Over the past three semesters, students and industry partners used “design-through-production” methods to prototype and assemble full-scale design solutions for area non-profits. Some of the products developed, fabricated, and constructed included benches and other structures for Minnetrista’s campus and farmers’ market. The students also redesigned the courtyard area at the MadJax location downtown. These improvements will benefit the entire community as Minnetrista and MadJax continue to play a central role in cultural enhancement for the City of Muncie.
Spring 2020 Semester
Faculty Mentor: Kevin Klinger Department: Architecture Community Partners: Minnetrista Cultural Center, MadJax, and Midwest Metals, and the Indiana Hardwood and Lumberman’s Association Students: Craig Adams, Jacob Burris, Schyler Cerqueira, Caleb Davis, Torey Dunn, Mitchell Geis, Jessica Franke , James Harris, Nick Kiefer, Daniel Klemen, Joseph Koslow, Scottie Manners, Rhiley McIntire, Al Mitchell, Austin Obermeyer, Emma Ocken, Steven Polchinski, Landon Underwood, Cole Walters, Olivia Zepp
Fall 2019 Semester
Faculty Mentor: Kevin Klinger Department: Architecture Community Partners: Indiana Hardwoods (IHLA), Midwest Metals, Minnetrista, Mobile Market
This project’s goal was to promote collaboration with local organizations, including Ball State University and the local community. To achieve this, the students created an ongoing directory of contact information to bring all organizations and participating individuals together. Making information clear and accessible will help foster more effective communication. Moving forward the goal is to facilitate the integration of food resources for the local community for many years to come.
Faculty Mentor: Gerald Waite Department: Center for Peace and Conflict Studies Community Partner: Muncie Food Hub Students: Tony Brandon, Liz Digennaro, Jessi Lynn, Megan Stenftenagel, Amy Whitehead
Ball State faculty, students, and community partners worked together this spring on a number of immersive learning projects in and around Muncie.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware County Community Partner: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware County
Faculty Mentor: Suzanne Plesha, Office of Immersive Learning; Tim Pollard, Department of Telecommunications
Fundraising for Non-profit Organizations (ongoing) Community Partners: Adventist Frontier Mission, Aria’s Army, Audubon Society, Cradle of Love, GR3 International, Delaware County Futbol Club, National Association of Mental Illness, Operation Blackout
Faculty Mentor: René Church, School of Art
Philosophy for High School Students
Community Partner: Muncie Central High School
Faculty Mentor: Sarah Vitale, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
Reber Woods
Community Partner: Red Tail Land Conservancy
Faculty Mentor: Kevin Kenyon, Sustainability Minor Program
Rehabilitating Houses (ongoing)
Community Partner: Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity
Faculty Mentor: Janet Fick, Department of Construction Management and Interior Design
Reimagining Muncie’s Foodshed
Community Partners: Muncie Food Hub Partnership, Edible Muncie, Urban Garden Coalition, Ball State Student Farm
Faculty Mentor: Josh Gruver, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management
Second Harvest Survey 2018
Community Partner: Second Harvest Food Bank
Faculty Mentor: Melinda Messineo, Department of Sociology
Solar Start Project
Community Partner: Islamic Center of Muncie
Faculty Mentor: Sherif Attallah, Department of Construction Management and Interior Design
The Maring-Hunt Library Community Garden Master Plan, its improvement and expansion, and a series of Garden Pavilions and Nature Play Pockets were designed and developed as useful spaces to address food insecurity in a USDA-designated food desert, cultivate community interaction and social activity, and provide learning opportunities for the Southview Elementary School students, Maring-Hunt Library patrons, and neighborhood families. The Maring-Hunt Library Community Garden Master Plan includes a trio of pavilions developed around a large community garden overseen by the Library. 1. The Gateway to Growing Gardeners’ Pavilion, which provides shade, seating, tool storage, and accessible garden beds, and a sand and water Nature Play Pocket was designed and built by students in a spring and summer 2017 immersive learning studio. 2. A Market Pavilion to house a community market and an outdoor learning space for the Great Achievers is currently under construction by students in a fall semester 2017 community build studio. A small separate outdoor kitchen and food preparation demonstration area is also a part of this project. 3. A fenced-in Educational Pavilion and children’s garden will be developed and used by Southview Elementary students in the future. This expansive greenspace with its pavilions, gardens, paths, bio-swale, and nature play pockets is being developed as an anchor in the Thomas Park/ Avondale and South Central Neighborhoods, and will turn an eyesore, a dilapidated exercise track and athletic field alongside an active railway line, into an asset motivating children and families to get outdoors and learn and engage in healthy activity together.
