Vanderburgh County legislators: Local schools awarded state funding for safety improvements
STATEHOUSE (Sept. 24, 2025) – Vanderburgh County schools recently received more than $694,000 for safety upgrades through the state’s Secured School Safety Grant Program supported by area lawmakers.
State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville), who is chair of the House Ways and Means K-12 Subcommittee, said the funding is part of the state legislature’s investment in school safety this year, which totaled $27 million in state matching grants across 494 schools statewide. Lawmakers also advanced legislation this year to move the Office of School Safety to the Department of Homeland Security, centralizing safety efforts and providing additional support and resources to schools.
“A quality education starts with providing a safe learning environment for our kids,” O’Brien said. “Secured School Safety Grants allow our community schools to protect what is most important, which is the safety of students and teachers.”
Area schools receiving grants include:
- Annunciation Catholic School at Christ the King, $30,987;
- Annunciation Catholic at Holy Spirit, $44,654;
- Corpus Christi School, $24,008;
- Evansville Day School, $31,681;
- Evansville Lutheran School, $10,406;
- Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp., $92,500;
- Good Shepherd School, $46,250;
- Holy Redeemer School, $39,312;
- Holy Rosary School, $42,087;
- Joshua Academy, $62,437;
- Mater Dei High School, $92,500;
- Reitz Memorial High School, $24,050;
- Resurrection School, $45,233;
- Signature School Inc, $22,020;
- St. Benedict Cathedral School, $29,461;
- St. Joseph School (Evansville), $16,835; and
- Westside Catholic School, $40,468.
State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville) said awarded funds can be used for a wide range of safety needs like support for resource officers, equipment and technology, active event warning systems, threat assessments and student-parent support service programs.
“This funding will go directly toward helping Southwest Indiana schools boost security and provide safe educational environments for our students, educators and staff,” McNamara said. “By investing in school safety, future generations can learn and grow to their fullest potential.”
State Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Patoka) said since the program began in 2013, Indiana has invested more than $214 million in school safety through state matching grants.
“Teachers and students should feel protected at school, which leads to better education outcomes,” Hostettler said. “These grants give schools financial backing to upgrade security systems or hire resource officers.”
To learn more about the Secured School Safety Grant Program and what Indiana’s doing to keep schools safe, visit the state’s school safety hub at in.gov/schoolsafety.
Pulitzer Prize-Nominated Historian Dr. Kate Masur to Speak at UE on Post-Civil War Reconstruction
EVANSVILLE, IND. (09/24/2025) Pulitzer Prize-nominated historian Dr. Kate Masur will speak on Post-Civil War Reconstruction during the annual Thomas C. Fiddick Memorial Lecture Series on Friday, October 24, at 7:00 p.m. in Eykamp Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
Professor Masur will discuss her book, Equal: The Surprising History of an American Founding Concept, focusing on the Reconstruction Era, when Americans first attempted to build a nation that truly reflected the Declaration of Independence’s assertion that “all men are created equal.” She will explore how the constitutional changes of Reconstruction continue to shape contemporary life, and why the period is often overlooked or misunderstood.
In her lecture, Masur will also examine how historians’ interpretations of Reconstruction have evolved over time and why the practice of “revisionism” is a vital part of historical scholarship.
Dr. Masur is the John D. MacArthur Professor at Northwestern University and author of Until Justice Be Done: America’s First Civil Rights Movement, from the Revolution to Reconstruction, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Her most recent work includes Freedom Was in Sight! A Graphic History of Reconstruction in the Washington, D.C., Region.
This lecture is presented as part of the annual Thomas C. Fiddick Memorial Lecture, established in 2002 by former students with the support of Fiddick’s friends and the University. Each year, a committee consisting of full-time members of the Department of History, a member of the Fiddick family, and alumni of the Department selects the lecturer.
About Thomas C. Fiddick:
Thomas Fiddick served as a professor of history at the University of Evansville from the fall of 1963 to the spring of 2002. Over his 39-year career, he was a dedicated teacher, a productive scholar, and a tireless advocate for justice. His untimely death on the day of his retirement in 2002 shocked the University community, particularly his many former students.
Event Details:
- What: Thomas C. Fiddick Memorial Lecture by Dr. Kate Masur on Reconstruction
- When: Friday, October 24, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
- Where: Eykamp Hall, University of Evansville
- Cost: Free and open to the public
USI Romain College of Business launches international internship program with Trustmoore
The University of Southern Indiana’s Romain College of Business has established a new international internship program in partnership with Trustmoore, a global capital markets company with offices around the world. The internship will take place at the company’s Luxembourg offices. The agreement was finalized this past June during a visit to Luxembourg by Dr. Sudesh Mujumdar, Dean of the Romain College of Business, and Dr. Shelly Blunt, USI Provost.
During a meeting in 2024, members of the International Alumni Advisory Council along with Blunt and Heidi Gregori-Gahan, Associate Provost for International Programs Emerita, brainstormed ways in which international alumni can help current USI students in the areas of mentoring and career development. USI alumnus Mauricio Paniagua, a 2012 graduate in international studies and Spanish language, proposed the possibility of establishing a partnership with USI and his employer Trustmoore Luxembourg, where he serves as Senior Legal Account Manager in the Fund Services Department. Paniagua, who also serves as chair of the USI International Alumni Advisory Council, recognized that the program would be a great opportunity for USI students interested in an international career, and he began to work with his colleagues on what a university partnership would entail.
