EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball was honored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches with a Team Academic Excellence and eight Honors Court awards for 2024-25.
USI earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award after the Screaming Eagles completed the 2024-25 season with a combined 3.18 cumulative grade point average. The award recognizes programs that completed the academic year with a team GPA of 3.0 or higher.
USI also has received the Ohio Valley Conference’s Team Academic Award (presented to the conference team with the greatest percentage of eligible student athletes that earn a 3.25 GPA or higher) for the last two seasons.
In addition to the team award, USI had eight of its 17 players named to the NABC Honors Court. To be named to the Honors Court, a student athlete must be a junior, senior, or graduate student who finished the academic year with a 3.2 GPA or better.
The Screaming Eagles named to the NABC Honors Court are junior center Alex Horiuk (Business Administration); junior guard Damoni Harrison (Sports Management); junior guard Jack Campion (Sports Management); graduate forward Jack Mielke (Master of Business Administration); junior guard Johnny Semany (Business Administration); graduate center Nick Hittle (Data Analytics), junior guard Ryan Hall (Master of Business Administration).
USI honored by NABC for academics in 2024-25
Vincennes University collaborates with Walmart to provide hands-on technician training for associates
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Dillender announces Purple Aces coaching staff
Duo joins Dillender from University of the Cumberlands
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville head softball coach Bailey Dillender has announced the hiring of assistant coaches Alyssa Richards and Mia Aldridge.
Both join the Purple Aces from the University of the Cumberlands where they worked with Coach Dillender to lead the Patriots to a 138-23 mark over the last three seasons while going 62-1 in Mid-South Conference games during that time. UC advanced to the NAIA World Series in each of those campaigns.
“I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to bring Coach Richards and Coach Mia with me to Evansville,” Dillender exclaimed. “We have created over the last several years such an incredible bond and work environment together that I truly couldn’t imagine doing this with anyone but them.”
Dillender, Richards, and Aldridge have been selected as the Region VI Coaching Staff of the Year in each of the previous three seasons including the 2025 campaign that saw them go 40-9 and a perfect 18-0 in conference play.
“Coach Rich is unique in her ability to manage our pitching staff and build relationships across the board. Her ability and patience to really break the game down and share her vision for how she wants things done coupled with her extensive knowledge of the game makes her dynamic in all areas,” Dillender continued. “Coach Mia, who has been with us for the last 4 years at Cumberlands is a winner, with an amazing amount of knowledge and playing experience in literally all areas of the field. She pitched, was an All-Conference infielder and outfielder that gives us another resource and skill set to reach all corners of our locker room.”
Richards joined Dillender as an assistant coach at UC in 2017. She worked with pitchers and catchers while also assisting with the hitters. Under her tutelage, Patriots pitchers recorded an earned run average of 2.78 or lower every season since 2021. In 2023, the team wrapped up the year with a 1.80 ERA while the 2022 squad finished with a 2.01.
Prior to joining the Patriots, Richards wrapped up a four-year playing career at Tennessee Tech University where she split time between first base and catcher. Richards played in 209 games, while notching 159 hits, 30 home runs, and 22 doubles over her four-year career at Tennessee Tech. She also recorded 105 RBIs, while posting a .280 career batting average. In 2015, Richards helped lead the Golden Eagles to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Richards was also named OVC First Team All-Conference during her senior season.
Richards graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Multi-Disciplinary Studies with a focus in Special Education and Physical Education from Tennessee Tech in May 2016. She also graduated with her Master’s Degree in Health and Human Performance and Coaching from Cumberlands in May 2021.
Aldridge joined Dillender’s staff at Cumberlands in July of 2021. She coordinated the outfield defense while assisting with hitters, pitchers, recruiting, and opponent scouting. One part of the game that Aldridge specializes in is stolen bases. In three of the last four seasons, UC has broken the single-season school record for stolen bases. In her first season with the Patriots in 2022, UC accumulated 108 steals. Two years later, the squad finished with 122 before resetting the record with 124 steals in 2025.
