As the holiday season approaches, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and dedication to the values of education. Your commitment to shaping the future is a constant inspiration.
We wish you joy, peace, and fulfillment in the coming year, and look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the years ahead.
Teachers College Alumni Award Winners
This year, Ball State University Teachers College proudly celebrated three remarkable alumni for their outstanding contributions, dedication, and lasting impact on their communities. Chuck Reynolds was honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award for his exceptional achievements. Monica Bass received the Young Alumni Award in recognition of her promising accomplishments early in her career. Finally, Sally Skowronski was presented with the prestigious Career Achievement Award for her lifelong commitment to excellence and influence in her field.
Flight Path To Teaching Adventure Soars for Second Year
In mid-June, 37 high school students with aspirations of becoming educators gathered at Ball State University to participate in the second year of the Flight Path to Teaching Adventure. This innovative program, hosted by the Teachers College and made possible through an Indiana Youth Programs on Campus Lilly Endowment grant, provided a transformative experience at no cost to participants. Open to rising high school juniors and seniors from across Indiana, the program offered students a unique opportunity to explore the teaching profession while gaining hands-on insights into their future careers.
Burris Laboratory School Counselor Honored as Indiana Elementary Counselor of the Year
Courtney (Harnish) Rathbun, School Counselor and High Ability Coordinator at Burris Laboratory School, has been named the 2024 Indiana Elementary Counselor of the Year by the Indiana School Counselor Association. This prestigious recognition highlights her exceptional commitment to fostering students’ social, emotional, and academic growth. A proud alumna of Burris, Rathbun returned to her alma mater in 2019 as a school counselor and further enhanced her expertise by earning a graduate certificate in gifted studies from Teachers College in 2021.
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities BETA Club Advances to Nationals
On November 15–16, the Indiana Academy chapter of the BETA Club participated in the Indiana State BETA Club competition. Four Indiana Academy teams and eleven individual competitors—comprising a total of 15 students—achieved top placements, earning the opportunity to advance to the National Competition in Orlando, Florida, this summer.
The BETA Club, the largest independent educational youth organization in America, is founded on four core pillars: Academic Achievement, Character, Leadership, and Service.
Those advancing are:
Individual
1st Place – Hand Drawn Anime Division II: Lily Ellis
1st Place – Black & White Photography Division II: Sophia Vijverberg
2nd Place – Digital Enhanced Photography Division II: Kinlee Taylor
2nd Place – Digital Art Division I: Jeevisha Dhanda
2nd Place – Biomedical Health Science: Jeevisha Dhanda
2nd Place – BETA Scholarship: Brody Chestnut
3rd Place – US History (12th Grade): Brody Chestnut
3rd Place – Poetry Division II: Kayla Cavanaugh
3rd Place – Mathematics (11th Grade): Yedaam Cho
3rd Place – Spelling (12th Grade): MaKaela Gist
3rd Place – Psychology (11th Grade): Doris Li
3rd Place – US History (11th Grade): Kennedy Rasnick
3rd Place – Creative Writing Division I: Presli Ginder
Group
1st Place – Musicology Senior: Keagan Brogdon, Brody Chestnut, Grace Koester, and Eva Vessels
2nd Place – Engineering Senior: Sylvester Acherekoh, Yedaam Cho, Kennedy Rasnick, and Sophia Vijverberg
3rd Place – Book Battle Senior: Keagan Brogdon, Lily Ellis, Izzy Orpurt, and Calley Thomas
3rd Place – Quiz Bowl Senior: Keagan Brogdon, Brody Chestnut, Lily Ellis, and Grace Koester
Celebrating Excellence: Dean’s List Reception Kicks Off Family Weekend
On Friday, October 4, Teachers College hosted a special reception to honor the exceptional achievements of students who earned a spot on the Dean’s List during the Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024 semesters. This event marked Dean Katrina Bulkley’s inaugural Dean’s List Reception at Ball State, where she warmly welcomed these high-achieving students and their families to campus. The celebration also served as a meaningful start to the vibrant festivities of Family Weekend.
Freshmen TC Students Get a Jump Start to the Fall Semester
In August, just one week before the start of the Fall 2024 semester, incoming Teachers College freshmen arrived on campus to take part in the Jump Start program. This unique, free initiative allowed students to move directly into their assigned residence hall rooms and get a head start on their college journey. Participants connected with faculty, bonded with fellow first-year students in small cohort groups, and became acquainted with campus life—all before the hustle and bustle of classes began. The program also provided a dynamic introduction to their chosen majors, the city of Muncie, Muncie Community Schools, and the many opportunities available on campus through engaging and interactive activities.
Future Teachers Committed to Ball State Honored
On Saturday, January 20, 2024, seven Indiana high school students were recognized during the Ball State University men’s basketball game. These exceptional students participated in the inaugural Flight Path to Teaching Adventure Camp in the summer of 2023 and afterwards they committed to joining Ball State in Fall 2024 to pursue degrees in education.
Teachers College Overseas Program Celebrates 50th Reunion
The EDEL-O program, originally established in 1972 as EXEL-O (Experimental Elementary Overseas), marked its 50th anniversary with a special reunion on October 12. Alumni and participants gathered in Teachers College’s Room 1008 to celebrate the program’s rich history and impact. The event was organized by Gayle Kimmell, a Class of 1976 alum who participated in the EXEL-O program in 1974.
Learn more about the EDEL-O program and its lasting legacy.
A Day to Remember: Witnessing the Total Solar Eclipse
Elementary Education major Ashley Young designed the winning Teachers College Eclipse t-shirt.
On Monday, April 8, 2024, the Ball State University community experienced a rare and awe-inspiring event as the path of a total solar eclipse passed directly over Muncie, Indiana. Teachers College faculty, staff, students, and alumni gathered in the Ball Brothers Foundation Hospitality Suite on the second floor of Emens Auditorium to celebrate this extraordinary moment. The event featured eclipse-themed snacks and complimentary t-shirts, showcasing a winning design by a talented Teachers College student who triumphed in a student t-shirt design contest held specifically for this occasion.
Stay in touch with Teachers College throughout the year on social media.
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