Several award plaques sit on a table ready to be given as awards to our student winners

The Office of Disability Services recently hosted its annual awards ceremony on April 2nd, 2026! The ceremony was held in the Student Center, Cardinal Hall, celebrating the remarkable achievements of our students, dedicated alumni, and supportive faculty and staff who champion access and opportunity at Ball State University. This year’s ceremony allows us to congratulate several deserving individuals.

We were delighted to introduce our dedicated Disability Services team: Assistant Directors Mac Cook and Ethan Hines, Administrative Coordinator Sharon Harper, Graduate Assistant Everest Woodward, our invaluable student employees Lydia Clouser and Ayvah Scarberry, practicum student Cameron Druin, as well as our close collaborators Jim Mills, Assistant Director of the Learning Center, and Jeff Bowers, Captions Coordinator.

ACCESS Awards

At Ball State, the responsibility of providing access and services for students with disabilities extends across the entire campus. During pre-admission visits, we proudly share that accessibility is a university-wide priority, with faculty and staff diligently working to accommodate the diverse needs of our students. Each year, we present ACCESS Awards to individuals within the Ball State community who consistently go above and beyond in fostering an inclusive environment.

This year, we were honored to recognize the following individuals:

  • James Conner: James has provided invaluable support and partnership for the office, as well as for students with disabilities – specifically, physical office concerns. He is keenly aware of issues related to disability and has been a vital support to the work we do in Disability Services!
  • Kyle McCord: Kyle previously worked with DS as a practicum student, but his support for students with disabilities did not end there. Kyle has gone on to support many of our students who live in his hall. Kyle has also done great work with the staff in his building and in HRL altogether on disability awareness and training!
  • Marci Mullaney: Marci has done the utmost to support both DS and the students we serve throughout the nuanced process of housing accommodations. She has been so responsive to emails, calls, and questions, going above and beyond in her support. She is often thinking outside of the box to ensure access for students!
  • Olivia Vecchiolli: Olivia is a former graduate assistant of Disability Services and is acutely aware of disability issues on campus and in her role as Associate Director of Student Life. She has provided an amazing partnership between DS and the Student Life Office, and she always makes a point to learn about new disability-related topics!

Accessible Teacher Awards

The Accessible Teacher Award recognizes faculty members nominated by students for their exceptional commitment to making their courses accessible without compromising rigor. These educators understand that accessibility is not about making things easier, but about creating an equitable learning environment for all.

  • Rebecca Brey (Nutrition & Health Science): Nominated by Gracee Gibson, Rebecca was recognized for her dedication to creating an inclusive, accessible, and comfortable learning environment in Nutrition and Health Sciences.

Laura J. Kraska Awards

For the thirteenth consecutive year, the Laura J. Kraska Awards were presented, made possible by the generous gifts of Tom Kraska and his family in loving memory of their daughter, Laura. Laura, who had low vision, earned her Bachelor’s (1990) and Master’s (1993) degrees in Information and Communication Sciences from Ball State and greatly benefited from the services provided by Disability Services. These scholarships, accompanied by a plaque, recognize students with visual disabilities who have demonstrated academic excellence and active engagement within the Ball State community.

This year’s recipients are:

  • Sam Gomez: a freshman Communication Studies major, Sam is proud of her academic success so far and her ability to live independently.
  • Owen Tislow: a sophomore English major, Owen was recently a Fehribach Center intern and is proud of the progress he has already made during his time at Ball State.

Adrienne Paige Gilbert Scholarship

The Adrienne Paige Gilbert Scholarship is a testament to the enduring memory of Adrienne Paige Gilbert, whose four months of life profoundly impacted all who knew her. Her parents, Jeff and Kay Gilbert, established this scholarship to enable students with disabilities to pursue their educational goals in Adrienne’s honor.

The recipient of the 2026 Adrienne Paige Gilbert Scholarship is:

  • Ayvah Scarberry: a sophomore Japanese major, Ayvah participated in the CARDS Summer Bridge program in 2024 and returned last year as a mentor for the program. Ayvah recently made the dean’s list, is a DS Office Assistant and ADA President, and is proud of being able to travel abroad on her own!

Fehribach Awards

Now in their seventeenth year, the Fehribach Awards honor Ball State alumnus Greg Fehribach and his wife, Mary Beth, longtime champions of Disability Services. Greg, a former Student Body President, Board of Trustee member, and a nationally recognized expert on ADA and accessibility issues, embodies the spirit of this award. These awards recognize students who have excelled academically and have actively promoted access and opportunity through their actions and examples. In addition to a plaque, recipients also receive a cash award.

