Latest News
Dr. Dain Kavars Named Executive Director
Monday, May 10, 2021
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Dain Kavars as the Executive Director of the Indiana Academy, beginning July 1, 2021.
Dr. Kavars earned his Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the University of Minnesota in 2006. He has worked at the Academy since 2006, where he has taught Physics and other science courses, then as Associate Director of Academic Affairs in 2015. Most recently, Dr. Kavars was appointed interim Executive Director for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Academy Senior Wins Photography Competition
Friday, April 30, 2021
Academy senior Magda Alvis placed first in the 15-18 age group in the 2021 Kimball Electronics Gives Nature Photography Contest. She also placed second and received two honorable mentions. The winners were announced during a virtual awards ceremony on Earth Day, April 22.
The contest was open to employees of Kimball Electronics as well as the general public, and submissions were received from several states and foreign countries. Money raised by the competition is donated to various charities, including those specifically chosen by category winners. Magda’s winnings will be donated to an environmental cause in southwestern Indiana.
Dr. Kallmeyer Awarded Community Foundation Grant
Friday, April 30, 2021
The Board of Directors of The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County Inc., has announced that Dr. Diane Kallmeyer, Assistant Teaching Professor of Biology and Chemistry, has been awarded a Robert P. Bell Education Grant for the fourth quarter. Diane’s grant will be used to provide art supplies for her May Term class. Congratulations to Dr. Kallmeyer for this award and recognition.
Academic Super Bowl Results
Thursday, April 22, 2021
Tuesday, April 20 was the area competition for Academic Super Bowl, with the theme “The American Woman 1920-2020.”
The Indiana Academy had 22 students compete in content areas of English, Fine Arts, Social Studies, Science, Mathematics, and Interdisciplinary in this year’s virtual contest, and we are thrilled to announce that the Math team scored 1st out of the 60 schools in our class, and the Science team scored 3rd in our class. These two teams will be advancing to the state competition on May 8th. Only the top six teams in each category advance.
Special thanks go to Kim Foltz for proctoring the competition, which was a grueling four hours in length!
Indiana Academy Team Results:
- Interdisciplinary came in 34th with a score of 13/25
- Fine Arts came in 22nd with a score of 14/25
- English came in 12th with a score of 21/25
- Social Studies came in 9th with a score of 15/25
- Science came in 3rd with a score of 22/25 (State Qualifiers!)
- Math came in 1st with a score of 20/25 (State Qualifiers!)
More information on Academic Super Bowl and complete results.
Academy Donors Raise Over $37,000 on One Ball State Day
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
On April 6, 2021, we celebrated One Ball State Day at the Indiana Academy. Over the course of 24 hours, the entire Academy family – students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and administration – shared stories, remembered our 30-year history, and made a record-breaking number of gifts to ensure a bright future.
261 donors from 34 states and the District of Columbia made 287 gifts, which – along with $3,500 in challenge awards from Ball State University – raised $37,695 for the Academy and its programs. The Academy had more donors than any other part of Teachers College, and more donors than almost every other unit at Ball State, finishing third overall.
We are exceedingly grateful to everyone who participated in One Academy Day, sharing their memories and pictures, encouraging each other to give, and for being a part of the Academy family!
Learn more about One Ball State Day at the Indiana Academy.
Indiana Academy Commencement Information
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Dear Indiana Academy 2020 and 2021 Graduates and Families:
We are excited to announce that we have secured a venue that will allow for an on-campus in-person commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021. The commencement date is Saturday, May 29 @ 11:30 a.m. and will be held in Worthen Arena on Ball State University’s campus.
The Class of 2020 missed their commencement ceremony last year and this larger venue will allow for their return and adequate spacing of all students and families. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there is an attendance limit inside the arena and we will need to ticket the event. We anticipate at least 6 tickets per graduate (and possibly more). To help us determine if more tickets are possible and assist in the distribution of tickets, we are asking all students/families to complete the following survey.
Please answer all of the questions in the survey, including the address you would like tickets sent to. Students not on campus will have tickets sent to the address provided. Students on campus will be given their tickets directly prior to the commencement ceremony.
Please complete this survey no later than Friday, April 23, 2021. Additional details on this year’s commencement will be provided in the coming weeks.
Please note that additional changes to this year’s commencement are possible due to the continually changing COVID-19 pandemic. The Indiana Academy will follow all recommendations provided by Ball State University and the Delaware County Health Department.
