logo
Vote for IndyStar Student of the week for April 28

Vote for IndyStar Student of the week for April 28

Yahoo28-04-2025
Each week readers vote on central Indiana students who were nominated by their schools for their excellence in the classroom and beyond.
Readers can vote for their favorite student throughout the week at the bottom of this story on IndyStar.com, with polling closing at noon on Thursday, May 1. Winners will be announced every Friday.
This contest aims to introduce readers not just to the student who winds up winning but to all of the highly accomplished nominees.
Here's what nominating school leaders had to say about this week's nominees:
Anna Ellery radiates positivity, always seeking the good in every situation. She consistently puts others first, showing unwavering compassion and support for her classmates. Her deep faith shines through in everything she does, guiding her actions and interactions. Anna's kindness and dedication make a profound impact on those around her, and we are incredibly grateful to have her in our community.
News you should know: Federal government resumes collection on student debt. What you should know
Ian is a student who has a great deal going for him, and he works daily to reach his potential. He is a committed runner and excels at cross country and track. In class, he's also committed; he gives his best daily, works excellently with others, has an infectiously positive attitude that makes my world a better place, and Ian is always willing to help. I cannot think of a more deserving person for Student of the Week!
She is a phenomenal student and student assistant. We are nominating her because she is always trying to help her teachers and the students around her. She always has a bright and cheery attitude. She is empathetic, a good listener, patient, and does not hesitate to help out where she is needed. She is a leader in the classroom and values her education.
Roncalli Science teacher Ben North states, "Chris is a hard worker in class and always gets his work done. He does a nice job asking questions if there are problems with his code. But more importantly, he does an excellent job helping out his peers if one of them is having an issue. He participates well in class and serves as a model for the other students to follow." Intellectual curiosity within the classroom and keen and insightful participation in classroom discussions are also cited.
Cameron is a Vernon E. Jordan Scholar, AP Honors Scholar (National), and an Internationally Recognized Thespian. He is a LEO Club member, NHS member, and a Student Council Member. He volunteered 15 hours for the State Chess Tournament at Martinsville High School recently and also volunteers at the Morgan County Public Library. He is a prominent member of the successful Academic Decathlon, Academic Quiz Bowl, and Academic Super Bowl Teams at M.H.S., as well as the Journalism and Yearbook staffs. Cameron is a member of the Cross Country and Track & Field Teams and F.C.A. The Staff at M.H.S. appreciates his energy, enthusiasm, and devotion to so many things at Martinsville High School. He plans to enroll at DePauw University upon Graduation.
Keep up with school news: Sign up for Study Hall, IndyStar's free weekly education newsletter.
Alina Eckert is an outstanding student at Lawrence North, excelling academically, athletically, and in community service. She is on track to earn academic honors and the International Baccalaureate diploma, ranking among the top 30 GPA in her class. In addition to her academic success, Alina is an accomplished swimmer and performs in the orchestra. She also dedicates time to serving others through our Dance Marathon club and other organizations. We are fortunate to have her as part of the Lawrence North community, and I am honored to nominate her for Student of the Week.
Contact IndyStar K-12 education reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter (X): @CarolineB_Indy.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Vote for IndyStar Student of the week for April 28 - May 2
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Florida county spearheading high-tech 911 system that sends texts and video to 911 dispatchers
Florida county spearheading high-tech 911 system that sends texts and video to 911 dispatchers

New York Post

time15-07-2025

  • New York Post

Florida county spearheading high-tech 911 system that sends texts and video to 911 dispatchers