Spring 2018 Semester
Faculty Mentor: Pam Harwood Department: Architecture Community Partners: Maring-Hunt Public Library, Community Gardeners, Southview Elementary School, Thomas Park/Avondale Neighborhood Association Students: Zach Benge, Drew Fairchild, Rosie Hamilton, Adam Horkay, Tyler Kennedy, Daniel Klemen, Scott Manners, Austin Obermeyer, Zach Rooker, Riley Sandel, Benjamin Sass, Landon Underwood, Payne Wagner, Drew Weyer
Summer/Fall 2017 Semester
Faculty Mentor: Pam Harwood Department: Architecture Community Partners: Maring-Hunt Public Library, Community Gardeners, Southview Elementary School, Thomas Park/Avondale Neighborhood Association Students: Max Bainbridge, Zach Benge, Brian Bracht, Tyler Bracht, Jacob Burris, Schyler Cerqueira, Myrisha Colston, Jamie Craine, Hunter Crews, Alex DeKemper, Jordan Duke, Drew Fairchild, Michaela Greene, Rosie Hamilton, Shelby Harris, Ali Hartweck, Adam Horkay, Joshua Markiewicz, Emma Ocken, Jennifer Pease, Zach Rooker, Riley Sandel, Payne Wagner, Drew Weyer
Spring 2017 Semester
Faculty Mentor: Pam Harwood Department: Architecture Community Partners: Maring-Hunt Public Library, Community Gardeners, Southview Elementary School, Thomas Park/Avondale Neighborhood Association Students: Leslie Adriance, Lidia A-wan, Trevor Bauer, Courtney Castleman, Aliyah Clark, Christina Cope, Connor Crane, Seth Crussel, Nicholas Entrekin, Ellie Flaherty, Ryan Johnston, Bryan Kline, Emma Mappes, Linsey Stoy, Derek Tulowitzky
Ball State faculty, students, and community partners are working together this Fall on a number of immersive learning projects in and around Muncie.
A Light in the Space Community Partner: Muncie Civic Theatre and Dance
Faculty Mentor: Mickie Marie, Department of Theatre and Dance
Anthony Neighborhood Action Plan Community Partner: Anthony Neighborhood Association
Faculty Mentor: Lisa Dunaway, Department of Urban Planning
Books Arts Collaborative Community Partner: Tribune Showprint Posters, Inc.
Faculty Mentor: Rai Peterson, Department of English; Colleen Steffen, Department of Journalism; Amy Trendler, BSU Libraries
Cardinal Weather Service Community Partner: Ball State University Athletics, Cardinal Greenway, Delaware County Futbol Club
Faculty Mentor: Nathan Hitchens & Petra Zimmermann, Department of Geography
Fundraising for Non-profit Organizations (ongoing) Community Partners: GR3 International, Berrien Cancer Services, Cor Fortium, Fanconi Anemia, Delaware County Futbol Club, Child Study Center, Your Story Hour
Faculty Mentor: René Church, School of Art
Maplewood Mansion Learning Lab
Community Partner: IU School of Medicine – Muncie Campus
Faculty Mentor: Carla Earhart & David Martin, Department of Management
Rehabilitating Houses F17 (ongoing)
Community Partner: Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity
Faculty Mentor: Janet Fick, Department of Construction Management and Interior Design
Storytelling and Social Justice
Community Partner: Circles of Delaware County/Second Harvest Food Bank
Faculty Mentor: Emily Ruth Rutter, Department of English
Faculty Mentor: Pam Harwood
Faculty Mentor: Pam Harwood
Faculty Mentor: Pam Harwood
