September 2016 News
Dr. Drew Ramsey ’92 Releases New Book
Monday, September 12, 2016
The latest book by Dr. Drew Ramsey ’92, Eat Complete: The 21 Nutrients That Fuel Brainpower, Boost Weight Loss, and Transform Your Health, is available on Amazon.com. More information is also on his website, drewramseymd.com.
Indiana Academy Students Helping At-Risk Readers in Award-Winning Campaign
Monday, September 12, 2016
The single greatest indicator of a child’s success in school and in life is his/her ability to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade. Up to 3rd grade, students are learning to read. After that they are reading to learn. In other words, if they are behind in reading, they are behind in every subject because they can’t read the books and materials. Furthermore, 80% of children living in low-income households are not reading a grade level.
In Delaware County, 47% of households are in poverty or low income. Many of the students in Muncie schools are struggling with the life-changing skill of reading. Thanks to Ball State University and its high-ability high school the Indiana Academy of Sciences, Mathematics and Humanities, more local elementary students are finding success with reading.
Student volunteers from the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities worked with 3rd graders at South View Elementary in March and April to improve their reading abilities. In those two short months, the participating elementary students advanced their reading levels on average by 9 months!
This “reading club” is one of 4 operated by the United Way of Delaware County as part of the Campaign for Grade Level reading, and is the first to utilize student volunteers. “The Indiana Academy students did a fantastic job,” said Jenni Marsh, President and CEO of United Way of Delaware County. “We are planning to expand the program with them to include more students and to run all school year.”
South View principal Kara Miller described the program as an, “incredible addition to helping our students want to read and enjoy reading. The students who attended this club were excited about staying after school, forming bonds with their reading buddies, and learning things from the books they read.”
Indiana Academy student Kiana King, added, “We have wonderful memories of working alongside the children. I am so incredibly proud of our success as a group.”
The outstanding reading progress the South View children made with the Indiana Academy students was reflective of the overall success of the comprehensive set of programs United Way of Delaware County is leading locally. As a result, Delaware County received national recognition as a Pacesetter by being 1 of 15 communities, from over 200 participating, which showed significant improvement in student reading levels.
According to Marsh, this reading program is about more than just helping at-risk kids today. It has the potential to actually reduce the cycle of generational poverty.
2017 National Merit Semifinalists
Friday, September 9, 2016
The Academy congratulates the following seniors who have been named Semifinalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Competition:
Kalina Harden
Skyler Kiefer
Hannah Komanapalli
Cassandra Pent
Juliana Qin
Sidra St. Rain