When an emergency happens in Collier County, Florida, the 911 calls go to one of the most high-tech communications centers in the U.S., where callers can send text and video from the scene to dispatchers. Moving to what's known as an NG911 — or Next Generation 911 — system is a journey Sheriff Kevin Rambosk and Bob Finney, the county's director of communication, have been on for much of the past decade. It's a long way from Feb. 16, 1968, when Alabama's then-House Speaker Rankin Fite made the nation's very first 911 call in Haleyville, Alabama, on a bright red, rotary-style landline telephone. 7 Collier County, Florida has implemented an NG911 — or Next Generation 911 — system. AP That ceremonial call came just 35 days after AT&T announced plans to use 911 as a nationwide emergency number. Today, most calls to 911 originate with cellphones, with dispatchers in upgraded centers using geo tracking to get accurate geographic locations from callers. But the response time in an emergency depends on the type of technology being used at any of the 6,000 emergency communications centers in the U.S. that receive 911 calls. There is no uniform emergency system in the U.S., so individual cities, counties, states or geographic regions are responsible for operating their own 911 call centers. While some states have fully updated to NG911 systems, others are still using legacy 911 systems that rely on antiquated equipment. 'We're just reminded in these last two weeks, with the flooding in Texas, just how important the work of 911 is,' said Michael Martin, CEO of RapidSOS, which provides infrastructure that passes critical data to emergency centers across the United States. 7 Today, most calls to 911 originate with cellphones, with dispatchers in centers using geo tracking to get accurate locations from callers. AP The future is now for 911 The Collier County Sheriff's Office covers 911 calls from an area of about 2,030 square miles (5,258 square kilometers) that stretches from sandy beaches at the southernmost tip of the Gulf Coast on Florida's peninsula inland to the Everglades. It's a region that has been ravaged by hurricanes this century, including Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Hurricanes Ian and Milton most recently. 7 There is no uniform emergency system in the U.S., so individual cities, counties, and states are responsible for operating their own 911 call centers. REUTERS 7 While some states have fully updated to NG911 systems, others are still using legacy 911 systems that rely on antiquated equipment. AP That's why Sheriff Rambosk wanted a high-tech emergency operations center. 'We just believe that when we can reduce the response time using technology, it will improve safety and survivability of those calling in,' said Rambosk, who has been sheriff since 2009. 'And that's really what we're all about, keeping people safe and rescuing them when they need it.' Today 61 full-time employees and three part-timers staff two emergency operations centers around the clock. They rely on data that RapidSOS collects from connected buildings, devices, vehicles and even smart watches to send first responders to emergency scenes. The baseline data is provide free of charge to all 911 centers, Martin said. Mixing technology with emergency response 7 The Collier County Sheriff's Office covers 911 calls from an area of about 2,030 square miles. AP As Hurricane Helene was tracking toward north Florida last September, forecasters were predicting it could hit Tallahassee as a major Category 3 storm. Officials in Leon County, which serves the state's Capitol and nearby counties on legacy 911 equipment, reached out to Collier County, some 430 miles (692 kilometers) to the southeast, to see if they could take over emergency calls if the storm knocked their center out. Helene moved to the east of Tallahassee, but Collier County was prepared to help if needed. 'Because of the partnership with Rapid SOS, they were able to create a map to where not only did we see our own calls, but we could see exactly where the calls were coming in Tallahassee,' Finney said. Collier County has also partnered with Charleston, South Carolina, as a backup 911 center. Each region is fully prepared to take on 911 calls for the other in case their emergency system goes down for any reason. 7 Today 61 full-time employees and three part-timers staff two emergency operations centers around the clock. Andrew West/The News-Press/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images It's a similar story in North Carolina, where legislation in 2017 helped establish funding for a next generation 911 system, said Pokey Harris, who serves as president of the National Association of State 911 Administrators and executive director of the North Carolina 911 Board. Harris said Hurricane Helene provided validation for the upgraded system by being able to direct 911 calls from areas that were devastated by the storm to other parts of North Carolina that were not affected. 'During Helene, if a citizen could reach a dial tone, even though their local 911 center may have been impacted because of infrastructure devastation, another center somewhere in the state could answer their call,' Harris said. No federal funding for next-generation systems 7 Employees rely on data that RapidSOS collects from connected buildings, devices, vehicles and even smart watches to send first responders to emergency scenes. AP Next Generation 911 systems aren't cheap. 'There has been no federal funding for 911,' Martin, of RapidSOS said. 'It has been in various draft formats as long as I've been doing this and it's never gotten through Congress.' There is also no federal oversight of 911, he said. 'It's really quite remarkable how well 911 works despite those challenges,' Martin said. 'I think it's a testament to the people of 911, not the technology.'

