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Chicago Tribune
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Rep. Vernon Smith receives Sagamore of the Wabash award
For Rep. Vernon Smith, receiving a state award was surprising but still rewarding. 'It's one of the highest awards that you can receive from the governor's office,' said Smith, D-Gary. 'I was absolutely exhilarated to be the recipient.' Smith recently received the Sagamore of the Wabash award, which is the highest honor an Indiana governor can give, according to the governor's office. Smith received the award at a dinner celebrating his recent retirement from Indiana University Northwest, he said. The state representative worked in education in Gary for nearly 60 years, he said, and as a teacher, assistant principal and principal in the Gary Community School Corporation from 1966 to 1992. Smith became a member of the Indiana House of Representatives in 1990, according to the Indiana House Democratic Caucus' website. Before his time at the statehouse, Smith served on the Gary Common Council, starting in 1972. At the statehouse, Smith serves as ranking minority member of the Indiana House Education Committee and is a member of the Local Government Committee. According to the governor's website, former Gov. Ralph Gates created the Sagamore of the Wabash award during his 1945-1949 term. 'Sagamore' is a Native American term that means a subordinate chief or someone a chief would look to for advice, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Since Gates, each Indiana governor presented the award to various Hoosiers, but the total number of recipients is unknown, according to the governor's website. 'I appreciate the award,' Smith said. 'I had a chance to serve with (Gov. Mike Braun) for four years in the House. But, this shows he has respected my tenure, both as an educator and as a public servant. It felt really good that he chose me.' Braun's office did not respond to a request for comment about the award. In a Thursday statement, Gary Mayor Eddie Melton congratulated Smith on receiving the Sagamore of the Wabash. He said the city is proud to call Smith one of their own. Melton and Smith worked together at the Indiana Statehouse while Melton served as state senator. Melton said the two worked to advance legislation that broadened outreach for the state's 21st Century Scholars program. They also collaborated on a House bill to reestablish an elected school board in Gary and a Senate bill to restore local control to the Gary Community School Corporation. 'These victories and honors show what's possible when leaders put the community at the center of every decision and highlight the lasting impact Rep. Smith has made on countless lives through his advocacy, mentorship, and leadership,' Melton said in his statement. 'His voice for education and economic opportunity has guided Gary through moments of challenge and transformation to secure vital resources and hope for our future.' The Gary Common Council recognized Smith for his service to local education and as state senator at its Tuesday meeting. Council members also congratulated Smith for receiving the Sagamore of the Wabash. 'We are so proud of you,' said Councilwoman Mary Brown, D-3rd. Brown said Tuesday that she's known Smith and his family for years, and it's made her proud to watch him progress as an educator and politician. Brown read a proclamation that recognized Smith for his service to the city during Tuesday's council meeting. Other council members recalled times that Smith mentored them throughout their political careers. Councilman Kenneth Whisenton, D-at large, recalled a summer he spent interning at the Indiana statehouse, where he told Smith he would never get involved with politics, and it 'broke (Smith's) heart.' Whisenton was elected to the council in late 2024, after state Sen. Mark Spencer, D-Gary, resigned. 'I called you several months ago, and I said, 'Doc, I think God is talking to me and telling me to get involved with city politics,'' Whisenton said. 'I said, 'I don't know what to make of it.' The first thing he said was, 'Do it. Run.'' Whisenton said he wouldn't be on council without Smith, and he's thankful to have him in his life. Councilman Darren Washington, D-at large, also said Smith played a large role in his political career. He recognized Smith for the work that he's done to help young Black males in Gary and throughout the state. 'I've learned so much from you,' Washington said. 'I'm thankful you've been part of my life.' Smith is grateful he's had an opportunity to impact various lives in Gary, both as an educator and state senator. He wasn't expecting to receive the Sagamore of the Wabash, and he said it's been great to receive the recognition. 'I've had the chance to impact the lives of so many young people from kindergarten through graduate school,' Smith said. 'I'm not the kind of person that's looking for praise … I try to be as humble as I can while serving God's people.'
