February 2024 News

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Dr. Olufowote Selected as Senior Administrator at Johns Hopkins Summer Program

Monday, February 26, 2024

Dr. Joel Olufowote, Director of Academic Affairs, has been selected to serve Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Center for Talented Youth (CTY) this June and July as a senior administrator for its flagship summer program on the Homewood campus of JHU in Baltimore, Maryland. As site director, Olufowote will provide administrative leadership for two, three-week intensive summer academic sessions that historically draws approximately six-hundred gifted and talented high schoolers from around the nation and world. In this role, Olufowote will also oversee the seventy-five staff members instructing and guiding students across the academic, residential, and operational functions of the program.

Founded in 1979 and recognized today as the premier world leader in gifted education, advocacy, and research, CTY is an academic center of JHU that delivers academic excellence, fosters intellectual growth, and provides transformational experiences to exceptional elementary, middle, and high schoolers from a range of diverse backgrounds, communities, and nationalities. This summer, CTY programs will provide a total of 70+ courses in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and humanities to just shy of 6,000 students at several sites located in California, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Olufowote is one of ten site directors carefully drawn from a nationwide pool of candidates selected to oversee a CTY program this summer.

Congratulations to Dr. Olufowote on this esteemed accomplishment! Learn more about Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth and its academic programs at cty.jhu.edu.

Dr. Lobo Receives Bell Education Grant From Community Foundation

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Congratulations to Dr. Phillip Lobo for winning a Robert P. Bell Education Grant to fund his project: “Let’s Build a World! – Collaborative Game Setting Construction.” According to Dr. Lobo, “The [May Term] project is to collaboratively create a world-setting and then populate it with converted game mechanics. It will be split into two phases. The first week will be spent creating the world itself, using a variety of games to generate the setting; the second week will be dedicated to playing games in that setting, and compiling ‘source books,’ either producing a key component in a larger game or a smaller game within the larger setting. The end result will be a robust, interconnected set of collaborative creative works, united in a single brand new world.” The funds from the grant will go towards purchasing reusable maps and drafting materials, graph paper and journals, as well as dice and tokens and because of the generosity of the Community Foundation, according to Dr. Lobo, “…I should be able to run my May Term free of cost for our students!”

Senior Sky Wood Awarded Presidential Scholarship to Indiana State University

Monday, February 19, 2024

Academy Senior Sky Wood was surprised on Friday, February 16 with a Presidential Scholarship to Indiana State University and their Honors College. Dr. Gregory Bierly, Dean of the ISU Honors College, and Kelly Pierce, Associate Director of Scholarships, came to the Academy to present the award, and Sky’s parents were also in attendance to surprise Sky with some ISU swag. This scholarship covers tuition, housing, and meals for 4 years. Congratulations, Sky!

Junior Asia Genawi Receives Aspirations in Computing Award

Friday, February 9, 2024

The Indiana Academy is proud to announce that junior Asia Genawi was a recipient of the 2024 National Aspirations in Computing Award. The award recognizes high school students who show aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing expertise, computing-related activities, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, leadership experience, and plans for post-secondary education. Asia is one of 40 national winners from a pool of 3,300 talented applicants. Congratulations, Asia!

Quiz Bowl Team Advances To State and National Competitions

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

The Indiana Academy Quiz Bowl team during the regional competition.

On January 20, the varsity Quiz Bowl team participated in the Quiz Bowl regional competition at Homestead High School hosted by the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP). For the third consecutive year, the team has qualified for both the state tournament on March 2, 2024 and the Small School National Championship Tournament sponsored by National Academic Quiz Tournaments, LLC (NAQT). The varsity team anticipates competing in this national competition against teams from all over the country on April 26-28, 2024.

Congratulations to the Quiz Bowl team and coach Mr. Joshua Ruark!

Dr. Joel Olufowote Selected as Discussant at Midwest Conference

Monday, January 29, 2024

Congratulations to Dr. Joel Olufowote, Director of Academic Affairs, on being selected as a discussant for the Midwest Political Science Association Conference in Chicago, IL this April. Alongside co-presenting original research with Academy senior Daniel Yoo, Dr. Olufowote will be the primary discussant for the research panels, “Democratic Backslidings and Coercive Challenges” and “Mental Health and Sports Policies in Educational Contexts,” while at the conference.

Dr. Tom Arnold Receives Lilly Grant

Monday, January 29, 2024

Congratulations to Dr. Tom Arnold, Associate Teaching Professor of History, for receiving a $15,000 Lilly Grant! According to Dr. Arnold, the grant, “In Search of Sustainability: An Exploration and Comparison of Ancient and Modern Southeast Asia,” is an independent forty-day travel experience of discovery – and self-discovery – in Southeast Asia, focusing on four locations: ancient Angkor and Sukothai, and modern-day Bangkok and Singapore. The connecting, comparative question will be that of sustainability: how do we better build and maintain healthy, just, and resilient human communities?”

According to the Lilly Endowment Inc., The Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program (TCFP) is one of the Endowment’s longest standing programs, launched in 1987 to help Indiana public school teachers renew their commitment to teaching. Today, this program continues to support Indiana educators by providing resources for them to take time for meaningful renewal. The Endowment believes that through new experiences, exploration and reflection educators can generate renewed energy in their careers, innovative approaches to teaching and educational leadership, and thoughtful ways to encourage students’ creative thinking.

“Dr. Arnold has a passion for bringing the world into the Academy classroom and I can think of no better way to continue this practice than through this Lilly grant,” remarks Dr. Olufowote, Director of Academic Affairs. I’m so happy for Tom and excited for the students that will be enriched further through his research activity.”

Academy Faculty Recognized by Alumni’s Colleges

Monday, January 29, 2024

Congratulations to Dr. Tom Arnold, Associate Teaching Professor of History, and Professor Susie Cunningham, Associate Lecturer of Computer Science, on being recognized by the University of Chicago and Rochester Institute of Technology respectively! Both Dr. Arnold and Professor Cunnigham were identified by Academy alumni who attend each institution for the difference they each made in the lives of the nominating students. Dr. Arnold will visit U Chicago this February and Professor Cunningham will visit RIT this March, both on fully expense paid visits sponsored by each institution. “As an academic faculty, we are all so proud of the accomplishments of Susie and Tom,” remarks Dr. Olufowote, Director of Academic Affairs. He continues to say, “Our faculty work tirelessly on the behalf of students to prepare them for success at the next level and it is heartwarming to see them recognized for their excellence in the classroom and commitments to student success.”