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New Initiative Helps Indiana’s Hispanic and Latino Learners Obtain Education And Training Beyond High School

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ALFONSO

page1image4233589776 The Indiana Commission for Higher Education announces today a new initiative aimed at increasing student access and attainment to higher education for the state’s Hispanic and Latino learners and families.

Funded by Indiana’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), five Padres Estrellas – translated as “Star Parents” – will work with community organizations focused on empowering Hoosier Hispanic and Latino communities to provide college and career support to students and families across the state.

The Padres Estrellas will connect with schools, neighborhoods and community partners and focus on helping students and families enroll in the 21st Century Scholars program and the Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant.

“We are committed to increasing access to the opportunity a quality degree or credential provides for Hoosier students,” said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers. “Hoosier students are becoming increasingly

diverse and economically challenged and we know we must do more to meet these needs and close educational achievement gaps.”

The Commission’s College Equity Report reveals that Hispanic Hoosiers are one of the fastest-growing populations of high school graduates in the state of Indiana, but also one of the most likely populations to come from low-income households. Hispanic high school graduates are also 10 percentage points behind the statewide college-going rate, 53 percent to 63 percent, respectively.

Hispanic Hoosiers in the 2017 high school graduating class who were part of the 21st Century Scholars program defied the average college-going rates for their racial/ethnic peers and the statewide average. The college-going rate for Hispanic Hoosier Scholars was 86 percent, compared to just 40 percent of their low-income, non-Scholar peers.

“The Scholars program is clearly working, however, we must do more to ensure that eligible Hispanic and Latino Hoosiers are applying in seventh and eighth grade,” said Lubbers. “One of the biggest challenges is simply awareness of the program, and we hope that Padres Estrellas can help increase awareness and enrollment by meeting families where they are.”

Alfonso Vidal has represented the 8th Congressional District on the Commission for Higher Education since 2017 and is president of Evansville-based Vidal Plastics. The creation of a program such as Padres Estrellas has been a goal for Vidal to see come to fruition in Indiana.

“I am very excited about this initiative because I can see the huge potential to connect a growing need with available opportunities that are being wasted. As an immigrant Latino and adopted Hoosier, I am experiencing firsthand the complexity of navigating higher education choices with my own children. As a Latino advocate working for the Latino community in Evansville and the state, I have also seen the challenges many Latino parents have in understanding and even being aware of the options their children have to be able to reach their potential,” said Vidal.

page1image4234021536Meet the Padres Estrellas:

José Juarez, family and community engagement coordinator at Indianapolis Public Schools (Indianapolis)
Juarez coordinates with family and community engagement liaisons in various districts to assist in developing partnerships with parents and leaders in the community. Juarez’s goal through his involvement with Padres Estrellas is to help Hispanic and Latino families overcome the barrier of access to information on their path toward greater success in Indiana and the United States.

Marlen Ortiz, a family resource specialist at La Casa de Amistad and teacher at Starz Academy (South Bend)
As a lead preschool teacher at Starz Academy, Ortiz works primarily with three- and four-year-olds. One of her objectives with her work through Padres Estrellas is ensuring Hispanic and Latino families are aware of the available college and career options in Indiana.

Lauro Zuñiga, instructional assistant at East Noble High School (Fort Wayne)
Zuñiga works with special education students to create a one-on-one learning environment so that students feel motivated and supported to complete their work in a timely fashion. Through Padres Estrellas, he aims to better the Hispanic and Latino community by providing students with the tools needed to become leaders in their community.

Maria Rising, Latino community coordinator for Family School Partners at Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (Columbus)
Rising coordinates all Latino Family Connection services and builds relationships with families in their neighborhood by sharing the information received from family school partners and other Latino community organizations. Her involvement with Padres Estrellas will complement her existing work to expand the educational opportunities in the Hispanic and Latino communities.

Nancy Londono, outreach coordinator for HOLA (Evansville)

Londono facilitates leadership workshops, recruits participants to various HOLA programs and assists the Hispanic and Latino community at related events. She looks forward to informing the community of new opportunities to build a better future for generations to come through her involvement with Padres Estrellas.