Chicago Tribune
12-06-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
IUN Kids College helps NWI students discover careers
For Kyra Shannon, the best part of Indiana University Northwest's Kids College is the bond she creates with students and fellow instructors. 'I like teaching,' said Shannon, a civic leadership instructor and ambassador. 'I like leadership, and I like getting kids in the mindset of (making change).' Kids College is a two-week summer camp for Northwest Indiana's middle school students. The camp simulates a college experience for children who would typically be first-generation college students or qualify for Indiana's 21st Century Scholars program. Students can participate in different career paths, including performing arts, technology and medical programs. Sarah Morris, director of IUN's Kids College, said about 65 students are participating in the camp this year, up from about 50 the year before. Throughout the state, Indiana University hosts six Kids Colleges at its satellite campuses. 'The students can choose a major, and they get to meet faculty, community partners and professionals,' Morris said. 'Then they get to learn what it's like in that major … and learn what different career paths that major could lead them to.' On Thursday, Best Buy's Geek Squad was at Kids College, helping students who are interested in technology careers. Community partners are important for Kids College, Morris said, because it can get participants more excited about their careers. Campers Kenyon Workman and Kenneth Suncin both learned about technology careers at this year's Kids College. This week, both Workman and Suncin have worked on coding, which they both said they're interested in. Both kids have liked coding more as Kids Camp has gone on. 'We're doing this (program) where we had to get a robot out of a maze,' Suncin said. 'After a while, I got focused on decorating (the characters).' This year was Workman's second year at Kids College, but it was Suncin's first. He joined because his sister had done the camp before, Suncin said. Aniyah Kelly is going into eighth grade, so this is her final year at Kids College. This year, Kelly participated in the performing arts program, but before, she'd done the medical track. Kelly is interested in a nursing career, which she said she learned at Kids College. 'I really want to work in a hospital,' Kelly said. Jaclyn Calvillo is a medical health careers program instructor at Kids College. Throughout the camp, Calvillo said students in the medical program learn about health problems that affect children in their age group. 'For instance, we look at teen suicide, counseling, those types of things,' Calvillo said. 'Is there enough access to health care or not? And what can we do to improve these numbers? How can we create a new system that might work better?' Calvillo said it's powerful to watch children grow throughout Kids Camp, and she's watched participants become more confident and come out of their shell. For Morris, it's heartwarming to watch students come back year after year and continue to grow. 'College isn't just about learning,' Morris said. 'I can imagine a lot of these students have a negative experience at their schools, unfortunately, which is so unfair to them. But, at Kids College, we get to provide them with a better learning experience.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Commissioners preview changing higher education landscape
The Commission for Higher Education held its regular meeting Thursday, detailing various changes during the 2024 legislative session. (Getty Images) Members of the Commission for Higher Education met in Hammond on Thursday for several hours to detail new laws and review the changing landscape for higher education institutions, notably slimmed-down budgets, more state oversight and shifting criteria for certain scholarships. Like most portions of the two-year budget, state funding for higher education took a 5% hit in the final days, triggered by a grim forecast that predicted $2 billion less in revenues over the next biennium. Two scholarship programs stayed flat, which Brooke Kile described as a 'huge win' for commissioners. Both the 21st Century Scholars program and the Frank O'Bannon Grants aim to make college more accessible for Hoosier students. 'It's a win for higher education; it's a win for Hoosier businesses that need talent,' said Kile, CHE's senior associate commissioner for business solutions. However, unused dollars allocated to the Frank O'Bannon fund can now revert back to the general fund, a change from previous years. CHE will be permitted to transfer that money to other programs. 'What we were spending was … $130 million a year out of a roughly $168 million appropriation. With this new ability that we received starting the next fiscal year, we are allowed to spend up to the full appropriation,' said Chris Lowery, the state's commissioner for higher education. 