Student award winners honored by school board
Also, Tuesday@TheTech talks transfers; library gets artsy on First Friday; Solidarity is shredding
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The Kokomo Center School Corporation Board of Trustees honored a plethora of student video producers, musicians, dancers, and singers on April 19 at the monthly school board meeting.
Senior and fourth-year Kokomo Area Career Center student Isaiah Wallace was given the board’s commendation for winning first place in the 2023 Indiana State Broadcaster conference and award ceremony in March of this year for his short film “Pit.” Alice Guest, Wallace’s instructor in the KACC’s Radio/Television Production course, said, “Isaiah is a talented visual storyteller and this award reflects the time and care he puts into his work.”
The board also passed a resolution honoring the Kokomo High School Dance Team who earned Runner-Up honors in the Indiana High School Dance Team Association State Finals AA Jazz Division, 3rd place in the AA Hip-Hop division, and 6th in the AA Pom division.
The team was coached by Gina Curl who also was finalist for IHSDTA Coach of the Year
Along with the high school dance squad, Coach Curl’s Kokomo Central Middle International School Dance Team were honored in a board resolution recognizing that dance team’s 6th place award in the Junior Hip-Hop division, 7th place in Junior High Pom, and 8th place in the Junior High Jazz division at the IHSDTA finals as well.
The Kokomo High School Varsity A Winter Guard was up next for school board honors with a resolution noting the group’s 21st consecutive appearance at the Indiana High School Color Guard Association Finals. The group placed 14th at the finals event, the only Class A urban school to advance to State Finals five consecutive years in a row.
Also, Winter Guard Director Deanne Wideman was given a resolution of appreciation for being recognized by the Indiana State Color Guard Association, receiving the ISCGA Hall of Fame Envoy Award. Director Wideman, a founder of the group, is the 17th person to receive the award, which is given to “those who have inspired participants to achieve high standards in every aspect of color guard activity, using education as the primary focus.”
Recognition was also given to the Kokomo High School Advanced Choir Ensemble who became State Finalists in the 2023 Indiana State School Music Associations for the second consecutive year, being one of only eight Vocal Jazz choirs to qualify. KHS Choir Director Cherresa Lawson stated that all were “excited and proud to represent Kokomo High School as State Finalists two years in a row.”
Kokomo Indoor Percussion, who claimed Top 10 honors at the 2023 Indiana Percussion Association Divisional Prelims and State Finals with their show, “Batter Up” also was honored with a board resolution honoring the group’s achievements. Director Brandon Anderson credited the ISSMA honors with “Truly the hard work of my Indoor Percussion staff and these amazing students.”
For their first-place win at the 2023 IPA State Finals, the board also approved a resolution honoring the Kokomo Indoor Winds, which earned them the title of IPA Winds Scholastic State Champions. The group placed 1st in the first two season competitions then 2nd in the IPA Prelims to win a spot in the State Final Contest. Director Justin Ekstrom noted that the group had earned “some of the top scores of this season” with their performance, “Little Red Riding Hood.” This was the first Indoor Winds State Championship for Kokomo High School.
Tuesday@TheTech to focus on transfer options
Ivy Tech Kokomo’s next Tuesday@TheTech will focus on the College’s many programs through the School of Arts, Sciences & Education hat allow students to earn credits to transfer to bachelor’s degree programs at universities around Indiana and beyond.
The open house for prospective students is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, in the Health Professions Center at the campus at 1815 E. Morgan St. in Kokomo.
“If a four-year degree is in your future – or the future of someone you know, come out to Ivy Tech Kokomo for our next Tuesday@TheTech,” said Derry Ebert, vice chancellor for Enrollment Services for Ivy Tech Kokomo Service Area. “You can learn how you can get the first two years of that degree close to home, with great faculty and small class sizes, and thousands of dollars in savings.”
Programs offered through the School of Arts, Sciences & Education in the Kokomo Service Area include Biology, Education, General Studies, Indiana College Core, Liberal Arts, Professional Communication and Psychology.
Various credentials offered at Ivy Tech can allow students to transfer to universities as a sophomore or junior. More than 70 four-year institutions nationwide in more than 60 programs allow students to take two years at Ivy Tech then two years at that four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree.
This is one of a series of monthly events aimed at sharing Ivy Tech’s high-tech facilities and broad range of programming in the Kokomo Service Area, which includes Cass, Fulton, Howard, Miami, Pulaski and Tipton counties.
For more information about how to register for this Tuesday@TheTech, go to ivytech.edu/tuesdays or email Kokomo-enrollment@ivytech.edu. Walk-ins are welcome.
KHCPL to host collaborative art projects for First Friday
The Kokomo-Howard County Public Library is partnering with local mental health organizations for May’s First Friday. During the event, KHCPL and participating organizations will host fun arts and crafts activities and share information on local mental health resources. The event will also include snacks.
Activities will include giant loom weaving, giant coloring murals, spontaneous sidewalk paint circles and personal art pieces. The library will display this art during the months of May and June. All ages are invited to participate, relax and de-stress while learning about mental health resources.
First Friday activities will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 5 at KHCPL Main, 220 N. Union St. For more information on the library, its services and upcoming events, visit khcpl.org.
Solidarity Community FCU offers two free shred days
Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union offers two free shred days on Wednesday, May 20, 2023, and Thursday, September 14, 2023. These shred days will occur at their main office at 201 Southway Boulevard East in Kokomo from 5:15 PM - 7:15 PM.
Requirements for each shred day include the following:
● Maximum of three file boxes per vehicle
● No plastic containers or medicine bottles
● Remove any wire-bound files before arrival
Solidarity encourages members to bring a non-perishable food item on these shred days. These items will be donated to the Kokomo Rescue Mission.
For more information, contact Jessica Funk through email at jfunk@solfcu.org or by phone at 765-453-4020, ext 1315.
Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union is a financial cooperative that requires membership. Individuals can join Solidarity if they are a family member of an existing Solidarity member or live, work, worship, or attend school in the following counties, in addition to businesses and other legal entities located in the following counties: Howard, Tipton, Miami, Cass, Carroll, Clinton and White.