The 2026 Fehribach Award recipients are:

  • Zack Deardorff: a sophomore Media major, Zack is proud of his grades and GPA, as well as being able to navigate campus on his own, his work on various media projects, and his advocacy work.
  • Dakota Esen: a freshman dual Elementary and Special Education major, Dakota is proud of being able to challenge herself every day! She is especially proud of her ability to maintain a strong work ethic while balancing all of her responsibilities in college.
  • Jowl Gernand: a freshman Media major, Alliance for Disability Awareness executive board member, and new DS Office Assistant, Joel is proud to be learning to live independently and make friends on campus. He also loves to play the glockenspiel.
  • Miles Kowalewski: a sophomore Media major, Miles is proud of making new friends, broadening his horizons, and leaving his comfort zone. He has been getting more involved with his department through Fringed & Radiance Cinema.
  • Kelsey Sykes: a sophomore in the Honors College with a 4.0 GPA majoring in Architecture (CAP), Kelsey is an executive board member for NOMAS (National Organization of Minority Architecture Students) and has recently been featured in Muncie’s First Thursday Black History Month Art Gallery. Her photography has also been featured for Ball State’s CAP program.

Markle Award

The Markle Award, now in its seventh year, honors Ball State alumnus and former director Larry Markle, along with his wife Shana and son Quentin, who continue to be strong supporters of Disability Services and the Eskenazi partnership. This award recognizes a student who has achieved academic success, supported access within the Ball State community, and completed an internship through the Eskenazi Health Initiative for Empowerment and Economic Independence (IEEI) program. The recipient receives a plaque and a cash award.

The 2026 Markle Award recipient is:

  • Dillon Rosenlieb: a junior majoring in Journalism & Media with concentrations in Sports Writing/Studies & Multimedia Storytelling and a CARDS alum. He is proud of his recent article featured in the BSU Daily News for Disability Awareness Month as well as his recent work on the President’s podcast.

Gilmer-Adamson Award

The Gilmer-Adamson Award stands as our top student honor, recognizing a student with a disability who demonstrates academic excellence, active campus involvement, and a strong commitment to creating access and opportunity for others. The award’s name honors Max Adamson, a Ball State student from 1976-1985 who was instrumental in advancing accessibility on campus, and Dustin Gilmer, who also worked tirelessly for accessibility.

The recipient of the 2026 Gilmer-Adamson Award is:

  • Emilie Allen: a senior from Nappanee, Indiana majoring in English (Literature concentration) with minors in Economics and Women and Gender Studies. Emilie is a Fulbright semi-finalist, a previous Fehribach award winner, Fehribach Center intern and Ball State Top 100 student.

Harris-Rose Outstanding Alumnus Award

The Harris-Rose Outstanding Alumnus Award recognizes a Ball State alumnus with a disability who has achieved significant success in their life after graduation. Originally named the Richard Harris Outstanding Alumnus Award in honor of a pivotal figure in Ball State’s disability services, Bruce Rose’s name was later added to further honor his impactful contributions to access at the university.

The 2026 recipient of the Harris-Rose Outstanding Alumnus Award is:

  • Mary Jo Day: a graduate of Ball State University in 1996, majored in psychology and minored in Counseling Psychology. During her time on campus, she lived in Noyer Hall and was highly active on campus, serving on the hall council, DSIA (now Alliance for Disability Awareness), and as a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha (still active today).
    Mary Jo has a rich history of service. As a student, she served as a tour guide for incoming students with disabilities and their families. She was also an Orientation Leader for two summers as well! She even carried the torch for the Paralympic Games in Atlanta! Her career has spanned various roles, including working for HSBC and Capital One, as well as in administrative and human resources positions.
    As a person with cerebral palsy, Mary Jo has used physical therapy throughout her life. She is connected with Dr. Chandi Edmonds at Tufts University and frequently presents to her physical therapy students about her experiences using the service as an adult. In 2025, Mary Jo achieved a significant milestone by becoming a homeowner. She is currently working on renovations so that she can live as independently as possible!

Top 100 Students

We also took a moment to celebrate the Ball State Foundation’s Top 100 students, several of whom are students with disabilities. We commend their achievements and contributions to our university community: Madeline Galvin, Emmaline Tolley, Margaret Brechbill, Jamie Johnson Harris, Clarence Davenport, Kaylin Nolen, Jenny Donnelly, Courtney Roberts, Kae Ebeling, Megahn Sawitzke, Daniel Foltz, and Emma Walker.

The 2026 Disability Services Awards Ceremony was a resounding success, filled with inspiring stories and well-deserved recognition. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the award recipients and express our sincere gratitude to everyone who contributes to making Ball State University a more accessible and inclusive community. We look forward to continuing this important tradition for many years to come!

In Memory of James Nichols

James Nichols passed away on March 21st, 2026 at 23 years old. He received his Bachelor of Social Work from Ball State University in May of 2024 and will posthumously receive his MSW degree in July. James was a force to be reckoned with; a fierce advocate for accessibility and a mentor/friend to many other BSU students with disabilities. James completed an internship with the Fehribach Center and also worked in the DS office as an undergrad student employee. He also received several awards as a BSU student and was currently working as a social worker for IU Health. We will miss his sense of humor, his advocacy, and his mentorship forever.