The Commission has also identified five key partner organizations in several regions around the state to serve as primary pilot locations to support the initiative and the Padres Estrellas, including:

  • La Casa de Amistad (South Bend);
  • El Mexicano (Fort Wayne);
  • Indiana Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs (Indianapolis);
  • Latino Education Group (Columbus); and
  • HOLA (Evansville)“ As one of HOLA’s founders, I am very excited to be part of an organization that will be reaching out to parents directly and see the impact of the Padres Estrellas ’work,” Vidal said. “I am thrilled to see that the Commission has made Padres Estrellas a reality for Hoosiers.”

    For more information, visit https://www.in.gov/che/5014.htm, or contact program director Greg Harrell at gharrell@che.in.gov.

    The Indiana Commission for Higher Education is a 14-member public body created in 1971 to define the missions of Indiana’s colleges and universities, plan and coordinate the state’s postsecondary education system, and ensure that Indiana’s higher education system is aligned to meet the needs of students and the state. The Commission includes representatives from each Congressional district, three at-large members, a college faculty representative, and a college student representative. Learn more about the Commission’s Reaching Higher, Delivering Value strategic plan atwww.in.gov/che/.

Attorney General Faces Potential Suspension Of Law License

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By Emily Ketterer
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS –– Attorney General Curtis Hill could face a two-year suspension of his license to practice law over allegations that he drunkenly groping four women in a bar last year.

The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission filed documents Monday calling for the suspension of Hill’s license without automatic reinstatement, stating his actions “cannot be brushed off as simply boorish behavior or overlooked as a misunderstanding of intent.”

If the Supreme Court agrees and suspends Hill’s license, it would put in jeopardy not only Hill’s re-election campaign in 2020 but his ability to remain as attorney general at all. Indiana law requires that the attorney general must be “duly licensed to practice law in Indiana.”

Hill has repeatedly denied the allegations and resisted calls for resignation from Republican party leaders, including Gov. Eric Holcomb.

“I can’t imagine he would be able to continue as attorney general if his law license is suspended for two years,” said Allison Martin, clinical professor of law and legal ethics expert at the Indiana University McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis.

The recommendation by the Disciplinary Commission comes almost two months after Hill’s four-day disciplinary hearing. The attorney general is accused of ethical violations over allegations he made unwanted contact and sexual advancements to four women––one state representative and three Statehouse staffers––at an Indianapolis bar after the end of the 2018 legislative session.

The commission concluded in its report that Hill shows a “lack of remorse,” and his actions were “deliberate,” “intentional” and established “a lack of restraint.” The Commission also said in the report that the events were “not the result of a one night of overindulgence but fit into a pattern of sexually inappropriate behavior.”

As attorney general, the commission stated, Hill “should be seeking to protect victims of sexual assault, not creating them or blaming them.”

In response, Hill’s lawyers are calling for a dismissal of the disciplinary case, saying the party that night was crowded.

“In such environments, there tends to be some degree of physical contact between individuals,” they wrote. “The amount of physical contact a particular person is comfortable with is highly variable from person to person.”

Hill’s attorneys also said the commission has no reason to call for suspension because the alleged criminal contact has “nothing to do with the practice of law,” and a special prosecutor appointed to look into the case declined to file criminal charges last year.

The Disciplinary Commission, though, said the allegations do reflect adversely on Hill’s “honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness of a lawyer,” and harm public perception of him.

Former state Supreme Court Justice Myra Selby presided over the hearing, and she will determine a recommendation for discipline, if any, to the Indiana Supreme Court. No timeline for the Supreme Court to make its decision has been released.

FOOTNOTE: Emily Ketterer is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

EPA Recognizes Electronics Industry Leaders for Achievements in Innovation and Recycling

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the 2019 winners of its Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge Awards.

