May 2017 News
World Food Prize Youth Institute
Monday, May 1, 2017
Senior Jessica Gage and juniors Rachael Moore and Lily Fillwalk attended the World Food Prize Youth Institute at Purdue University on April 27-28. They presented individual research and recommendations on how to solve key global challenges in a short speech and small group discussion with local experts; interacted with global leaders in science, industry and policy; took part in educational sessions and interactive tours at Purdue to explore current research and issues in international development and life sciences; and met innovative researchers, professors and college students in Indiana working to end hunger and poverty and improve food security around the world.
Gage, Moore, and Fillwalk will have to wait until next month to receive detailed feedback from experts in the field, and the authors of the best papers will be chosen to attend the Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa, in the fall.
The World Food Prize was founded in 1987 by Dr. Norman Borlaug, the father of the “green revolution.” Because of his achievements to prevent hunger, famine and misery around the world, it is said that Dr. Borlaug has “saved more lives than any other person who has ever lived.”
You can learn more about the World Food Prize at https://www.worldfoodprize.org/.
Regional Super Bowl Finalists
Friday, April 21, 2017
Academy students competed in the regional Academic Super Bowl that is sponsored by the Indiana Association of School Principals. The topic for this year’s Academic Super Bowl was the French Revolution, and the Academy competed in Division 4 with 67 other schools competing in the same division. The top six teams from each category qualified for the state championship, and the Academy finished 1st in the Math, Science, Fine Arts, and English categories. The Academy placed 2nd in Interdisciplinary and 3rd in Social Studies. The Fine Arts and English teams (students listed below) qualified for the state competition that will be held at Purdue University on May 6.
Fine Arts
Taryn Coyle
Isabelle Turner
Allison Johnson
Leah Turner
Amy Gong
English
Samantha Williams
Rose Winter
Victoria Smith
Robotic Surgery Demonstration
Thursday, April 20, 2017
The Indiana Academy hosted a robotic surgery demonstration on April 19 in Burris Laboratory School. Two local surgeons, Dr. Damer and Dr. Graybill brought the technology and robot they use for hip and knee replacement surgeries to campus, and our students got a hands-on demonstration to experience for themselves how it all works. Over 80 students attended the demonstration that was open to Academy students, faculty, and staff as well as Burris science students and teachers. In addition to the robotic demonstration, both doctors presented on orthopedic topics followed by a Q&A session.
See more pictures in our Facebook gallery of the event.
Academy Students Attend HOSA State Leadership Conference
Monday, April 17, 2017
The Academy had 19 students attend the HOSA State Leadership Conference from April 10-12. HOSA is an international student organization that promotes career opportunities in the health care industry and seeks to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA’s Competitive Events Program is designed to motivate students to improve their knowledge and skills in terms of health care. The Academy students were very successful with placing in their competitions and many qualified for Nationals in the summer. The results of the Academy students are as follows:
| Category | Students (Results) |
|---|---|
| Medical Math | Jared Saxberg (Finalist) Sammy Cheng (Finalist) Hannah Komanapali (Finalist) |
| Human Growth and Development | Sakhi Shah (Finalist) |
| Medical Law and Ethics | Minna Zheng (2nd Place) Nitika Jacob (Finalist) |
| Nutrition | Zach Swoboda (Finalist) |
| Pathophysiology | Grace Meier (Finalist) Karthik Gannamanei (1st Place) |
| Biomedical Laboratory Science | Jared Saxberg (Finalist) Sammy Cheng (Finalist) |
| Physical Therapy | Nikita Kumar (Finalist) |
| Sports Medicine | Grace Meier (2nd Place) |
| Epidemiology | Taryn Coyle (1st Place) |
| Extemporaneous Health Posters | Lauren Stewart (Finalist) |
| Healthy Lifestyle | Victor Ramirez (2nd Place) |
| Forensic Science | Jared Saxberg & Minna Zheng (1st Place) |
| Medical Innovations Original | Ritika Mehta & Sakhi Shah (Finalist) Nisha Jacob & Shreeram Thirunavukkarasu (1st Place) |
PLATO Essay Winner
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Academy Junior Keith Murray won first prize in the 2017 PLATO (Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization) High School Essay Contest. PLATO is devoted to introducing philosophy to students before graduating high school. Organizers believe that philosophy is a key resource for preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century. The contest itself was open to all high school students in the U.S. and the students participating in the essay contest were asked, “How do we define art or determine what things count as art objects?” Murray’s essay, “Art is More than Beauty: It’s a Whetstone” stood out in a strong field of submissions. Keith received a check for $250.00 from PLATO for his submission and his essay will be published in PLATO’s official journal.
