March 2017 News

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Envirothon Team Heading to State Tournament

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

The Academy’s Envirothon teams finished in first and second place at the Regional competition held Wednesday, March 15 at Hayes Arboretum, and both teams have qualified to proceed to the State Tournament being held on April 26th in Southern Indiana.

Students Selected for Prestigious Science Camp

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Hannah Komanapalli and Isabelle Turner, Academy seniors, were recently selected to represent Indiana at this year’s National Youth Science Camp (NYSC). NYSC is a residential science education program for young STEM enthusiasts the summer after they graduate from high school. Applicants had to demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, leadership in school and community activities, and a genuine interest in the sciences. Two students from each state and Washington, D.C. were chosen to attend the camp at no cost this summer in West Virginia. Students will be challenged academically in exciting lectures and hands-on studies, and they will also have voluntary opportunities to participate in an outdoor adventure program.

The National Youth Science Camp is made possible through the planning and fundraising of the National Youth Science Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a mission to honor, sustain, and encourage youth interest and excellence in science by conducting comprehensive informal science education programs that provide opportunity for constructive interaction with others and emphasize the social value of thoughtful scientific careers.

“Growing our students’ passion for subjects such as science, technology, engineering, and math is so vital to the future success of the students and our state,” said Dr. Jennifer McCormick, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction. “I congratulate Hannah and Isabelle and am grateful for their opportunity to join such an amazing group of talented students to share ideas and learn.”

2017 Indiana Academic All-Star

Monday, March 13, 2017

Hannah Komanapalli has been chosen as one of the 2017 Indiana Academic All-Stars by the Indiana Association of School Principals. She will be recognized at a luncheon ceremony at the Indiana Roof Ballroom on April 25th. Komanapalli identified Mike Mayfield, Instructor of Life Sciences, as her most influential school employee, and Mayfield will also be recognized at the program.

The Indiana Academic All-Stars program recognizes 40 seniors each year and 40 additional Regional Winners. Students are selected based on their SAT/ACT test scores, participation in various scholastic events as well as other criteria. Komanapalli continues a string of multiple Academy students who have been recognized for this honor over the years.

Chemistry Olympiad Winners

Monday, March 13, 2017

Indiana Academy placed third overall in the Indiana Section for the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad held on March 4. First place for our team was Michael Hu, and his name will be placed on a plaque in Burris Laboratory School. In addition, Hu and Andrew Quest have been invited to sit for the National Chemistry Olympiad exam in April. The national exam, a highly competitive qualifying examination, will determine those going to the summer boot camp for selection to the International Chemistry Olympiad team.

Gymnast Heading to State

Friday, March 10, 2017

Indiana Academy student Taylor Burhans is the only member of the Burris Gymnastics team, and she has just qualified to compete in the state championships on Saturday, March 11. See related story here.

Student Exchange Program with Germany

Monday, March 6, 2017

The Indiana Academy has a close partnership with a school in Germany called St. Afra. Over the Academy’s spring break, several administrators, faculty, and students traveled to St. Afra to learn more about their school and develop an immersive cultural exchange with St. Afra for this fall semester (August–December 2017). This fall the Academy will be sending two of our students to St. Afra, and they will send two of their students to our school for one semester.

Academy students will live in their dorm in Germany and will stay with their German host family over the breaks. Although not a requirement, the parents of the Academy students going to Germany may also be the host families for the incoming German girls over our breaks.

Over the past 5 years, St. Afra students and teachers have visited the Academy several times, and Academy faculty and staff have traveled to St. Afra school several times as well to continue strengthening our established relationship with this German school for academically gifted students.

Science Olympiad Team Heading to State Tournament

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Our Science Olympiad Team recently competed in the Science Olympiad tournament at St. Joseph’s College in Rennselear, and they have qualified for the State Tournament being held at Indiana University on March 18th.

Lilly Endowment Awards Indiana Academy $30,000 Grant

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

The Indiana Academy recently received a planning grant of $30,000 under Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Comprehensive Counseling Initiative for Indiana K – 12 Students. The aim of Lilly’s Counseling Initiative is to increase significantly the number of K–12 students in Indiana public school corporations and charter schools who are emotionally healthy, realize academic success, graduate from high school, obtain valuable postsecondary credentials, certifications, and degrees necessary for meaningful employment, and are prepared to compete and prosper in the global society in which they will live and work.

The Academy will use the grant for multiple counseling areas including student mental health, college and career advising, and professional development resources for Academy staff. “Having the best counseling department as possible is crucial with a school as unique as ours. A population of such high ability students combined with a predominantly residential school creates unique counseling situations,” said Dr. Vickie Barton, Executive Director of the Indiana Academy. “We are always looking for the best ways to meet their college and career counseling needs while also addressing their social and emotional needs.”

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family – J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli – through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly & Company. The Endowment is primarily committed to the causes of community development, education and religion and has a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and its home state, Indiana.

2017 National Merit Finalists

Friday, February 10, 2017

The following seniors have advanced to Finalist standing in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship competition:

Kalina Harden
Skyler Kiefer
Hannah Komanapalli
Cassandra Pent
Juliana Qin
Sidra St. Rain

Students Serve as Senate Pages

Monday, February 6, 2017

Indiana Academy students at the Indiana statehouse

Indiana Academy students recently served as Senate Pages at the Indiana Statehouse. In addition to touring the historical Statehouse which includes the House and Senate Chambers, the Supreme Court, and the Governor’s Office, pages had the opportunity to observe the legislative session directly from the Statehouse floor as well as meet and assist their senators with tasks.

View our Facebook photo gallery from the visit. Below are photos of our students with their senators.