Today’s electronics are made from materials that, if not properly managed at the end of their lifetime, may pose a risk to human health and the environment. The winners of the 2019 Electronics Award are being recognized for keeping 194,500 tons of electronics out of landfills by sending them to third-party certified recyclers. EPA will hold a ceremony at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January to showcase the innovative work of the 2019 awardees.

“These companies represent the electronics industry’s leaders in sustainable product design and life cycle management,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “The environmental benefits associated with keeping electronics out of landfills and recycling them for use in new products are enormous. EPA is proud to recognize the inventive and forward-thinking achievements of these companies.”

The Agency’s 2019 Electronics Challenge Gold Tier Awards are going to the following organizations:

  • Dell
  • LG Electronics USA
  • Samsung Electronics
  • Sony Electronics
  • Sprint
  • Staples
  • TCL North America
  • VIZIO
  • Xerox

EPA further recognizes Dell and Samsung Electronics as the SMM Electronics Challenge Champion Award winners for innovation in an environmentally responsible way. These companies serve as examples in demonstrating environmental, social and economic outcomes for their organizations and the public that go above and beyond the requirements of the Electronics Challenge.

  • Dell is receiving the Product Award for developing a visionary closed loop process for recovering rare earth elements from magnets in end-of-life hard disk drives. During the pilot, Dell diverted 660 pounds of magnet material from landfills to create 25,000 hard disk drives.
  • Samsung is receiving the Cutting-Edge Award for developing an affordable, upcycled and smartphone-based diagnosis camera to improve eye health care equality in underserved populations. Currently piloted in Vietnam, the camera extends the life of obsolete phones, uses 50% recycled content and is designed for easy reuse or recovery.

Churchill Downs Gets OK For $300 Million Track Expansion

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Louisville Metro planning officials have signed off on Churchill Downs Inc.’s $300 million plan to expand its historic racetrack at 700 Central Avenue to add a hotel, permanent seating and a historical horse racing venue with slot-like machines.

The Metro Board of Zoning Adjustment, a mayoral-appointed group of residents, recognized Churchill Downs’ “nonconforming” rights to proceed with the expansion during its meeting on Monday.

Professional planners with the city recommended that the zoning board support the project and listed no opposition from neighbors in their report to the board.

Businesses that have operating as long as Churchill Downs have legal rights not to comply with modern zoning rules, but the board still needed to sign off on the plan.

Churchill Downs executives have said their plan to transform the track’s First Turn area will be done by the end of 2021.

The seven-story hotel will feature 156 rooms, many of which will face the track and offer private balconies overlooking horse races. The hotel will also house a sports bar, VIP lounge and multiple year-round dining venues.

Another draw for the hotel: a historical racing venue similar to Derby City Gaming, Churchill Downs’ off-track gaming facility on Poplar Level Road that opened in September 2018.

USI To Offer New Certificates In Instructional Communication Beginning Fall 2020

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The Indiana Commission for Higher Education has approved two new Post-Baccalaureate Certificates in Instructional Communication and Advanced Instructional Communication to be offered by the University of Southern Indiana College of Liberal Arts Communications Department. Both certificate programs will begin in the fall 2020 semester.

“Communication plays a pivotal role in everything we do in the classroom,” said Dr. Sally Vogl-Bauer, chair of the Communications Department and associate professor of communication studies. “The Instructional certificates are designed to increase educators’ expertise in specific communication principles proven to enhance classroom instruction.”

The Instructional Communication Certificate is a 12-hour graduate certificate program for educators and professionals looking to improve their communication in an instructional or training and development context. The course consists of two required courses and a selection of electives, all of which are offered and taught as part of the Master of Arts in Communication Program.

“When we surveyed the region, we learned there was enormous interest from those in business and industry, such as human resources managers, who were looking to strengthen their job performance,” said Dr. Leigh Anne Howard, graduate director of the Communication Program at USI. “We also discovered teachers from a variety of academic disciplines who sought ways to improve the communication in their classrooms and across various administrative levels. This 12-hour instructional certificate is aimed to help them achieve these goals.”

