presence of Hygromycin B” was awarded second place in the Emerging Scientists Research Competition for Baccalaureate and Post-Baccalaureate investigators in the Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Medicine category. This distinction is also accompanied by a cash prize. “We’re all so proud of Vivana and this gargantuan feat,” remarks Dr. Joel Olufowote, Director of Academic Affairs. “We continue to leverage the power of original research as a signature differentiator of the Academy experience. Students like Vivana seek out these opportunities to gain early exposure to the scientific process, research design, and the dissemination of original findings. As a highschooler, walking away recognized as a top scholar in a post-secondary environment, and beyond, is a testament to Vivana’s hard work and a reflection of the committed faculty and staff invested in her success.”
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