Like other incoming first-year students, Reagan Bowers is settling into life at Ball State as the fall semester gets underway. A graduate of New Palestine High School, Reagan is pursuing dual majors in Special Education and Elementary Education. She hopes to build a career working with young students and supporting their individual learning needs.

Reagan is the next student featured in a Teachers College series highlighting Ball State recipients of the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education awards the scholarship to high-achieving students who plan to pursue careers in education. Recipients can receive up to $10,000 each year for four academic years.

Discovering a Passion for Working With Kids

A large group of young children perform onstage, singing and making hand gestures as part of the song. Older high school-age performers stand among them, helping and interacting with the children. The children’s faces are slightly blurred to protect their identities. Several rows of adults sit in theater-style seating in the foreground, watching the performance. The stage backdrop is dark blue with two sets of cascading neon-blue vertical stripes. A portion of a large video screen showing a closer view of the performance is visible along the edge of the photo.Reagan’s interest in education grew from experiences that allowed her to work directly with children. During high school, she volunteered at local festivals, where she ran children’s games. She also served as a vacation Bible school group leader at two churches.

Those experiences helped Reagan discover how much she enjoys working with children. Her own experiences as a student also shaped the kind of educator she hopes to become.

Growing up, Reagan sometimes struggled to process information presented through auditory instruction. That experience helped her understand that students learn in different ways. It also motivated her to support children who may need additional help in the classroom.

Building Strong Foundations

Reagan Bowers stands on risers onstage, smiling toward the audience while holding a tennis racket against her torso. She walks toward the right side of the photo while turning her head toward the audience. She and the other performers wear black tennis skirts, long-sleeve black polo shirts, and white tennis shoes, with each holding a tennis racket. Another girl kneels behind Reagan, holding her racket toward the floor while smiling at the audience. Both girls wear their hair in ponytails.Reagan hopes to teach students in kindergarten through third grade. She is drawn to these early years because elementary teachers help establish the foundation for a child’s future education.

In the classroom, Reagan looks forward to introducing young students to reading, writing, mathematics, and other subjects while helping them develop confidence as learners.

Her dual majors in Special Education and Elementary Education will help Reagan prepare to support a wide range of students.

Finding the Right Fit at Ball State

Ball State stood out to Reagan because of its strong reputation for teacher preparation. She was especially interested in the field experiences available to education students. She also appreciated the University’s low student-to-professor ratio.

Now that she has arrived on campus, Reagan is excited to study the subjects she loves and experience college life. She also looks forward to meeting new people and becoming part of the Ball State community.

During college, Reagan hopes to strengthen her organization, time management, and study skills. She plans to attend every class, complete assignments on time, and seek extra help whenever she needs it.

Reagan Bowers stands onstage singing in a theatrical production, between two tables surrounded by chairs occupied by other high school-age performers. A partially visible performer stands beside her. The set resembles an outdoor café, with a white wall covered in ivy, windows, and roof slats. Reagan wears a black-and-white long-sleeve blouse with a large collar, a knee-length black skirt, a black-and-white apron, black tights, and black shoes. A plain bandana covers her hair, and a black scarf or shawl is tied around her neck. Green stage lighting gives the entire image a green tint.A Commitment to Service

Reagan brought a strong record of involvement and service with her to Ball State. In high school, she participated in National Honor Society, Student Council, Voice, Girl Scouts, Concert Choir, Show Choir, and dance.

She also served as a Senate page, played piano, performed in Mamma Mia, and volunteered at community festivals. Through Angel Tree and Hope for the Holidays, she helped provide Christmas gifts for children in need.

Her work with Vacation Bible School gave Reagan another opportunity to serve as a leader while working with children.

From Clogging to the Circle of Lights

Reagan Bowers performs with the Hearts Ablaze clogging group in front of a gray brick building with a diamond pattern in the brickwork. Shown from the side, Reagan smiles as she looks ahead while dancing. Six dancers are partially or fully visible in two rows. All have their hair pulled back into large buns and wear denim shorts, black T-shirts featuring a red heart outline with white lettering, and white tap shoes. The dancers balance on their left feet with their right feet extended to the side in a dance move. A few people sit on a bench behind the dancers along the building’s wall.Reagan’s interests have taken her beyond her local community as well. She began clog dancing with Hearts Ablaze Clogging at a young age. During her time with the group, they won a national championship. They also performed at the Circle of Lights in downtown Indianapolis.

Outside of school, Reagan enjoys fishing, kayaking, swimming, diamond painting, and spending time with friends. She also loves to travel. Her travels have taken her to France, England, Mexico, Germany, the Bahamas, and Austria.

Pursuing a Future in Education

A large group of at least 18 high school-age performers pose onstage under strong orange lighting. Some sit while others stand behind them. They wear black shirts or tank tops, black leggings, and plaid button-up shirts either worn over their tops or tied around their waists. All are barefoot. The group appears to be holding a final pose at the end of a dance or performance, with most smiling toward the audience. Two performers hug in the back row. A light on a tripod stands at the front of the stage, illuminating the group. The background is a blank dark canvas, tinted orange by the stage lighting.Receiving the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship will give Reagan valuable financial support as she earns her degrees and prepares for her career.

“This provides financial relief so I can focus on studying instead of working my way through college.”

The scholarship will allow Reagan to focus more fully on her education. It will also help her begin her teaching career with less student debt.

As Reagan begins her Ball State experience, she brings a clear sense of purpose with her. Her experiences working with children and her own understanding of different learning needs have shaped her goals as an educator. She hopes to create classrooms where students receive the support they need to learn, grow, and succeed.