Fifth graders at a Winona Lake school experienced the work of environmental scientists by monitoring the water quality at a local creek, a Warsaw Community Schools news release said.
The Jefferson Elementary School students – who used such equipment as aquatic nets and chemical testing kits – reported their findings about Cherry Creek to the state, contributing to a broader effort to monitor and protect Indiana’s lakes and streams, the release said.
Jefferson is an Indiana STEM certified school. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.
Giving students opportunities to solve real-world problems that affect their lives is among the most important things a STEM education can provide, Jefferson STEM coach Derek Pike said.
The project was supported by a grant from Hoosier Riverwatch, a program of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the release said.
“Through the Hoosier Riverwatch program, our students are using the same tools and processes as environmental scientists,” Pike said in a statement. “They are not just learning about these careers, they are stepping into them.”
Participating students were STEM ambassadors at Jefferson. The ambassador program lets students apply STEM skills in authentic settings while positively affecting their community, the release said.
Chuck Harvuot, leader of the school’s STEM Ambassador Corps, led the Cherry Creek project with support from a former Kosciusko Soil and Water Conservation District program administrator, the release said.
Harvuot emphasized the importance of students conducting hands-on science.
“When students test water quality, collect data and report their findings, they’re not just learning about science,” he said in a statement. “They’re doing the work that helps protect our local waterways and environment. These students are learning they can make a real difference in their community.”
FWCS
Summit City Climbing Co., Sunbound Books and Indiana Wesleyan University-Fort Wayne are hosting a book drive to support Study Connection at Fort Wayne Community Schools. New and gently used children’s books can be dropped off through Thursday at the following locations: Summit City Climbing, 1331 E. Berry St.; Sunbound Books, 325 N. Anthony Blvd. or https://sunboundbooks.com; Indiana Wesleyan University, 8211 W. Jefferson Blvd.; and Wendy Y. Robinson Family and Community Engagement Center, 230 E. Douglas Ave.
Grow Allen
Local nonprofit Grow Allen has released the first in a series of Internship All-Stars stories on YouTube. The two-minute video highlights a Carroll High School student participating in an internship program with a local union. Employers interested in partnering with Grow Allen to expand opportunities or develop internship or apprenticeship pathways for high school students can go to www.GrowAllen.com for information. The organization has helped facilitate more than 45 partnerships, resulting in about 80 new potential internship opportunities for students across Allen County.
Manchester
Dave Haist will address Manchester University’s graduating class and receive an honorary Doctor of Humanities at the May 16 commencement ceremonies. He graduated from Manchester in 1973 and later returned to his alma mater for two years as executive director of the alumni association and instructor for the business department. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees for five terms and became an honorary trustee last year.
Recognition
Brandon Basham, chief financial officer, recognized the following Northwest Allen County Schools employees during the April 13 board meeting for a successful financial audit: Tricia Anderson and Elaine Reder, payroll specialists; Patty Hauser, corporation treasurer; Stephanie Kelly and Laurie Kempf, financial assistants; Julie Plazek, deputy treasurer; and Keisha Yarborough, business services coordinator.
A DeKalb Central High School team was named state champions in robotics and automation technology at this month’s Indiana SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference in Indianapolis. Jackson Kallmyer and Jesse Clingan were invited to represent Indiana at the national competition in Atlanta in June. Another team comprising Keegan Naragon and Hunter Elkins earned second place.
The following school boards were among those the Indiana School Boards Association honored through its Exemplary Governance Awards program: Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District, DeKalb County Central United School District, DeKalb County Eastern Community School District, East Allen County Schools, Fort Wayne Community Schools, Northwest Allen County Schools, Norwell Community Schools, Southwest Allen County Schools, Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. and Warsaw Community Schools.
Individual honorees of the Indiana School Boards Association award program included Valerie Armstrong, Tony Oneal and Katie Pfister of DeKalb County Central United School District; Craig Davis of DeKalb County Eastern Community School District; Jenny Blackburn, Pamela Dukes, Steve Screeton and Beth Wood of EACS; Jennifer Matthias, Antonette Payne and Noah Smith of FWCS; Zac Burnau of Fremont Community Schools; Michael Hensley of Manchester Community Schools; J. Wylie Sirk II of North Adams Community Schools; Erica Jamison and Kristi Schlatter of NACS; Chad Kline and Catherine Peterson of Norwell Community Schools; Doug Copley and Kim Moppert of SACS; Aaron Zolman of Tippecanoe Valley School Corp.; Jason Fry and Rhonda Hipskind of Wabash City Schools; Denny Duncan, Melissa Kissling and Randy Polston of Warsaw Community Schools; Joe Hutsell of West Noble School Corp.; and Chad Moore, Tom Rentschler and Mary Ann Schaefer of Whitley County Consolidated Schools.
Trine University’s Christian Campus House honored Stephen Carr, an associate professor in the electrical and computer engineering department, with its Distinguished Faculty Award during the organization’s 40th annual banquet last month. Carr has been at Trine since 2003 and has been involved in developing the department’s electrical power and machines courses.
Grace College’s marketing department earned 10 gold awards and Best of Show for TikTok Content in the 41st annual Educational Advertising Awards. This is a record high for the college, bringing its total to 27 gold awards since 2018. The competition is the largest, oldest and most respected educational advertising awards competition in the country. Grace was among more than 1,000 colleges, universities and secondary schools from all 50 states and numerous foreign countries to submit entries.
Scholarships
Submissions for the ScienceSaves 2026 video scholarship contest will be accepted until midnight May 4. A $10,000 first-place prize and cash awards for top finishers are at stake. Go to https://sciencesaves.org/scholarship for information.
Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative, which serves communities in Indiana and Ohio, announced this year’s recipients of its $250 general scholarship included Owen Whitaker of Hoagland, Alana Branigan of New Haven, Emma Fuelling of Decatur, and Abigail Bullinger and Landen Danberry of Paulding. It also awarded scholarships ranging from $350 to $1,000 to Raeley Franklin and Zaine McMichael of Antwerp High School; Clay Stoller of Wayne Trace High School; Erica Sorg and Maggie Minnich of Heritage High School; and Trenton Manz of Paulding High School.