She joined UC after spending five seasons at Campbellsville University where she was a softball student-athlete while working in their sports information department. During her playing career, CU won three conference titles including both the Regular Season and Tournament Championship in 2021. Every complete season Aldridge competed for the Tigers they made the NAIA postseason where they also boasted 35+ win seasons.
in her career she took home First Team MSC honors three times both in the infield and outfield. Aldridge appears in the CU record book 17 times for her top-ten single season and career numbers. Her top-ten rankings include first in career walks (89), first in career fielding percentage (.993), sixth in career runs scored (157), eighth in career doubles (37), eighth in career total bases (309) and eighth in career stolen bases (27).
Aldridge obtained her undergraduate degree at Campbellsville, studying Sport Management. She received her master’s degree in Coaching from Cumberlands and also has an MBA.
“Rich and Mia are exceptional young coaches but even better humans,” Dillender said. “I look forward to watching them continue to grow as professionals at UE, but mostly love the fact that our Purple Aces get to interact and learn from them daily.”
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
NCAA Champions Repeat as IU Athletes of the Year
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced its winners of the IU Athlete of the Year award for the 2024-25 school year on Thursday (July 17), recognizing swimming and diving seniors Carson Tyler and Anna Peplowski for the second consecutive season.
Combining for three national title and 10 All-America honors between them, Tyler and Peplowski led the IU men’s and women’s programs to historic performances at the 2025 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships.
Repeating as CSCAA National Diver of the Year and Big Ten Diver of the Year, Tyler also won consecutive national championships in the 3-meter springboard and platform events while becoming the first athlete to win the platform title three seasons in a row. Tyler and classmate Quinn Henninger, NCAA Champion on 1-meter, completed the second-ever team sweep of the NCAA diving events – the first since 1997). The Big Ten’s top scorer at the national meet with 49 points, Tyler helped IU finish third in the team standings.
Peplowski led the Indiana women to three program record NCAA team finishes during her career, placing seventh both in 2023 and 2024 before its fourth-place pinnacle performance in 2025. The Big Ten Swimmer of the Year was the conference’s co-leading point scorer at the NCAA Championships with 45 points. Peplowski became IU’s first female freestyle champion, winning the 200-yard freestyle in 1:40.50 – the No. 7 fastest time in NCAA history. She also earned bronze in the 500-yard freestyle for the second consecutive season. The senior finished her career with six short course program records.
The IU Athlete of the Year winners met championship standards in the classroom, each earning CSC Academic All-America, CSCAA Scholar All-America, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten honors. Peplowski also earned Indiana University’s G. Frederick Glass Director’s Award, honoring two student-athletes who best represent The Spirit of Indiana: 24 Sports, 1 Team.
Both Olympians in 2024, Tyler and Peplowski will again represent Team USA this summer at the World Aquatics Championships. The pair have continued training at Indiana University’s facilities following the conclusion of their collegiate careers.
Letter to Mayor Terry Regarding EMS Transition
Dear Members of the Media,
Attached is a letter from the Vanderburgh County Commissioners to Mayor Stephanie Terry regarding the proposed transition of emergency medical services from AMR to the Evansville Fire Department. Also attached is a Cost Analysis Estimate from AMR.
The Commissioners felt it was important to share this communication with the media to keep the residents of Vanderburgh County informed on this matter.
Dear Mayor Terry,
On behalf of the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners, we are writing to respectfully request that the City of Evansville engage in a collaborative effort with Vanderburgh County and AMR Evansville to determine the best course of action for our community’s emergency medical service needs. As part of this collaborative effort, AMR has offered to commission and pay for an independent study performed by Fitch & Associates, a national leading EMS and public safety consulting firm. We would propose that Evansville Fire Chief Tony Knight take a lead role in the study.
