• East Washington Middle School

The robotics team at Eastern Washington Middle School is called the Digital Dragons. This talented team builds and designs their own robotic creations. They compete with other schools on a game platform to pick up blocks and places them in containers on three of the corners on a 6 ft. x 8 ft. boxed-in area.

Jake Grable practices running the course with his robot.The 5^th thorough 8^th  grades have teams of either four or five members. There are two drivers that steer the robots with a hand-held control; tag team after the first driver gets thirty seconds. They have five seconds for the hand-off to the other team driver. There are at least two students who are builders and two students who are drivers. Their robots can also be programmed by computer to run the course themselves.

The blocks picked up count as points and count more when all like blocks are placed in the same corner bin. The Digital Dragons the sixth graders won the Excellence Award this year at Immanuel Lutheran School in Seymour to qualify for a trip to state finals at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 23.

Last year the 7^th grade team, Outside the Box, qualified for the Indiana State Competition by winning the Excellence Award. This team was also was invited to participate at the World’s Competition in Dallas, Texas.

Vex IQ Robotics equipment is used. Material to build a robot costs about $600; field or platform is $330 and the elements are $134.00. Elements change every year requiring the students to redesign the robots.

The teacher for this after school event is Rosa Snapp.

Taking a break from practice are (from left) Elliana Brewer, Jake Grable and Kristin Brawner.Practice is Monday thorough Thursday, with different grades practicing on different days.

Mothers helping Snapp on Tuesday were Amanda Grable and Whitney Smith. They were busy resetting the platform and assisting and encouraging team members.

Members of the Digital Dragons present were drivers Elliana Brewer and Jake Grable with builder Kristin Brawner. They have a designated classroom for the robotics.

On the day of this interview, fifth grade students present were Prater White, Carys Withrow, Zeb Smith, Isaiah Snapp.

Indiana educators are encouraged to apply for the 2024 Natural Resources Teacher Institute (NRTI), which will be held June 24-28 at the Forestry Training Center at Morgan-Monroe State Forest. 

Hosted by the Indiana DNR Division of Forestry and Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources Extension, this week-long immersive professional development program will provide educators with the knowledge, skills, and tools to effectively teach their students about forest ecology, research, and management in Indiana. There is no cost to participants, and meals and housing are also provided.

Daily activities include visiting public and private forest sites, touring forest industry facilities, and exploring forestry research through the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment. 

Up to 18 educators will be accepted to participate. Participants must be available to attend all days of the program and fully participate in activities.

Participants will earn 30+ Professional Growth Points, as well as receive Project Learning Tree and Leopold Education Project curriculum materials, a forestry tool kit, Indiana-specific field guides, and a stipend for developing and implementing a lesson plan. 

Learn more at dnr.IN.gov/forestry/programs/education/nrti. To request an application, contact Lexi Eiler, forestry education specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 317-234-5143.

• West Washington High School

The qualitative and quantitative research will be led by Heart+Mind Strategies

(INDIANAPOLIS) – The Indiana Commission for Higher Education (Commission) today announced it will begin research into the factors impacting college enrollment in Indiana. Through a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., the Commission selected award-winning research-led consulting firm, Heart+Mind Strategies, to lead the six-month-long research endeavor.

Increasing college enrollment is a key pillar of the Commission's HOPE (Hoosier Opportunities & Possibilities through Education) Agenda. Indiana currently ranks 31st in the nation in the college-going rate for high school students, and 21st in the nation in first-time undergraduate enrollment for adults. The Commission intends to become a top 10 state in post-high school training and education by 2030.

Using a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods, the Commission will incorporate input from a range of stakeholders such as high school students, young adult students, adult students, the general public, parents and family members, high school teachers, school counselors, additional school personnel, Indiana employers, youth-serving community- and faith-based organizations, and representatives from Indiana’s higher education institutions.

“Whether it’s a certificate, two- or four-year degree, education and training beyond high school is the cornerstone to social and economic mobility and prosperity of all Hoosiers,” said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery. “Thanks to generous funding from the Lilly Endowment, the Commission can meet Hoosiers where they are, understand the barriers to college enrollment, and inform potential solutions. I look forward to the professional insight and leadership of Heart+Mind Strategies in this work.”

Read more: State Higher Education Commission Begins Research into Factors Impacting College Enrollment