Paniagua and Gregori-Gahan arranged an initial virtual meeting with several of his colleagues and members of the IAAC council in May 2024 to discuss the internship program. Subsequent meetings in the months following included key USI staff and representatives from the Trustmoore Human Resources Department, with the objective of drafting a framework for the internship program.
“This partnership with Trustmoore reflects our commitment to preparing students for success on a global scale,” said Dr. Blunt. “By connecting our students with international internship opportunities, we’re not only expanding their horizons but also reinforcing the power of our alumni network to shape meaningful, real-world experiences.”
The internship program will provide USI students—particularly those pursuing degrees in finance or accounting—with opportunities to gain hands-on professional experience at Trustmoore’s Luxembourg office. Selected interns will work closely with company professionals on assignments aligned with their academic background, while developing cross-cultural business skills in one of Europe’s key financial hubs.
“The Trustmoore Internship in Luxembourg can be a life-changing experience for a USI student, said Dr. Tom Noland, Chair of USI’s Accounting and Finance Department. “Whether you are thinking about international business, international law or diplomacy, this internship is for you.”
Founded in 2005, Trustmoore is an independent provider of corporate, fund and capital markets services with offices in key global financial centers. The Luxembourg office specializes in fund administration, corporate management and related financial services.
Throughout the internship, Trustmoore will provide mentorship, ensure an appropriate work environment and guide students through the necessary administrative and visa processes required for the students who will stay in Luxembourg for over three months. USI will assist in identifying and recommending suitable candidates for the internship roles.
“We are very confident that this is a great opportunity for our USI community, and at the same time, beneficial expansion for our office,” Paniagua said. “Soon, the most ambitious and talented students will be joining us to contribute to the organic growth of our organization.”
The internship program marks another step in USI’s commitment to expanding global learning opportunities for students, strengthening the University’s international footprint and preparing graduates for success in an interconnected world.
Attorney General Todd Rokita warns: Blocking sheriff’s cooperation with ICE would be illegal, fuel Indy crime surge
Attorney General Todd Rokita has issued a warning to the Indianapolis-Marion City-County Council that using budget cuts to restrict the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would violate Indiana law and threaten public safety.
On September 3, 2025, the Council’s Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee discussed proposals to limit MCSO’s 2026 budget to prevent the sheriff’s office from providing detention space to ICE.
In a letter sent this week, Attorney General Rokita emphasized that Indiana law prohibits local governments from restricting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Such actions would be unlawful and could prompt enforcement by the Attorney General’s office.
“Cutting the Sheriff’s budget to block ICE cooperation is illegal and would endanger Indianapolis residents,” said Attorney General Rokita. “With crime surging in our capital, it is remarkable that some councilors are actually pushing policies that would help shield illegal aliens, including those who commit crimes, from being deported. If the Council goes down this path, my office will act swiftly to enforce the law and keep Hoosiers safe.”
For nearly 30 years, MCSO has supported federal authorities by providing detention space at the Marion County Adult Detention Center for federal prisoners, including illegal aliens awaiting deportation. This cooperation ensures ICE can effectively enforce U.S. immigration laws.
“Whether illegal aliens should be deported is not up for debate. Indiana is not a sanctuary state,” said Attorney General Rokita. “We stand for law and order and will not allow local government entities to play political games that undermine public safety. I applaud Sheriff Forestal for his ongoing cooperation with ICE and will not hesitate to enforce state law to ensure he is able to continue doing so.”
The Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee will revisit MCSO’s budget on September 24, 2025. Attorney General Rokita’s office will monitor the meeting and subsequent actions to ensure compliance with Indiana law.
Read the letter here.
THUNDERBOLTS SIGN FORWARD EELIS LAAKSONEN
Vincennes University celebrates Women IN Tech Week with focus on mentorship and representation
Vincennes University hosted its second annual Women IN Tech Week Symposium and Showcase on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the VU Aviation Technology Center. With its theme of “Tech for All: Innovate Together,” the event emphasizes the idea that technology’s full potential is only unlocked when a wide range of perspectives, skills, and backgrounds contribute to its creation and application.
Tech leaders from throughout Indiana shared personal stories of overcoming challenges and succeeding in a traditionally male-dominated industry. They connected with over 80 students to inspire confidence and a sense of shared identity among those in attendance. The students participated in hands-on activities such as “Digital Detective: Cracking the Code,” where they took on a cybersecurity challenge. This led them to discover that unique problem-solving skills and creativity are exactly what the tech industry needs.
Interim Provost Jaci Lee Lederman said, “Women IN Tech Week demonstrates the power of creating a space where students sharpen their skills and discover that they truly belong in technology. The stories, challenges, and successes shared by our speakers and leaders give students real role models to look up to. Vincennes University is committed to breaking barriers and building a tech community that welcomes and empowers everyone.”
The students heard from keynote speaker Tiffany Trusty, Director of Digital Product Management at Eli Lilly and Company, who shared her inspiring story. With nearly three decades of experience in public safety and healthcare software, Trustee’s journey from a programmer to a technology leader is a powerful example. Her commitment to championing inclusion is apparent through her work with organizations like Women & Hi Tech and the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT).
The event also featured VU female tech leaders who serve as mentors and role models, including Lederman. She leads digital transformations and is a dedicated supporter of Code.org.
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