Dain Kavars
He/Him/His (What is This?)
Interim Executive Director
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
765-285-8126
Indiana Academy Gameathon Results
Monday, April 12, 2021
From Saturday, April 10, to Sunday, April 11, 35 students participated in the Indiana Academy 24 hour Gameathon hosted by Beta Club and Key Club. This event was a charity marathon that raised money through Extra Life, a non-for-profit that partners with Children’s Miracle Network to support children’s hospitals like Riley Hospital. In total, the Academy team raised $2,579 and ranked 48th as a team on Extra Life’s team leaderboards. This was by far the most money ever raised during an Academy Gameathon.
Indiana Academy Prom 2021
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Greetings Indiana Academy Students and Families:
We are pleased to announce that the Indiana Academy will host Prom on Friday, May 14th from 7-11 p.m. in Ball Gym here on Ball State’s campus. This event will provide many of the elements of a typical Indiana Academy Prom including an open dance floor, music, photography, snacks, prom court, and more.
As part of the Academy’s ongoing response to COVID-19, there will be some notable changes to this year’s event including, but not limited to: COVID-testing, mask-wearing, room capacity limits, physical distancing considerations, and food service. Only current Indiana Academy students will be able to purchase tickets and attend this year’s Prom.
Now that the event is approved, we are working hard to nail down all of the details. You will be receiving more in-depth information on the schedule, ticket sales, event protocols, and school policies over the coming weeks.
Paul Douglas & Bridger Fetters
Office of Residential and Student Affairs
The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities
Office: 765-285-8127 & 765-285-8123
Front Desk: 765-285-8125
Indiana Academy Spring Break Information
Thursday, March 4, 2021
Dear Indiana Academy Students and Families:
Spring Break is almost here!!! A message was sent last week with requirements all students must meet before returning to campus after the break.
The following requirements must be met before students can return to the residence hall on March 14.
- All students returning to campus, including non-residential students, must complete a COVID-19 self-certification form. This form will be similar to the one students completed before moving into the residence hall in August. This form can be accessed here:
COVID-19 Self-Certification Form - Students who travel outside of Indiana during spring break must submit a COVID-19 test before returning to the residence hall. Students can submit their test results through Canvas in the course titled “COVID-19 Test Result Submission – Spring 2021.” Additional instructions on submitting test results are here.
Additional quarantine restrictions are in place for students who travel out of the country during spring break. If you are traveling outside of the U.S., please contact me (see contact information in signature) ASAP to discuss these restrictions.
Students who remain in Indiana may get a COVID-19 test before returning to the Academy, but this is not a requirement.
We thank you for your patience and understanding. We will continue to communicate with our community any further pandemic issues or decisions that have implications for our students, faculty/staff, and families as they become available. For more information about COVID-19, please visit our website.
Dain Kavars
He/Him/His (What is This?)
Interim Executive Director
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
765-285-8126
Indiana Academy Spring Break Update
Friday, February 26, 2021
Dear Indiana Academy Students and Families:
Ball State University is not having a spring break this year, but both the Indiana Academy and Burris will have a spring break. Academy students living on campus will move out of the residence hall on Friday, March 5, and return to the residence hall on Sunday, March 14. Additional information on moving out is forthcoming from Paul Douglas, Director of Residential and Student Affairs.
The following requirements must be met before students can return to the residence hall on March 14.
- All students returning to campus, including non-residential students, must complete a COVID-19 self-certification form. This form will be similar to the one students completed before moving into the residence hall in August. Instructions for this will be sent next week.
- Students who travel outside of Indiana during spring break must submit a COVID-19 test before returning to the residence hall. Instructions on submitting a COVID-19 test will be sent next week.
Additional quarantine restrictions are in place for students who travel out of the country during spring break. If you are traveling outside of the U.S., please contact me (see contact information in signature) ASAP to discuss these restrictions.
Students who remain in Indiana may get a COVID-19 test before returning to the Academy, but this is not a requirement.
We thank you for your patience and understanding. We will continue to communicate with our community any further pandemic issues or decisions that have implications for our students, faculty/staff, and families as they become available. For more information about COVID-19, please visit our website.
Dain Kavars
He/Him/His (What is This?)
Interim Executive Director
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
765-285-8126