Man Rescues Stray Dog During Hurricane—Realizes She Was Hiding a Surprise
Man Rescues Stray Dog During Hurricane—Realizes She Was Hiding a Surprise

Newsweek

time11-07-2025

  • Newsweek

Man Rescues Stray Dog During Hurricane—Realizes She Was Hiding a Surprise

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A man who showed kindness to a stray dog struggling to survive after a hurricane was rewarded with a litter of puppies, after she gave birth in safety after he took her in. Joe Tulgan, 33, originally from Massachusetts, now lives in Greenacres, Florida, with his wife, Marissa, and 13-year-old stepdaughter, Abby. In 2022, Hurricane Ian devastated the west coast of Florida, along with the Carolinas and Cuba, at a category 4 intensity. It caused over $112 billion worth of damage, with millions losing power and 156 people dying in the United States alone, according to the National Hurricane Center. Among the horror of the storm, there were stories of heroes risking their lives to save others—both humans and animals. Tulgan was among those helping out in the area; he, along with friends Travis and Todd, were cleaning up debris and rubble when they were approached by a stray dog, who was "wagging her tail and searching for food amid the rubble." The men fed her, and while she left, she returned to them later that night, and remained close to them during their entire stay at the Airbnb. Tulgan "fell in love with her." "It was evident she didn't have a home; she was dirty and skinny," Tulgan said. He told his wife and stepdaughter about the dog—only for him to get the call he had hoped for. His family wanted him to keep her. Joe Tulgan's rescued stray dog, Gypsy, left, rests at home with her puppies, right. Joe Tulgan's rescued stray dog, Gypsy, left, rests at home with her puppies, right. Joe Tulgan / Reddit u/BloodyMurderBloody The plan was to feed her up, take her to the vet and get her checked for a microchip, and as weeks went by, she began to fatten up. But Tulgan quickly noticed that she was "getting even bigger." "I instinctively knew she was pregnant, even though Travis and Todd insisted I was overfeeding her. The vet later confirmed my suspicion," Tulgan said. And on December 12, the rescued dog—whom they named Gypsy—gave birth to six puppies, safely indoors. At the time, Tulgan and his friends were still traveling around Florida in different Airbnbs, and as the puppies grew, they and Gypsy "traveled with me everywhere," he said. "I loved having them around, although they were a lot of work," Tulgan added. I constantly had to clean up after them once they were old enough to run around, and they were pretty loud, making it difficult to sleep. Nevertheless, I wouldn't have traded the experience for anything." Eventually, once the puppies were old enough, it was time to find them new homes—and four of the siblings went to Tulgan's friends and family. "I am the designated dog sitter, and the puppies love to see their mother," Tulgan said. "She enjoys playing with her children!" Joe Tulgan's rescued stray dog, Gypsy, left, rests at home with her puppies, right. Joe Tulgan's rescued stray dog, Gypsy, left, rests at home with her puppies, right. Joe Tulgan / Reddit u/BloodyMurderBloody Tulgan shared Gypsy's story to Reddit's r/mademesmile sub via his account u/BloodyMurderBloody on July 6. He shared photos of Gypsy and her six adorable puppies, and wrote: "I rescued a stray dog after a hurricane. Turns out she was pregnant! Here's her puppies!" Reddit users had a big reaction, awarding the post more than 8,400 upvotes, as one wrote: "Bless you for rescuing her! What precious pups." Another described them as a "six pack of love." "She held on through the storm so her babies could have sunshine," one commenter said, and yet another thanked Tulgan for being a "kind and compassionate soul." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

