November 2022 News
IA Spell Bowl Results!
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Congratulations to the Indiana Academy Spell Bowl team!
Tuesday, November 1, at Hamilton Southeastern in Fishers, the team of seven students competed against Carmel, Fishers, New Castle, Hamilton Southeastern, and Yorktown. As the Academy did not have a full team of 10, the team could only progress so far in the team competition and cannot compete in the State Finals, as it is understood it right now. Coach David Haynes said, “If we had had 10 students, I am fairly sure we would not only be in the State Finals, but the favorites, as 4 out of 7 of our students had perfect rounds. Consider joining the Spell Bowl team next year!”
The team, which did an extraordinary job, consisted of Carson Gull, Kennedy Horner, Sydney McFarren, Alyesa Rathinasamy, Elizabeth Rayl, Jonathan Slater, and Rachel Watson. Alesya, Jonathan, Ellizabeth, and Kennedy all received perfect sources in their rounds and will have the opportunity moving forward to compete individually.
Mr. Haynes said, “I was incredibly proud of how this team comported itself and competed. Let them know the students are appreciated if you happen to see them soon.”
Academy Instructor Premieres New Play
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Mr. John Marsh, Lecturer of Social Studies and award-winning playwright, has a new play being produced this month at Muncie Civic Theater. Cat’s Pajamas is a screwball comedy set in the Roaring Twenties, with a ghostly, mystery vibe, and should be fun for the whole family. As a newly developed work, the director will introduce the concept of a staged reading before the show, and then invite feedback from the audience after the performance.
Mr. Marsh co-wrote the play with his wife, Jenni. Their previous play won the McLaren Comedy Playwriting Festival and was produced in Midland, Texas, but the Marshes say they wanted to start at home with this one.
There will be evening performances at 7:30 p.m. on October 21, 22, 28, & 29, plus a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday October 30. If you are interested in tickets, here is the link:
Academy Student Nominated as Max Preps Athlete of the Week
Thursday, September 29, 2022
Sarah Edmonds, an Indiana Academy junior on the Burris Lady Owls soccer team, was nominated for the Max Preps Indiana High School Athlete of the Week! You can vote for her now here:
Max Preps Athlete of the Week Voting
Voting closes Monday, October 3 at noon.
Academy Seniors Named National Merit Commended Students
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Eight Academy students have been named Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®), which conducts the program, will be presented by the principal to these scholastically talented seniors.
About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2023 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2023 competition by taking the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).
“Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”
Congratulations to Lila Beghtel, Elijah Buck, Diana Dodds, Ella Heil, Jaehun Kim, Daryle Riegle, Melissa Riegle, and Jonathan Slater!
Congratulations to the Indiana Academy’s National Merit Semifinalists!
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual competition for recognition and scholarships that is open to all U.S. high school students that meet entry requirements. Semifinalists named in each year’s Merit Scholarship competition show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The 16,000 semifinalists are the highest-scoring entrants in each state and represent less than 1% of each state’s high school seniors.
We are happy to announce that the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities will be celebrating four of our very own as 2023 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists! Congratulations to Charles Behrman, Henry Cooper, Lauren Couch, and Karisten Poole for being named semifinalists. We are so proud of these four students and the many others that choose to explore the Academy by being curious, eager to investigate, willing to be challenged, and poised to persist.
Bravo, well done, and hearty congratulations to Charles, Henry, Lauren, and Karisten.
Norton Among Top 25 Teachers in Indiana
Thursday, August 18, 2022
This summer, the Indiana Academy nominated Academy Lecturer of Chemistry ChristyAnn Norton for the 2023 Indiana Teacher of the Year Award. On August 18, she was recognized as a top 25 finalist. Congratulations!
Academic Super Bowl Results
Monday, May 9, 2022
Saturday, May 7, the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP) held the state championship for Academic Super Bowl. The Indiana Academy had teams qualify for the state competition in Mathematics, English, Science, Fine Arts, and Interdisciplinary.
The Mathematics team took first place. English took second place, with the second tie-breaker separating them from first place. Science took third place, with the third tie-breaker separating them from second place. Fine Arts took fourth place, with the first tie-breaker separating them from third place. The Interdisciplinary (ID) team took 1st place.
Students attending this competition were Llla Beghtel (English, Fine Arts, and ID), Bryn Deibel (Math Captain, Science, and ID), Emily Denny (English), Uma Kandallu (English Captain and ID), Gunvanth Kandula (Science Captain and ID), Adrienne McKay (Fine Arts), Tyler Robertson (Fine Arts Captain, Math, and ID), Neharika Upadhyay (Science and ID), Rachel Watson (English and Fine Arts), and Justin Xia (ID Captain, Math, and Science).