The Advanced Instructional Communication Certificate is an is an 18-hour graduate certificate program aimed at those with a master’s degree in an area other than communication, and who wish to teach communication at the secondary or university-level. This program will be of particular interest to high school public speaking, journalism and radio/television instructors with master’s degrees who are seeking the credentials to teach dual credit courses at their high school. The program consists of an additional required course and an additional elective alongside the requirements for the Instructional Communication Certificate.

Both certificates will be offered online and classes in both programs will be offered once per year. Potential students may register for either of the certificate programs independently, or embed the certificate into the coursework for the Master of Arts in Communication Program and obtain both the degree and certificate simultaneously.

Save Energy, Be Mindful Of Appliance Safety During The Holiday Season

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Vectren, a CenterPoint Energy company, is reminding its customers about ways to lower energy usage and have a safe holiday season.

“The holidays typically bring an increase in energy consumption, whether it’s decorating your home with festive lights, hosting a houseful of guests or cooking a feast for the family,” said Lynnae Wilson, chief business officer, Indiana Electric. “However, there are a number of simple ways to use energy wisely and safely over the next several weeks.”

Vectren suggests customers switch the lights on their holiday displays from standard incandescent or compact fluorescent (CFL) to Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights. LED lights are shatterproof, shock resistant and safe to touch. In addition, LEDs use 75 percent less energy than the typical incandescent lights used.

Vectren also recommends the following tips to help consumers enjoy the holiday safely while using energy wisely:

  • Buy Energy Star® certified electronics, which use up to 60 percent less electricity than their non-certified counterparts.
  • Let the holidays serve as a reminder to get an annual furnace inspection if you haven’t already done so.
  • Use fiber optic decorations. Fiber optic trees and decorations are the ultimate in energy efficiency. In most cases, they use a single light bulb located in the base of the unit to light the entire decoration.
  • Use a timer for your holiday lights. This allows for lights to be illuminated only when necessary.
  • Don’t overload your electrical circuits.
  • Never run appliance cords or extension cords under carpet. They are designed to be kept cool by the movement of room air around the cord.
  • Connect lights to power strips that have several outlets and built-in circuit breakers.
  • Make sure lights and extensions cords used for outdoor decoration are approved for outdoor use.
  • Turn the thermostat down – to 68 degrees or lower – when you have guests. Extra bodies in the house mean extra warmth at no cost to you.
  • When cooking for the holidays, don’t forget to use your microwave oven. Fast and efficient microwave ovens use around 50 percent less energy than conventional ovens.
  • Don’t open the oven door to take a peek at what’s cooking inside. Instead, turn on the oven light and check the cooking status through the oven window. Opening the oven door lowers the temperature inside – by as much as 25 degrees – which increases cooking time and wastes energy.
  • Have your wood-burning fireplace inspected and cleaned annually to eliminate a potential fire hazard in the chimney or flue.

 

HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE

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Healthcare Administrative Assistant
TriState Functional Wellness – Evansville, IN
$22,880 – $30,000 a year
Meet and greet patients as they enter our office. Always have a pleasant personality.Healthcare experience is helpful but not required.
Easily apply
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Administrative Assistant – Real Estate
The Dauby Team of Keller Williams Capital Realty – Evansville, IN
$12 – $16 an hour
Communicate regularly with the clients to send reminders, check in, answer questions, and let them know what to expect in each step of the closing process.
Easily apply
Dec 16
Front Desk Receptionist
Familia Dental 2.9/5 rating   282 reviews  – Evansville, IN
Dental Receptionist must be able to listen to patients and other healthcare workers and follow directions from a Dentist or supervisor.
Easily apply
Dec 16
Administrative Coordinator
Southwest Indiana Chamber – Evansville, IN
$35,000 – $40,000 a year
Assists Community Development team with grant administrationduties, fund tracking in Excel and paperwork organizing. Flexible in work schedule and job task(s).
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Dec 16
Medical Front Desk Receptionist
Virtual Consult MD – Evansville, IN
$10 – $12 an hour
Is seeking a motived and energetic Front Desk Receptionist with customer service experience for our busy Evansville, Indiana office.
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Dec 16
Medical Office Assistant
Deaconess Health System 3.7/5 rating   446 reviews  – Evansville, IN
Maintains positive patient oriented services in the provision of medical office services to the patient, family members, visitors and physicians in the office…
Dec 16
Office Assistant
Trinity Tech Solutions – Evansville, IN
$9 an hour
Keeping an inventory of office supplies and ordering new materials as needed. Welcoming visitors to our office. Answering phone calls and taking orders.
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Dec 16
Office Assistant – Sleep Center
St. Vincent, IN 3.7/5 rating   4,947 reviews  – Evansville, IN
Office Assistant – Pulmonology – Full-Time Days – St. Vincent Medical Group Sleep Center – Evansville, IN. Vincent has been serving central and southern Indiana…
Dec 10
Medical Front Desk Receptionist (TSOS WEST)
Tri-State Orthopaedic Surgeons – Evansville, IN
Flexibility to work between the hours of 6:30am and 6:30pm, as well as some Saturdays. Front Desk Receptionist Job Description Form 10.32.
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Dec 13
Administrative Assistant
Centennial Wealth Solutions – Evansville, IN
Looking for that special candidate who _wants to grow with the company_. The position is currently part-time but is expected to become a full-time position…
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Dec 10
Front Desk Receptionist
Redbanks Towers and Apartments – Henderson, KY
$7.50 – $8.00 an hour
Serves visitors by greeting, welcoming, and directing them appropriately. Notifies company personnel of visitor arrival. High school or equivalent (Required).
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Dec 10
Administrative Clerk, Foundation Accounting/Finance and Administration – N19112NA
University of Southern Indiana 4.3/5 rating   107 reviews  – Evansville, IN
$10.66 an hour
Provide backup support for other Finance and Administration staff during peak work times or absences. The University of Southern Indiana’s Foundation Accounting…
Dec 12
Front Desk Receptionist
Confidential – Evansville, IN
FT Front Deck Receptionist. Medical office. Fast paced office. Communication and teamwork a must. Able to multi-task. Prefer medical office experience x 1 year…
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Administrative Assistant
Ameriprise – Mount Vernon, IN
Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Box, online document management. Experience in banking, accounting or legal offices.
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Part-time Office Assistant
La-Z-Boy Midwest 4.3/5 rating   25 reviews  – Evansville, IN
$11 an hour
Our La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries store in Evansville, IN needs a reliable, organized Office Assistant to manage our front office on some nights and weekends.
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ADOPT A PET

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Evansville Woman Arrested for Dealing Methamphetamine

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Last night at approximately 9:50, Trooper Widner was patrolling in the area of US 41near Lynch Road when he stopped the driver of a 2002 Lexus for making an unsafe lane change. The driver was identified as Destennie Holtzclaw, 23, of Evansville. While talking to the driver an odor of marijuana was detected from inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted and troopers found approximately 23 grams of methamphetamine, two THC gummies and drug paraphernalia. Further investigation revealed Holtzclaw was dealing the suspected methamphetamine. Holtzclaw was arrested and taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail where she is currently being held without bond.

Arrested and Charges:

  • Destennie Holtzclaw, 23, Evansville, IN
  1. Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
  2. Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 3 Felony
  3. Possession of a Look-a-Like Substance, Class A Misdemeanor
  4. Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

Traffic Stop for failing to use Turn Signal nets Meth Arrest

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Last night at approximately 7:20, Trooper Widner was patrolling in the area of US 41 and Yokel Road when he stopped the driver of a 2006 Ford Mustang for failing to signal when required. The driver was identified as Brandy Newcom, 39, of Morganfield, KY. Suspicious activity was detected and a search of the vehicle was conducted. Troopers located approximately 2.3 grams of methamphetamine, a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Newcom also had an active warrant out of Vanderburgh County for theft. Newcom was arrested and taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail where she is currently being held without bond.

Arrested and Charges:

  • Brandy Newcom, 39, Morganfield, KY
  1. Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony
  2. Possession of a Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor
  3. Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor
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