We hope that today’s “READERS FORUM” will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way.

HERE’S WHAT’S ON OUR MIND TODAY

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND TODAY?

Historic New Harmony has announced it will join museums nationwide in participating in the tenth summer of Blue Star Museums, a program which provides free admission to our nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families this summer. The 2019 program launched on Saturday, May 18 (Armed Forces Day) and will end on Monday, September 2 (Labor Day).

“It is important to Historic New Harmony to give back to the community,” said Claire Eagle, community engagement manager for Historic New Harmony. “This is our third year participating in the program. It is a great opportunity to give back while thanking those who serve this country. We’re excited to offer these individuals and families a chance to visit our historic site.”

Blue Star Museums is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in collaboration with Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums nationwide. First Lady of the United States Melania Trump and Second Lady of the United States Karen Pence are honorary co-chairs of Blue Star Museums 2019.

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to celebrate the tenth summer of collaborating with Blue Star Families, Department of Defense, and especially the more than 2,000 museums across our nation that make this program possible,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Organizations such as Historic New Harmony are providing wonderful opportunities for military families to share a memorable experience together this summer.”

This year’s participating organizations include fine art, science, history, and children’s museums, as well as zoos, aquariums, gardens, and more. Military members can find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. Museums are welcome to sign up for Blue Star Museums throughout the summer at arts.gov.

“We’ve seen the tremendous impact the Blue Star Museums program brings to our military families, and we’re thrilled to be celebrating a decade of support,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, chief executive officer of Blue Star Families. “Not only are museums fun to explore but are also great for making memories and strengthening military families as a whole.”

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.

For more information, follow Blue Star Museums on Twitter @NEAarts and @BlueStarFamily and search #bluestarmuseums. Historic New Harmony can be found on Twitter @TheAtheneum and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/historicnewharmony.

About Historic New Harmony

Historic New Harmony is a unified program of the University of Southern Indiana and the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. By preserving its utopian legacy, Historic New Harmony inspires innovation and progressive thought through its programs & collections. This work expands the original intent of the university’s involvement in New Harmony, which was to nurture this living laboratory for ideas – a place where students and teachers, tourists and scholars, leaders and seekers, can come together to experience, explore, and create. For more information, visit the USI website at USI.edu/hnh.

About the National Endowment for the Arts

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. Visit arts.gov to learn more. 

About Blue Star Families

Blue Star Families builds communities that support military families by connecting research and data to programs and solutions, including career development tools, local community events for families, and caregiver support. Since its inception in 2009, Blue Star Families has engaged tens of thousands of volunteers and serves more than 1.5 million military family members. With Blue Star Families, military families can find answers to their challenges anywhere they are. For more information, visit bluestarfam.org.

By Brandon Barger
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS—Annie Ostojic already has an impressive resume: Named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Energy list, The Best Schools 50 Smartest Teens list, and holds patents for creating a microwave that saved energy and for creating a battery charger that takes indoor light and recycles it.

All at the age of 15.

Now Ostojic, a junior at Munster High School, and three other Indiana high school students, can add one more accolade: The newest members of Gov. Eric Holcomb STEM team for their accomplishments in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

She and the other students – Carter Goldman, a senior at Lake Central High School in St. John; Eliza Mount, a senior at Scottsburg High School; and Jerry Wang, a junior at Carmel High School – were chosen from 150 applicants statewide.

At a ceremony Thursday at the governor’s Statehouse office, each received a $1,000 check from the Indiana’s College Choice 529 Direct Savings Plan and a sports letterman’s jacket in Indiana’s blue-and-gold colors, each with either an S, T, E or M denoting the field of their achievement.

“This is truly one of my favorite days,” Holcomb said as he welcomed the students and their families to his office. “…First and foremost, I want to congratulate Annie, Carter, Jerry, and Eliza for your journey so far and the fantastic achievements that you already accomplished and then we’re so anxious to see where life’s journey will continue to take you.”

The Governor’s STEM team was announced in 2017 as a way to add on to former Gov. Mitch Daniels’ Mr. and Ms. Math and Science Award.

Ostojic has summed up the attitude of the STEM team members in a quote from herself on her own business cards: “Never stop challenging yourself to use your talents and skills to impact positive changes in our world.”

The students and their achievements are:

Science:

Annie Ostojic, Munster High School

Ostojic has been recognized at the White House Science Fair, was inducted into the National Gallery for America’s Young Inventors for her battery charger and received the National Center for Women and Information Technology Aspirations in Computing Award in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Ostojic will be featured in a textbook later this year as an Indiana STEM role model. She plans to take time between high school and college to pursue her interests.

Technology:

Carter Goldman, Lake Central High School

Goldman’s journey to his award was very different from others. Someone at his high school once told him that his face would look great on a shirt. Goldman took that suggestion and made the shirt to sell. When he saw the demand for it, he created his own e-commerce platform to sell items, such as dresses, ties, and even shoes, with his face on it.

He is now creating software that will allow users to use Virtual Reality headsets to interface with robots in a virtual space. He plans on attending the University of Notre Dame this fall to double major in computer science and data science.

Engineering:

Eliza Mount, Scottsburg High School

Mount’s love of engineering started at Walt Disney World. It was on trips to the amusement part that sparked her interest in engineering. She says she was amazed at how the swampland where the park sits was turned into a viable location. Her dream job? Being a Disney Imagineer.

While in high school, Mount earned Manufacturing Skill Standard Council certification in the fields of Production Technician, Manufacturing Processes and Production, Quality Practices and Measurements, and Safety. Mount will attend Purdue University this fall to major in civil engineering.

Mathematics:

Jerry Wang, Carmel High School

Wang’s interest in math grew elementary school when he did an independent study on black holes. Wang earned perfect scores on not only the SAT and ACT math sections, but also on the SAT II Math Level 2, the SAT II Physics, and the SAT II Chemistry exams.

Currently, Wang is working on research through IUPUI to figure out the analytics to the placement of 3D facial landmarks. He wants to study more in the computer science and electrical engineering fields but is waiting to decide on a college at this time.

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