Latest News
Remote Learning Friday, September 4
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Dear Indiana Academy Students and Parents/Guardians:
The Indiana Academy and Ball State University are moving to remote learning tomorrow, Friday, September 4, 2026, because high building temperatures from geothermal cooling issues are affecting the entire university campus.
Students: All classes will be asynchronous tomorrow. Please monitor your email for instructions from your Academy instructors. If you are taking a Burris or Ball State University course, please monitor your email and Canvas for any instructions they may send you.
Parents/Guardians: Unfortunately, we must cancel tomorrow’s Limitless Learning day. We will decide on rescheduling at a later date. We know many families were looking forward to visiting tomorrow’s classes.
Residential families may pick up their students for the Labor Day Extended Weekend as scheduled tomorrow. Final decisions on athletic events tomorrow will be shared through the normal channels.
Dain Kavars, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Indiana Academy Alum Highlighted in Ball State Blog
Friday, August 21, 2026
The Indiana Academy’s 4000+ alumni are making a difference across the world. This past summer, Indiana Academy (Class of 1994) and Ball State University (Class of 1998) graduate Scott Lantz was recently highlighted in the Ball State University Blog. Scott is a Director of Product Management at Blizzard Entertainment’s Battle.net organization. As detailed in the blog, “He helps shape the online platform that connects millions of players to some of the world’s biggest video game franchises, including World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo.”
You can read more here: https://blogs.bsu.edu/2026/07/22/ball-state-sparks-curiosity
Dr. Franklin Shobe, Former Indiana Academy Instructor, Passes at 84
Saturday, June 13, 2026
It is with great sadness that we share that Dr. Franklin Shobe, retired math faculty member (1995-2017) at the Indiana Academy, passed away on June 9th. Executive Director Dain Kavars shares, “I had the pleasure of working with Franklin for many years and was awed by his commitment to mathematics education at the Indiana Academy. He was one of the many colleagues I looked up to and learned much from.”
More information about Dr. Shobe may be found here.
Mrs. Stacy Hunt to Receive John E. Worthen Award at Commencement Ceremony
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
The Indiana Academy is pleased to announce that Mrs. Stacy Hunt, fifth-grade teacher at Hagerstown Elementary School, will be honored with the John E. Worthen Award at the Academy’s Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 23, at 11:30 a.m. in Emens Auditorium on the campus of Ball State University.
Donald Winslow, Assistant Teaching Professor of Biology at the Indiana Academy, nominated Mrs. Hunt. The award honors former Ball State University president John E. Worthen, whose support was instrumental in establishing the Indiana Academy. The award acknowledges an individual for their hard work and dedication to promoting education, especially for the gifted.
Mrs. Hunt has worked as the district High Ability Coordinator, Advanced Curriculum English-Language Arts instructor, and held many other teaching roles in her 15 year career. During her time as the High Ability Coordinator, Stacy taught gifted ELA to students in 4th through 6th grade, she led professional development on best practices for gifted students, coordinated class placements and assessments, provided resources to families, and wrote curriculum for gifted learners.
Besides being an educator, she creates curriculum, advocates for gifted learners, and believes curiosity and perseverance are the most powerful tools for learning. With a passion for literacy, creativity and meaningful student engagement, she creates learning experiences that challenge students to think deeply, ask questions, and grow with confidence. Throughout her work in gifted education, Mrs. Hunt has focused on fostering critical thinking, creativity, and authentic learning opportunities that help students feel both supported and inspired. Her teaching philosophy centers on nurturing curiosity while creating a classroom environment where students feel safe to explore ideas, take risks, and develop their unique voices. Mrs. Hunt received her bachelor’s in elementary education at Indiana University and Gifted Education Certification at Ball State University.
When she’s not teaching, Mrs. Hunt spends time with her husband and dog, Stella, going camping, gardening, and on various adventures. She is also the voice behind Lady Whistledough, a sassy sourdough starter gossip column.
Academy Alum Mason Smith (2005) to be Commencement Speaker
Friday, May 8, 2026
The Indiana Academy is pleased to announce that Mason Smith, Class of 2005, will be the featured speaker at our thirty-fifth Commencement Ceremony, to be held on Saturday, May 23 at 11:30 a.m. in Emens Auditorium on the campus of Ball State University.
Mason is an experienced software engineer in quantitative finance. Originally from Gary, Indiana, he graduated from the Indiana Academy in 2005. Mason was awarded the Rea and Lela Axline Scholarship to attend the California Institute of Technology. He graduated from Caltech with honors in 2009, earning B.S. degrees in mathematics and computer science.
Mason received an AT&T Labs fellowship and an ARCS Foundation Scholarship to attend the University of California, Berkeley to pursue a PhD in computer science. However, he left graduate school early to pursue a career in industry.
