Observatory talk features eclipses and the moon
Also, Hall of Legends announced, Dark at the Diamond April 8, Ivy Tech looking for distinguished alumni
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Prepare for eclipse season by attending Sunday’s free Indiana University Kokomo Observatory open house. Patrick Motl, professor of physics, will begin the open house at 8 p.m. March 10 with discussion of a penumbral eclipse on March 25, and the total solar eclipse on April 8. He will also share information about NASA’s return to the moon with the Odysseus lander.
After the presentation, stargazers may be able to see Jupiter and the winter hexagon constellations through the Observatory’s telescopes, a six-inch Takahashi refracting telescope and a 16-inch Meade reflecting telescope mounted together. The Takahashi provides exceptionally sharp images of planets, while the Meade allows viewers to see fainter objects in the sky, due to its larger light-collecting area.
Observation will continue through 10 p.m., weather permitting. The Observatory is at 2660 S. Washington Street. Free parking is available on campus.
Motl is also hosting a series of events leading up to the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse. The next Dark as Dusk event on Monday, March 11, prepares attendees to take pictures and video of the eclipse safely. Additional sessions include multicultural perspectives on eclipses, and an eclipse viewing opportunity at the Observatory. Advance registration is required. For complete details and to register, go to expand.iu.edu/browse/key/programs/dark-as-dusk-series
Hall of Legends to induct six
Six interesting, accomplished, and notable individuals with Howard County ties who have made contributions on the local, state, and national levels will be inducted into the Howard County Hall of Legends at the annual banquet in Kokomo on Thu., April 25.
The Hall of Legends banquet, a program of the Howard County Historical Society (HCHS), will begin with doors open at 6 p.m. at Hingst Hall on the Ivy Tech Kokomo Campus, 1815 E. Morgan St. Tickets are available through the HCHS website howardcountymuseum.org/programs/hall-of-legends or by calling the office at 765-452-4314. Anyone interested in helping to sponsor the program should also contact the HCHS office.
Members of the 14th Hall of Legends class, chosen by a volunteer committee of community leaders from a wide range of organizations, are:
Bob Auth, a Howard County native who, for 20 years, hosted the Koh-Koh-Mah and Foster Living History Encampment on his property west of Kokomo;
Xenia Cord, a native of Norway who became a pre-eminent collector, scholar and author in the world of quilting and was inducted into the Quilting Hall of Fame in 2018;
John Grant, a Kokomo transplant who owns and operates radio station Power104.9 WTSX and was recently inducted into the Hip Hop Hall of Fame;
Jane Ann Noble Luljak, a Kokomo High School graduate who, as a 24-year-old co-ed at DePauw University, was elected in 1948 to serve in the Indiana House of Representatives;
Angela Martino, owner and operator of Martino’s Italian Villa for 60 years and was inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame in 2020;
Frank Stein, a Pennsylvania native who became a brilliant physicist and left his mark on Kokomo culture as well as in the world of solid-state electronics and semiconductors.
Several threads run through the Hall of Legends Class of 2024; similarities found in research on their lives. Cord and Martino came to America as children, fleeing the chaos of World War II in their European home countries. Luljak married a man who had fled with his family from their Eastern European home.
Cord, Grant, and Martino have been inducted into national “Halls of Fame” for their contributions to three very different fields. Five brought their talents to Kokomo from elsewhere. Only Auth was born and raised in Howard County. And Frank Stein posthumously joins his wife, Judge Eleanor Stein, in the Howard County Hall of Legends; the first husband and wife to be chosen for this honor.
The 2024 honorees join a list of nearly 80 truly exceptional people and organizations with Howard County connections who have been honored in the first 13 years of this program. Some were born in Howard County and have made their mark here or in the broader world. Some came here and made outstanding contributions in their “adopted” home.
Among those included over the past decade have been America’s first female U.S. Marine, the “Father of Modern Optometry,” the creator of Clifford the Big Red Dog, two pioneers of the automobile industry, one of the world’s leading heart surgeons, a country music superstar, an opera singer, three award-winning journalists, and multiple educators, among others. A video tribute to the Class of 2024 will premiere during the April 25 program.
Dark at the Diamond
Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union invites everyone to Dark at the Diamond on Mon., April 8 for Dark at the Diamond, a free eclipse watch party occurring at Kokomo Municipal Stadium, 400 S. Union St., from 2-4 p.m.
All are welcome during this family-friendly event. DJ Pugh will provide music, and interactive games and activities will take place on the field and concourse. So Tam Good Food Truck, Good Dudes BBQ & Catering and HomeTeam Ice Cream will have food and treats for purchase, and free eclipse glasses will be provided for all attendees while they last.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make memories with your family and friends,” said Demian Harvey, Solidarity’s Director of Operations. “We are excited to offer a chance to come together as a community for an unforgettable afternoon. Please join us!”
If you have any questions about Dark at the Diamond, contact Jessica Ausbrook at jausbrook@solfcu.org. Please note that both Solidarity locations will close at 2 p.m. on Mon., Apr 8, for this event.
Ivy Tech accepting nominations for Distinguished Alumni Award
Nominations are being accepted through March 30 for Ivy Tech Community College’s 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award. In celebration of the accomplishments of Ivy Tech graduates, the Ivy Tech Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor given to recognize alumni from campuses across the state.
“Ivy Tech alumni have accomplished so much in their communities, and we want to celebrate their contributions and hear their stories,” said Kelly Karickhoff, executive director of Resource Development for the Ivy Tech area that serves Cass, Fulton, Howard, Miami, Pulaski, and Tipton counties.
“Take last year’s honoree – Catherine Hightower Valcke,” she continued. “Cathy earned a technical certificate from Ivy Tech Kokomo as a medical assistant in 1981 with the goal of putting those skills to use to pay her way through Indiana University Kokomo. She did complete that bachelor’s degree without any debt. She went on to a master’s degree and a distinguished 25-year career as a leader in higher education and community development.”
The prestigious Distinguished Alumni Awards are presented each year to individuals who have made a positive contribution in their communities or to Ivy Tech. Established in 1998, this award is given to graduates of Ivy Tech in celebration of their professional, or personal achievements since completing their Ivy Tech education.
Nominations can be submitted online at https://giving.ivytech.edu/distinguished-alumni-award/nominations-for-the-distinguished-alumni-award-2024/
“Ivy Tech’s success as a college is based on the success of our graduates,” Karickhoff said. “We encourage members of the community to nominate friends, family members, co-workers who have graduated from Ivy Tech and whose accomplishments and contributions merit this recognition."
For more information, check the nomination site above or contact Karickhoff at kkarickhoff@ivytech.edu or 765-252-5501.