Other students involved in Academic Super Bowl this year include Elijah Buck, Joseph Ciceu, Jaehun Kim, Tristan Morris, Jarett Rusznak, Jonathan Slater, Ezekiel Ulrich, Olivia Walker, and Yifei Wang.
Congratulations to coach Ms. Jessica Edrington and her teams, and special thanks to Mr. Steve Schuh for helping to drive the students to Purdue and back!
Academy Senior Named Purdue Beering Scholar
Thursday, May 5, 2022
Indiana Academy senior Autumn Reynolds has been awarded a Steven C. Beering Scholarship, which covers the full educational expenses for a bachelor’s degree, one master’s degree, and either a Ph.D. or professional degree in medicine, veterinary medicine or pharmacy at Purdue University, as well as funding for a study abroad experience. Autumn is from Michigan City, Indiana, and will also be a member of the Purdue Honors College, where she plans to study Public Health.
Scholarship recipients are selected through an invitation-only process once they are admitted to Purdue. A committee reviews applications and determines the recipients based on high school credentials and leadership skills. The program was created by Purdue’s ninth president, Dr. Steven C. Beering, who raised private funds for the endowment.
Congratulations Autumn!
Indiana Academy Recognized by U.S. News & World Report Among Top Indiana High Schools
Friday, April 29, 2022
MUNCIE, Indiana – The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities and Burris Laboratory School are once again receiving national recognition.
U.S. News & World Report recently ranked the Indiana Academy (No. 2) and Burris (No. 7) among the top high schools in Indiana in its “2022 Best U.S. High Schools” listing. Both schools are operated by Ball State University’s Teachers College.
“These excellent rankings are a testament to the hard work being done by our students, faculty, and staff at both institutions on a daily basis,” said Dr. Anand R. Marri, Teachers College dean. “At Ball State, we value being a good neighbor. Through our school partnerships with the Indiana Academy and Burris, we continue to engage our community, serve teachers and students, and advance education throughout Indiana.”
The annual U.S. News & World Report “Best U.S. High Schools” rankings are determined by students’ outcomes in state assessments, college-level exam scores, and graduation rates. The Indiana Academy ranked as the No. 2 school in the state largely due to its state assessment performance and proficiency—both of which ranked tied for first in the state—and its 98-percent graduation rate.
Earlier this year, the Indiana Academy—a residential high school for approximately 300 gifted and talented juniors and seniors from across the State of Indiana—was also ranked by Niche as the No. 1 public high school in Indiana.
“Since its founding in 1988 by the Indiana General Assembly, the Indiana Academy has consistently been an incubator for excellence,” said Dr. Dain Kavars, the Indiana Academy’s executive director. “Our diverse community of students live in our exceptional learning community, where they are challenged by our stimulating curricula that blends tradition with innovation. I’m proud to see that hard work recognized once again by U.S. News & World Report.”
Burris, which ranked ninth in the state in last year’s U.S. News & World Report “Best U.S. High Schools” listing, was able to improve two spots in this year’s rankings in part because of its students’ increased participation in Advanced Placement (AP) classes—from 70 percent in 2021 to 76 percent this year. Participation and assessment scores in AP classes are the most weighted elements considered for the rankings.
Founded in 1929 by Teachers College, Burris is now operated and managed by Ball State as a laboratory school for the University.
“This ranking reflects the ongoing partnership between our educators, staff, and students to create a collaborative environment of respect that challenges everyone to excel,” said Dr. Abigail Comber, interim principal at Burris. “Our collaboration with community partners has enabled our educators to model the academic rigor and continuous improvement mindset that is necessary for success.”
Nationally, the Indiana Academy ranked 218th overall, while Burris ranked 419th, out of almost 24,000 total public high schools evaluated in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Academy Students Sweep Math Competition
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Seniors Will Amos and Sophia Lotzow and juniors Elijah Buck and Charles Behrman represented the Indiana Academy at the Indiana High School State Math Contest on Saturday, April 23. The contest, sponsored by the Indiana Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM), was held at 10 sites across the state. The Academy students competed at the Ball State University site.
The Academy swept the Comprehensive Category for the BSU regional, with Buck placing first, Lotzow second, Behrman third, and Amos fourth. Statewide results will be announced soon. The performers in the top 5% for the state will be recognized at the ICTM Outstanding Scholars Award Ceremony at the Indiana Statehouse in June.
Congratulations to our outstanding students!