For 15 years, he has worked at TGS Management Company in various software engineering roles for building quantitative trading systems and infrastructure to support quantitative research.
He recently served on the Board of Trustees for Caltech and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Trickle Up and Innovations for Poverty Action. He is also a member of the Indiana Academy Alumni Advisory Council.
We are very grateful that Mason has chosen to return to the Academy to share his wisdom with the Class of 2026.
Purdue University John Martinson Honors College Recognizes Senior Finn Almandmoss as Stamps Scholar
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The newest class of Stamps Scholars has been announced, with representation at nearly 40 universities nation-wide. Finn Almandmoss from Kodiak, AK has been named one of the incoming Stamps Scholars at Purdue. He will also be a member of the John Martinson Honors College.
The Stamps Scholars Program covers a student’s full cost of attendance (tuition, room, and board) and connects students with a national network of dedicated peers. With the support of benefactors E. Roe Stamps and his late wife Penny, the award also gives scholars access to an academic enrichment fund of up to $10,000 to finance activities such as academic conferences, study abroad experiences or research experiences.
Eligible students are automatically considered for the Stamps Scholarship upon applying to Purdue. Purdue Stamps Scholars demonstrate academic merit, strong leadership potential and exceptional character. The Stamps Scholars Program welcomes and supports students from all backgrounds and areas of study.
The Stamps Scholarship program was created by Penny and Roe Stamps, originally at the University of Michigan and Georgia Tech. It has since grown to award multi-year merit scholarships across the United States.
Finn plans to study Chemical Engineering while attending Purdue University.
One Ball State Day 2026 Recap
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Dear Indiana Academy Students, Parents/Guardians, Alumni, and Friends:
One Ball State Day (OBSD) at the Indiana Academy was a tremendous success yesterday. We set a goal of raising $100,000, and not only did we meet that by 5 PM, but we also raised an additional $14,000 to finish the day, bringing the total to $114,269 from 350 gifts! Wow!
These funds will be used to directly support students by expanding room-and-board affordability, updating classroom technology and equipment, and improving our classroom and building facilities.
Thank you to everyone who helped make One Ball State Day at the Indiana Academy a huge success, including those who came out to support Meg Wright as she represented the Academy in the Dash and Splash challenge, and Paul Douglas in the dunk tank on a not-so-nice day to be in one.
Yesterday’s big day would not have been possible without your donations and help spreading the word to others. On behalf of everyone at the Indiana Academy, thank you!
Dain Kavars, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Charles Behrman (Class of 2023) Named Goldwater Scholar
Monday, March 30, 2026
Charles Behrman, 2023 graduate of the Indiana Academy, has been named as a 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholar and will be receiving the Goldwater Scholarship.
He was also selected In November to be one of only 15 students across the nation to join the 2026 Fusion Student Delegation, which will be gathering in Washington, D.C. in May.
Charlie is in his third year at Purdue University, where he is majoring in Nuclear Engineering and minoring in Spanish.
Congratulations, Charlie!
Academy Senior Awarded Second Place at Indiana Academy of Science Annual Meeting
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Congratulations to Academy senior Vivana Bhagat who presented her research at the Indiana Academy of Science’s 141st Annual Academy Meeting held in Indianapolis on Saturday, March 21.
Vivana’s poster, “Identification of Candida albicans Mutants that can Filament in the Presence of Hygromycin B” was awarded second place in the Emerging Scientists Research Competition for Baccalaureate and Post-Baccalaureate investigators in the Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Medicine category. This distinction is also accompanied by a cash prize. “We’re all so proud of Vivana and this gargantuan feat,” remarks Dr. Joel Olufowote, Director of Academic Affairs. “We continue to leverage the power of original research as a signature differentiator of the Academy experience. Students like Vivana seek out these opportunities to gain early exposure to the scientific process, research design, and the dissemination of original findings. As a highschooler, walking away recognized as a top scholar in a post-secondary environment, and beyond, is a testament to Vivana’s hard work and a reflection of the committed faculty and staff invested in her success.”
Mr. John Marsh’s Play, The West Wind, at Muncie Civic Theatre March 20-29
Friday, March 13, 2026
A new play written by Mr. John Marsh and his wife Jenni, The West Wind, is being produced for the first time at the Muncie Civic Theatre. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh are directing it as well. Recent Academy grad, Lily Ellis, created some artwork for the program, and current Academy student Maria Munoz Rossello made some props.
The play is a comedy set on a transcontinental train trip from Chicago to San Francisco in 1908. Some of the characters are dealing with the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake 2 years earlier.
The show runs over 2 weekends beginning Friday, March 20, and running through Sunday, March 29. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 3:00 p.m.
Student tickets are $15, and may be purchased online here: www.munciecivic.org/2025-2026/the-west-wind. Hope to see you there!