• Salem High School
• Football
• Sports/Outdoors
• Running

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By: Nathaniel Smith, Website Editor

On Friday, August 9th, the new turf field at the Salem High School was officially completed and dedicated to former coach and principal, Jim Ralston.

This highly anticipated project was made possible by the Wilson Education Service Center (WESC) along with Hellas. It was led by WESC Executive Director Brent Minton who attended Salem Community Schools as a student and football player, later taught as a teacher, and coached football as well alongside Jim Ralston.

“Salem [Community Schools] reached out to us last year around November saying, ‘we’re looking at turf fields, can you get us some quotes?’ So we reached out to our vendors, one of those being Hellas. Salem was really drawn to what Hellas could offer, and what they have accomplished with other fields,” said Minton.

At 6:30 p.m. on that Friday night, a large crowd gathered to view the brand new turf field at Salem High School, and to celebrate the man that it has been dedicated to. Community members, students, and former players all came out to show support for the field and for Jim Ralston.

The dedication began with words from former coworker and friend, Hank Weeden, and was followed by words from former player Jamie Richardson. Both had nothing but wonderful things to say about Ralston, but there was one common factor behind everything said that night: Ralston has made a massive impact in every single life he has touched. Through his kindness, sense of humor and smile, he has worked hard to make the community and world a better place.

Jim Ralston began his career at Salem High School on May 19, 1978 on his 26th birthday. Ralston received a phone call from the superintendent at the time offering him a job at the school as the football coach.

“My first game was such a memorable event. We fought through a 5-overtime game with West Washington, surviving a touchdown and a two-point conversion just to go to another overtime,” said Ralston. “By the way, we won, and the victory set the tone for the next season.”

Ralston went on to coach football at Salem for the next 19 years.

“A relationship between a coach and his players is special, and for me, cannot be forgotten. It was so much fun. The players dedicated their time with sweat and energy to do their best for our team. I want to thank all of them for their dedication, and for helping to make this day possible. I also want to thank our great fans. Many times at away games, our crowd would be larger than the home team,” said Ralston.

After looking out at the new turf field, Ralston said, “this field very much belongs to all of us. Past, present and future, who dedicate time and energy to the students of Salem Community Schools.”

Ralston then went on to provide the future benefits of the new turf field.

“No more outdoor troubles in soccer games, no more band contests called off because of a super wet field. No more mowing, watering or lining the field. This is a field to be proud of, and one that will serve our community for many years.”

He concluded by reciting a motto that he has said to his students and players for many years.

“Over the 19 years of my coaching career, I constantly repeated to my players: ‘work hard, do things correctly, and good things will happen to you.’ I offer you this motto, and I wish you the best of luck in this season,” said Ralston. “Again, thank you so much for this honor, and no matter where I live, I will always be a Salem Lion.”

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After awarding more than 160 scholarships worth $847,000 in student financial assistance last year, the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana (CFSI) is excited to announce the re-opening its scholarship program for the 2024-25 school year.

Beginning Monday, August 12, students throughout Clark, Floyd, and surrounding counties can begin applying for scholarships offered through the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana.

While many of these awards are available through local high schools and colleges, students may apply for specific scholarships directly through CFSI’s website – www.CFSouthernIndiana.com/scholarships – starting on Monday, August 12. The application portal will remain open until Monday, September 16.

“Scholarships established by our generous donors provide life-changing opportunities for students in Clark, Floyd, and surrounding counties each year,” said Linda Speed, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana. “Our community has always believed in giving back, and we are thankful for those individuals, families, and businesses who have established scholarships that allow students to continue their education and pursue their future aspirations.”

The organization provides the structure and administrative oversight that allows people from across our community to establish scholarship funds that support their favorite college or university, as well as identify students who meet their own, unique criteria. Currently, the Foundation oversees 90 scholarships for students in Southern Indiana.

For questions about the CFSI scholarship program, please visit www.CFSouthernIndiana.com/scholarships – or contact Crystal Melcher, Vice President of Community Philanthropy, at (812) 948-4662 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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NEW ALBANY, Ind. (August 5, 2024) – For the 18th consecutive year, the IU Southeast School of Business has been named an outstanding business school, according to The Princeton Review®. The education services company recently named the school’s on-campus MBA program to its list of Best Business Schools for 2024.

The program has been so honored every year since 2006.

"All of the b-schools that made our list for 2024 deliver exceptional MBA programs,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review's Editor-in-Chief. “We commend them for their excellent academics, and we recommend them highly to MBA applicants.”

IU Southeast exists to enrich the lives of people in our community,” said Dr. Michelle Williams, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. “Our consistently strong academic programs prepare students to achieve their goals, as evidenced by 99% of graduates being employed or attending graduate school within one year of graduation. The eighteen-year ranking of our School of Business among the best in the country attests to the excellence of our faculty and staff whose commitment to training students yields wider impacts. As a regional comprehensive university, we strive to adapt to ever-changing needs of our students who are the future citizens and workforce of our region.”

The Princeton Review editors weigh more than 60 data points in making their selections for their annual Best Business Schools lists. The selections for the 2024 list took into account data from surveys the company conducted in 2021-22 of administrators at 243 schools offering on-campus MBA programs as well as surveys over the past three academic years of 20,300 students enrolled in the programs.  

The administrator survey requests data on topics from academic offerings, faculty, and career services to admission and graduation rates. The student survey asks students to rate their school’s academics, professors, administrators, and career services and to report on its campus culture as well as their career plans.

The IU Southeast School of Business is accredited by the Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. Only eight percent of business schools worldwide achieve that status. Additionally, IU Southeast students consistently score in the top 10-15 percent of the national Educational Testing Service (ETS) major field test exams.

The IU Southeast School of Business offers a streamlined MBA program that typically allows students to complete their studies in just 15 months. Classes are offered in eight-week sessions to accelerate completion time and are offered in-person, online, or in a hybrid format.

Furthermore, the School provides five specialized tracks within the MBA program: accounting, human resources management, management, finance, and business data analytics. Students have the option to enhance their foundational MBA with these concentrations, requiring an additional six to nine credit hours of coursework.

About IU Southeast: 

IU Southeast is one of seven campuses of Indiana University. Offering more than 150 degree programs and concentrations, the scenic 180-acre campus is located less than 15 minutes from downtown Louisville, Kentucky. It currently has over 3,750 students and employs over 360 faculty members. About 400 students live on campus in five fully furnished, lodge-style residence halls. Through an agreement with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Indiana University Southeast offers in-state tuition to students enrolled from eight counties in the Louisville region. IU Southeast has three nationally recognized, accredited schools including the School of Business, School of Education, and School of Nursing. For more information, visit www.ius.edu. IU Southeast is a tobacco-free campus.