There are a number of unknowns that could adversely impact the success of a City-run ambulance service, including local government funding cuts with Senate Bill 1 (“SB1”) and the prospect of cuts to Medicaid that could negatively impact revenue projections anticipated by the City. We also have concerns regarding the financial and operational implications to County,residents of transitioning emergency medical services from AMR to the Evansville FireDepartment. While AMR’s services could be improved, AMR currently operates without anysubsidy from either the City or the County. Based on certain financial projections made available to the Commissioners, which was derived from prior years data of emergency medical runs, it would appear the City could likely experience a $2 million loss beginning in the first year of the transition, with losses increasing year over year. We would also be remiss if we did not note that the City of Evansville was once responsible for the emergency medical services and it was ultimately concluded that the private model was more efficient for the taxpayers.
We would propose commissioning the study as soon as possible as we understand the study could be completed by the Fall of 2025. As such, if the study concludes it is in our commuity’s best interest to move forward with the City’s plan, it will result in only a short delay in the implementation of services. Perhaps more valuable, it would also allow for us to gain further clarity on the SB1 changes and impacts of the federal government’s cuts to Medicaid.
In light of this information, we hope the City will engage with Vanderburgh County and AMR Evansville in this collaborative effort to determine the best possible outcome for our community
We welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this matter further.
Sincerely,
The Board of Commissioners of Vanderburgh County
Justin Elpers, President
Amy Canterbury, Vice President
Mike Goebel, Member
Mayor Terry to Host July Block-by-Block This Friday (7/18)
The next event in Evansville’s Block-by-Block Neighborhood Cleanup series will take place this Friday, July 18, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Lamasco Neighborhood.
Please note that this is one week earlier than originally announced.
This hands-on beautification effort invites the public to join city staff and community partners in picking up litter, trimming weeds, mowing grass, and assisting with other neighborhood revitalization efforts. Volunteers are encouraged to gather at Eleventh Avenue Park; more details (and the volunteer sign-up form) are available at www.evansvillegov.org/block.
Mayor Stephanie Terry launched Block-by-Block in August 2024 as part of her administration’s commitment to Neighborhood Revitalization, which is a cornerstone of her strategic vision for Evansville.
“Block-by-Block is about more than just cleaning up our neighborhoods,” Mayor Terry said. “It’s about building pride, creating connection, and showing that every neighborhood in our city matters. When we show up together to take care of our shared spaces, we create stronger, safer, more beautiful communities.”
The July 18 Block-by-Block is being done in partnership with Keep Evansville Beautiful and CenterPoint Energy.
Participants of all ages and abilities are welcome.
University of Evansville Statement on Proposed Billboard Near Lincoln Commons
Back to School Lead Testing Clinic
The Vanderburgh County Health Department is hosting a Back-to-School Lead Testing Clinic. The clinic will be held on July 22nd from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Vanderburgh County Health Department.
No Pre-registration is required, all children ages 0-6 that attend that have met state mandated lead testing
guidelines will receive a backpack with school supplies. Any child 0-6 that has not met the requirement that has lead testing performed at the event will also receive the backpack and supplies. The Health Department will have staff available to check the status of the child’s lead testing history as well as staff to collect blood for and perform lead testing on site.
Hot dogs, chips and a drink will be available for all who attend.
Indiana Department of Health Guidance and Standards for Health Care Providers states:
- Children should receive a blood lead test between the ages of nine (9) and fifteen (15) months, or as close as reasonably possible to the patient’s appointment.
- Children should have another blood lead test between the ages of twenty-one (21) and twenty-seven (27) months, or as close as reasonably possible to the patient’s appointment.
- Any child between twenty-eight (28) and seventy-two (72) months that does not have a record of any prior blood lead test must have a blood lead test performed as soon as possible.
Lead testing is the best way to protect your child from the many serious permanent effects that lead poisoning causes. Exposure to lead can seriously harm a child’s health and cause adverse effects such as damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems- underperformance in school, lower IQ and decreased ability to pay attention as well as hearing and speech problems. The adverse effects of lead poisoning are irreversible Contact your child’s healthcare provider or attend this event to find out if your child is up to date.
For questions, you can contact the Vanderburgh County Health Department at 812-435-5662.