National Merit Scholarship Competition
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Based on their 2016 PSAT results, twelve Academy students met requirements to enter the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. These students (listed below) were one of 50,000 highest-scoring participants with a Selection Index score of 211 or above who will be recognized in the fall. From the 50,000 high scorers nationwide, about 16,000 will be named National Merit Program Semifinalists, representing the top scorers in each state, and approximately 34,000 others will be commended for their performance on the PSAT. Semifinalists and Commended Students will learn of their standing in September 2017. Semifinalists will be the only students who will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for about 7,400 Merit Scholarship awards to be offered in 2018. Academy students recognized are:
Anna Beach
Angela Cardwell
Ningmei Gong
Nils Hinniger
Michael Hu
Ryan Martinez
Dione Miles-Morillo
Keith Murray
Julia Newbold
Conner Partaker
John Tade
Stanley Zheng
Students Serve as House Pages
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Academy students had the opportunity to serve as House Pages on April 10th at the Indiana Statehouse. Students selected to serve as pages were: Sophia Arnold, Allison Balmer, Angela Cardwell, Taylor Chambers, Toby Holman, Katey Kaiser, and Jasmine Miller. As pages, the students toured the Statehouse including the chambers of the Indiana House and Senate and the Indiana Supreme Court. The pages also witnessed a floor session, met their representatives, and assisted representatives with tasks.
Students Place First in Coding Competition
Friday, March 24, 2017
Academy seniors, Steven O’Riley and Melanie Goldstone, won first place in the Blackford Coding Competition. Their winning score was 484 out of 500 total points with the second-place team only receiving a score of 200 out of the 500 points.
Teams consisted of no more than three students with 55 total students in the competition that was held on March 18 at Blackford County High School in Hartford City. There were three levels of questions with fifteen total questions to be programmed in a span of two hours. Only three teams were able to complete the programming for all of the questions. O’Riley and Goldstone each received a new laptop for their first-place finish.
National German Exam Results
Friday, March 24, 2017
Sixteen students recently received certificates and medals after taking the National German Exam. The exam is taken by students in their second year of German. The following students received certificates and medals:
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| Harrison Hart | Alexa Madden | Rae Handy |
| Nicholas David | Jacob White | Katelyn Zachary |
| Jacob Barbour | Justin Rudecki | Nicholas Shaw |
| Madison Porter | Cameron Maxey | Frances Percell |
| Grace Meier | Tyler Miller | |
| Anke Rudloff | ||
| Nils Hinniger |
Academy Students Serve as Senate Pages
Thursday, March 23, 2017
On March 22, a group of Indiana Academy students served as Senate Pages at the Indiana Statehouse.
The students who served as pages, pictured above with Senator Lanane, are (L to R) Angela Cardwell, Isabelle Turner, Rachael Snow, Amy Gong, Toby Holman, Samantha Williams, Meagan Aldridge, Taylor Chambers, Minna Zheng, and Jarod Saxberg. (Not pictured above: Pauleina Brunnemer, Amy Lee, Grace Moore, and Conner Richmond)
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.
Toby Holman with Senator Buck Samantha Williams with Senator Charbonneau Amy Gong with Senator Crane Amy Lee with Senator Eckerty Grace Moore with Senator Koch Rachael Snow with Senator Lanane Minna Zheng with Senator Lanane Pauleina Brunnemer with Senator Smith Conner Richmond with Senator Smith Taylor Chambers with Senator Walker Meagan Aldridge with Senator Zay
