This fall, Madelyn Miller will begin her journey at Ball State University as an Art Education major and a recipient of the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship. A graduate of Fishers High School in Fishers, Indiana, Madelyn is excited to continue developing her passion for art while preparing for a career helping students discover their own creativity.

Madelyn is the third student featured in a Teachers College series highlighting Ball State recipients of the prestigious Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship. Awarded by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, the scholarship provides up to $10,000 annually to high-achieving future educators. Recipients use the scholarship as they prepare to make a difference in classrooms across Indiana and beyond.

Madelyn Miller paints a canvas on a desk in her bedroom. She holds a thin paintbrush as she adds details to the artwork, with a focused expression. She has brown wavy hair cut in a bob that falls nearly to her shoulders and wears a purple T-shirt with the sleeves rolled up. The desk is covered with a taped-down trash bag and holds a well-used paint palette, tubes of paint, and bottles of black and white paint. In the softly blurred background, her lavender-colored bedroom is visible, including a purple and white bed, a bookshelf with a pink LED light sculpture, and white stylized letters spelling her name on the wall.A Lifelong Love of Art

For Madelyn, art has always been a meaningful part of her life. From a young age, art classes were where she found joy and inspiration, but it was a high school teacher who helped her realize that teaching was her future.

“Ever since I can remember, art had been my greatest passion in life. Art classes were always my favorite part of the day and were what made school fun!”

Through her drawing classes with Mr. Rawlins, Madelyn discovered the impact a caring and creative teacher could have on students.

“He taught in a way that allowed our imaginations to guide us, while also exploring so many new strategies. He was critical when necessary, but always spread as much kindness as he could!”

Inspired by that experience, Madelyn hopes to become the type of educator who creates a welcoming environment where students feel comfortable expressing themselves.

“I wanted to become a teacher who made school an enjoyable, accepting, and safe place for everyone, just as Mr. Rawlins had done for me.”

A young Madelyn Miller poses with her family in a multigenerational family photo. Madelyn stands on the left with long brown hair and wears a white sundress decorated with pink, purple, and aqua flowers. Her younger sister Ava stands on the right wearing a pink and salmon striped dress, with her hair pulled back from her face. Several generations of family members stand together, including older and middle-aged relatives. They pose indoors in a warm family portrait setting.

A young Madelyn Miller (left) poses with her family in a multigenerational family photo.

Coming Home to Ball State

For Madelyn, choosing Ball State was about more than selecting a university. It meant continuing a family tradition that spans generations.

Madelyn will be a fourth-generation Cardinal, following in the footsteps of her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Her great-grandmother, Crystal Mahoney, also worked at Ball State as a nursing professor.

“My family has had a lot of history with this school, so it felt like I discovered a second home!”

In addition to her family’s connection to the university, Madelyn was drawn to Ball State because of its strong teacher preparation programs.

“I was very pleased to find out how amazing Ball State’s teaching program is. I’m so excited to attend here this fall!”

Madelyn Miller poses beside a display board featuring her artwork. She smiles at the camera and wears a pale blue lace dress, a silver necklace with a key charm, small hoop earrings, and a brown crossbody bag. Her shoulder-length brown wavy hair is styled with one side tucked behind her ear. The display board is labeled “Madelyn Miller, 12, AP Drawing, Fishers High School” and features nine colorful drawings and paintings in various sizes and styles, including self-portraits. Other student displays, large windows, and a beige tile floor are visible in the background.Creating the Future Through Art

After graduation, Madelyn hopes to teach high school art, specifically drawing or 2-D art courses. During her time at Ball State, she hopes to earn her teaching license while also making the most of the college experience.

“Obviously my main goal is to graduate and receive a teaching license by the end of my four years. But on top of that, I’m simply hoping to enjoy myself. You only live once, so you have to make every moment count!”

She is also excited to build connections on campus, meet new people, and become involved in the Cardinal community.

Pursuing a Dream

A group of eight young adults take a selfie in a Ball State student center hallway. Madelyn Miller is in the front taking the photo. She has her brown curly hair pulled back and wears a light blue top and a bright pink floral backpack. The group members wear name tags featuring the Ball State Teachers College logo. Many people are visible in the hallway behind them, suggesting a busy campus event such as Orientation or Admitted Student Day.Receiving the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship has helped make Madelyn’s dream of becoming a teacher feel even more possible.

“It means the world to me to have received such an amazing scholarship as this! I desperately wanted to become a teacher someday, but I was worried that the college debt would be too much to handle.”

When she learned she had been selected, Madelyn celebrated a moment she will never forget.

“The day that I received the acceptance email, I ran as fast as I could across the house yelling ‘I did it! I did it!'”

The scholarship has provided Madelyn with valuable financial support as she begins her college journey.

“This scholarship alone has paid for about half of my college tuition! Along with a couple of other smaller ones, I’ve already almost paid for my entire college experience!”

Madelyn Miller poses in a dance studio, with her back to the camera and her reflection visible in a large wall mirror. She smiles as she holds a dance pose with her right arm extended above her head, her left arm stretched out to the side, and her right leg pointed behind her. She wears a light blue long-sleeve dance dress, white tights, and ballet shoes. The studio has black walls, a ballet barre, a folding chair, equipment cases, and a cart visible in the background. The mirror reflection also shows photography equipment and part of the photographer.Beyond the Classroom

Madelyn has always embraced creativity both inside and outside the classroom. In high school, she served as president of her school’s Anime Club and spent 10 years as a dancer outside of school.

At Ball State, she hopes to continue exploring her interests by joining student organizations, including auditioning for the Operation Black Out dance club.

Outside of academics, Madelyn enjoys drawing, painting, photography, knitting, creating music, singing, dancing, writing stories and poetry, reading manga, and playing video games.

Her creativity has also been recognized through her writing. She has had work published twice, including a poem in the “2018 Young American Poetry Digest” as an elementary student and a horror short story in “Fright Club: Chronicles of Fear” during her junior year of high school.

As one of the many Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship recipients who chose Ball State, Madelyn is joining a community of future educators committed to inspiring the next generation of learners. Teachers College is proud to celebrate students like Madelyn who are bringing their creativity, passion, and dedication to the future of education.

Madelyn Miller poses for a traditional senior portrait on a bridge, resting her head on her left hand with her elbow propped on the railing. Her right arm crosses behind her left arm and rests flat along the top of the bridge railing. The bridge appears to cross a small creek on a wooded path, with blurred trees visible in the background. She wears a short-sleeved black dress, two necklaces, and small earrings. Her brown bobbed hair is straightened and parted to the side. The photo has soft, bright lighting that suggests an overcast day.