Students and teachers reflect on June 2021 shooting of Ball State freshman Montana Lopez

After a few hours at Brothers Bar & Grill on a Saturday night, senior telecommunications major Blake Smith received a University Police Department (UPD) text alert that said officers were investigating reports of shots fired on her street. She was the first of her group of roommates and friends to go back to her house, and texted her friend and neighbor Montana Lopez to check on him. Smith had been at Lopez’s house for a party before going to Brothers.

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Summer 2021 graduates discuss future plans after Ball State commencement ceremony

At the top of her graduation cap, Mona Goggins attached pictures of her nephews and younger brother Josh. In shining letters, the words “worked hard to advocate for you” filled the remaining space. 

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Meet Ball State's new student trustee

Amy Wyse, Ball State junior international business, economics and Spanish triple major, was in Yellowstone National Park when she missed a call from the Indiana governor’s office — a call letting her know she had moved onto the final round of interviews to fill the student representative position on the Ball State Board of Trustees.

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Ball State, Muncie host TechPoint Xterns for the first time in summer 2021

More than 2,000 students applied for business and technology internships with TechPoint’s Xtern summer 2021 program. Less than 10 percent of those applicants were invited to interview with companies to secure an internship this summer.

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Ball State freshman orientation staff share summer 2021 changes

Every weekday from the beginning of June through mid-July, Ball State’s campus will again see groups of people sporting cardinal red drawstring bags filled with information on campus offices and resources, as freshman orientation welcomes new students in person this summer.

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Ball State Asian American Pacific Islander Affinity Group hosts its first presentation

Ball State has a new group dedicated to serving minority faculty and staff and educating the campus community about history and inclusivity. While the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Affinity Group is still in the formation process of being recognized as an official organization, it hosted its first Zoom presentation May 20.

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David Owsley Museum of Art staff reflects on last week of pop art exhibit

For Robert La France, director of the David Owsley Museum of Art (DOMA), pop art represents hope during difficult times. The exhibition “POP Power from Warhol to Koons: Masterworks from the collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his Family Foundation” is a show La France thought could bring some joy to people as they feel safer visiting museums during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Ball State spring 2021 graduates celebrate in-person commencement

Ball State had never hosted a commencement ceremony at Scheumann Stadium before May 7, but administrators chose the venue because of its ability to host people while still following COVID-19 health guidelines. Seats on Scheumann’s turf were socially distanced and sanitized between ceremonies. Graduates were limited to four guest tickets each. Guests were also socially distanced on the bleachers.

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Ball State faculty, national statistics predict job market growth in COVID-19 recovery

More than 3 million students are expected to earn degrees from colleges and universities this spring, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Those students will enter the job market as the nation continues to recover from the COVID-induced recession, which the National Bureau of Economic Research states began in February 2020. However, new and recent college graduates may be in a better position than other candidates seeking new careers.

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Muncie Community Schools staff members discuss a unique program for gifted students

When Cindy Miller’s son, David Miller, was in kindergarten, she took him to the Levi Coffin House in Fountain City, Indiana, to learn more about the Underground Railroad and its history in Indiana. In school activities, David Miller, now 10 years old, participates in math bowls and writing camps as a student in Muncie Community Schools’ (MCS) High Ability Program.

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