Scrub Hub: Arboretum director protects the living 'creatures' at Crown Hill Cemetery
Scrub Hub: Arboretum director protects the living 'creatures' at Crown Hill Cemetery

Indianapolis Star

time07-07-2025

  • Indianapolis Star

Scrub Hub: Arboretum director protects the living 'creatures' at Crown Hill Cemetery

This is the second edition of our Scrub Hub with a new format. We are reaching out across Indiana to speak one-on-one with Hoosiers who have something to say about our natural environment and presenting those interviews in this new Q&A style. If you know anyone who should be featured, please let us know. Bitternut hickories, swamp white oaks and American elms freckle the landscape inside the gates of Crown Hill Cemetery and Arboretum. So do some 133 other tree species — and Indiana's largest known specimen of hornbeam. Carrie Tauscher, the arboretum's director, stands amidst it all, peering up into the canopy to look for damage. After recent storms, there is quite a bit to be found. She's something of a Lorax around these parts. Her job is to plant, maintain and advocate for the 11,000 or so trees that grow alongside the buried coffins and mausoleums. Every day seems to bring a new adventure: in between tree care duties, she leads workshops, tours and weeding days for Girl Scouts, volunteers and home schoolers. Tauscher has been the arboretum's director for over three years, and she showed us some of her favorite trees while answering a few questions about life in the cemetery for this edition of Scrub Hub. Her answers are edited for brevity and clarity. SUGGEST A SUBJECT: Know someone doing good things for Indiana's environment and want to see them featured here? Email Karl and Sophie at: and to let us know. Storms. Absolutely, and constantly. I literally watched all those trees fail in the storm last night. I was out here planting, and I just watched them all go "plooph!" I just planted 30 trees today but that's not even enough canopy to replace one tree that we lost. After every storm, I go back around and determine whether or not those trees get to stay or if they should go. Not every tree failure is catastrophic or visible. Sometimes a tree has failed, but it stayed upright, and so we assess those trees as quickly as possible. Those are almost more dangerous. If someone sees a broken tree, they're like, 'Ooh, I'll avoid the broken tree.' But some trees could be cracked all the way down the middle from the roof plate to the top of the tree, but to the average cyclist or pedestrian walking in the cemetery using it for recreation, they're like, 'Oh, it's just a tree. It's fine.' And then you get a gentle gust, and one half of that tree completely falls over. Statistically, you would be struck by lightning three times before a tree would actually physically hurt you. But you should be cautious, right? When I was very little we went out to the woods and we dug some tree seedlings. We each got to pick out our own. They were planted in our yard, and that was our grow-with-me tree. That was the tree that I watered, that was the tree I mulched, and that was the tree I helped mom and dad prune. It was my tree. Even going to college after moving away from the farm for a while, I still checked on that tree. Consciously or not, that tree is still a part of my life. Trees are one of the few living things that can live as long or longer than you do, and you get to watch them grow and change, just like humans grow and change throughout their lifespan. And I think that is really beautiful. This living landscape is a historic artifact. The entire site is designed, from where the roads are placed, where the trees are placed to how the sites are topographically set. Every one of these grave shafts has a concrete box under it, and in a way, this is as urban as a city street in New York. But part of being a tree museum is to have the trees and the specimens for people to love and enjoy and learn from. That's why we have volunteer activities and field trips and homeschool day and all these cool things that are happening. The more grave shafts that are filled, the less space there is to fit the trees in. We have to find a balance between our purpose as a cemetery and making sure there is space for trees so that we continue to have wonderful specimens and a beautiful landscape for people to visit. A lot of people are stoked about pollinators. And a lot butterflies and moths rely on native tree species for the larval stage of their life cycle. Caterpillars eat native tree leaves, not the squishy, herbaceous plants. Luna moths need sweet gum and hickory, and question mark butterflies need hackberry trees. So, your pollinator garden should include trees! IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store