'That is significant, additional help for low-income students.' In addition to the 5% reduction for some other scholarship programs, CHE's budget line and individual allocations to each public institution were reduced along with restoration and rehabilitation funding. Also tucked into the budget was language abolishing the Governor's Workforce Cabinet, an initiative touted by former Gov. Eric Holcomb. Instead, the higher education body will take up many of those duties and align the state's educational goals with business needs. Though the state's educational institutions will be exempt from new contracting rules advanced as part of an accountability and transparency measure, CHE itself will have to operate under the requirements for documenting bids and federal funding. Under a separate law, CHE will also be required to submit a report examining the utilization of physical facilities at state educational institutions, including an analysis of classroom spaces, laboratories and more. One of the biggest changes to the operation of the state's public institutions will be enhanced tenure reviews tied to 'productivity.' Such scrutiny will include teaching loads, time spent on instruction and graduate student oversight, and the research produced by a faculty member. State law now requires that if these criteria are not met, the faculty member 'shall' be placed on probation and could be dismissed. Additionally, professors must publicly post their syllabi. Schools will no longer be required to have diversity committees under Senate Enrolled Act 289, which also impacts certain scholarships geared toward supporting minority students. In an attempt to still reach those students, the legislation defined 'underserved counties' to include Allen, Lake, Marion, St. Joseph and Vanderburgh. Certain students from those counties may still qualify for the minority scholarships. Another new higher education law will require several state agencies to collaborate and create a public dashboard detailing secondary programs, such as career and technical education and adult high schools. Such reports must include information related to participation, costs, completion and employment outcomes for students. As the author of Senate Enrolled Act 448, Terre Haute Republican Sen. Greg Goode highlighted the measure as one with bipartisan support during the 2025 session before the commission on Thursday. He described it as an effort to help universities focus on training the workforce for high-demand priorities such as life sciences, microelectronics, semiconductors and more. 'This is a way to help encourage and inspire department chairs, from my perspective, to grow our enrollment,' said Goode, who previously worked at Indiana State University. The bill would also study whether the state should have minimum admission requirements for Hoosier students. Under state law, the commission must also publish its recommendations for tuition and fee increases across the schools it oversees within 30 days after the state budget is enacted. While CHE always recommends a 0% floor increase, the maximum hit a high of 4.7% in 2009 during the great recession. Following the recommendation of Gov. Mike Braun, commissioners have opted to direct schools to keep tuition and fees flat for the next fiscal year. 'I know that's a real challenge for our institutions, and I'm very sensitive to that. But I think the most important thing is what we've been striving for through our whole agenda: increasing enrollment and getting more Hoosier students to go to college.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indiana National Guard hopes active duty, tuition help bill can staunch enlistment losses
Soldiers with the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team salute the U.S. flag during the national anthem during their departure ceremony at Camp Atterbury near Edinburgh, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. (Photo from Indiana National Guard) Indiana's National Guard has 'never been more ready,' per Adjutant General Larry Muennich. Citizen-soldiers have deployed during recent storms, to the U.S.-Mexico border and to the Middle East. But the guard has also struggled. The force recorded a whopping 38% decline in enlistments from 2019 to 2023, Muennich told a Senate panel on Tuesday. And 77% of Hoosier youth aren't qualified for service, whether because of education levels, medical standards, criminal history or other reasons. 'While there are signs of a modest recovery this year, our ability to attract the next generation of talent remains a significant challenge,' Muennich said. 'This bill will help address our challenges.' The Indiana Army and Air National Guard's volunteer force is about 12,000 strong, according to Muennich. Members have dual roles: both Indiana's governor and the U.S. president can call them into active duty for emergency help. House Bill 1111 would add soldiers on state active duty to the definition of a state employee for death benefit and worker's compensation laws. It would increase the payout cap on reasonable funeral expenses to $20,000 from $8,800 and delete detailed, guard-specific processes for injury claims. A fiscal analysis said those claims are already paid from worker's compensation funds, so the simplifications wouldn't add costs. Additionally, the legislation would let the adjutant general procure health insurance for members ordered to state active duty. Current law only lets the officeholder provide allowances to cover insurance premiums, according to the fiscal analysis. 'This bill helps protect soldiers and airmen who are often in harm's way during state active duty,' Muennich told lawmakers. Other provisions would benefit student-soldiers. High-schooler Leonardo Martinez wanted to be the first from his immigrant family to serve his new country — and chose Indiana's National Guard for its educational perks. The 18-year-old, who called himself a 'proud' member of the guard, told lawmakers that his friends were more reluctant to join. He said members may struggle to balance guard service and officer training with school and work — and to afford to do it all. 'I feel like this would help us reach those Hoosiers,' Martinez said. Guard members who are 21st Century Scholars would win in House Bill 1111. That state program covers tuition to Indiana colleges for foster children and low-income Hoosiers who meet academic requirements. Lawmakers recently allowed the program to auto-enroll eligible students, but before that, they had to sign up as middle-schoolers. Under the proposal, scholars would be able to use guard grants to pay up to $5,000 for room and board, plus other approved expenses, for two years. That could increase or shift expenditures by $250,000 in the first year and $500,000 annually, at full utilization, according to the fiscal analysis. Martinez said that's a 'great' idea. But he asked lawmakers to consider expanding the provision further. He said he was unaware of the 21st Century program as a middle-schooler. His mother, meanwhile, didn't understand how to navigate the website and application process because of a 'language barrier.' The legislation also would let members apply for guard tuition supplement scholarships and use the awards on credentialing programs, apprenticeships and more for 'in demand occupations' determined by the adjutant general and Department of Workforce Development. The fiscal analysis said that could increase or shift scholarship expenditures by up to $400,000 annually. The panel advanced the bill on a unanimous, 7-0 vote. It next heads to the Senate floor. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Axios
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Money for minority and low-income students on chopping block
A program designed to help minority and first-generation low-income students succeed in college may be on the chopping block. Why it matters: Indiana has struggled to boost its college-going rate, with just over half of high school graduates choosing to continue onto higher education. Increasing the number of minority, first-generation and low-income students going to college has been one of the state's strategies to boost educational attainment, as those groups tend to be underrepresented. Driving the news: Gov. Mike Braun's budget proposal eliminates funding for the College Success Program, created by lawmakers in 2023 with a $2.5 million annual appropriation. It also eliminates a $2.5 million annual appropriation for Martin University, the state's only predominantly Black higher education institution. How it works: The College Success Program, administered by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, has funded college success coaches at nearly two dozen campuses. They work primarily with 21st Century Scholars, helping them adjust on campus and supporting their persistence through to graduation. The Indiana University system, awarded 12 coaches, saw more bachelor's degrees earned and increased retention rates at most of its campuses. What they're saying: Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, said Braun's proposal is "wrong on so many levels." "The last administration realized that this funding would give students of color an equal chance at success," Porter said in a statement. "It was less than a century ago when Black students couldn't live in dorms, had to eat on separate sides of the dining room and couldn't swim in the university pool." "Sadly, this decision will continue to kill the hopes, dreams and aspirations of many students." The other side: Braun's office did not respond to a request for comment. Flashback: Former Gov. Eric Holcomb first proposed the funding, putting $10 million for Martin in his 2023 spending plan. House Republicans honored that request, provided the money was used for education for high-demand professions. But Senate Republicans supported the College Success Program, and the final compromise budget divided funding between Martin and the wider program. Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, told Axios this week it's too early in the budget process to say what his caucus will do, but he still supports the College Success Program. He said the Martin appropriation was a "one-time investment." A spokesperson for Martin University did not respond to a request for comment. Reality check: Braun's proposal is the very beginning of budget negotiations. The House will introduce its own budget in the coming weeks, followed by the Senate in the second half of the legislative session. A final budget deal won't be struck until April, likely in the final days of the session.
