One Ball State Day 2026 has ended!
One Ball State Day 2026
Emens Auditorium
One Ball State Day 2026 has ended!
00
HRS
:
00
MIN
:
00
SEC
Emens Auditorium
Support the next 60 years of Emens Auditorium!
For more than 60 years, John R. Emens College-Community Auditorium has inspired lifelong learning, creativity, and connection in East Central Indiana. Built in 1964 through $1.5 million in generous community support, Emens has always been sustained by those who believe in the power of the arts.
Today, as production needs evolve and our historic space requires updates, we must invest in the future to continue offering the caliber of performances our audiences expect.
This One Ball State Day, your gift supports updates such as enhancing audio and visual capabilities, improving the guest experience, and strengthening Emens as a shared space for campus and community.
Help us carry this legacy forward for the next 60 years. Please consider making a gift to Emens Auditorium today!
2026 Challenges:
- College of Fine Arts Dean Unlock Challenge: If Emens receives over 30 gifts throughout the entire day, it will unlock a $300 gift from Dean Seth Beckman.
- Dash & Splash Bonus: All gifts during the hour of Dash & Splash (noon to 1 p.m.) will count towards a bonus – if we receive the most contributions during this time, a bonus gift will be donated to Emens! Thanks to our Communications and Marketing Specialist, Haley Wade, for participating in this event!
Share your Cardinal pride using #OneBallState
Morning Leaderboard
The four departments/units/teams with the most donors by 10 a.m. receives $3,000, $2,000, $1,000, and $500 in challenge funds.
| Rank | Prize | Department/Unit/Team | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3,000 | Theatre & Dance | 131 |
| 2 | $2,000 | Indiana Academy | 86 |
| 3 | $1,000 | Field Hockey | 70 |
| 4 | $500 | Communication Studies | 56 |
| 5 | Football | 48 | |
| 6 | Student Emergency Aid Fund | 33 | |
| 7 | Soccer | 31 | |
| 8 | Accounting | 27 | |
| 9 | Gymnastics | 24 | |
| 10 | Rinker Center for Global Affairs | 24 | |
| 11 | School of Music | 23 | |
| 12 | Men's Golf | 21 | |
| 13 | Men's Basketball | 21 | |
| 14 | Men's Tennis | 19 | |
| 15 | Men's Volleyball | 17 |
Ended
Non Academic / Non Athletic Leaderboard
The four non academic/non-athletic areas with the biggest percentage of increased gifts from OBSD 2025 will receive $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 and $500.
| Rank | Prize | Non-Academic / Non-Athletic Area | % +/- | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3,000 | Proud Ball State Parents & Families | +250.00% |
35
goal: 10
|
| 2 | $2,000 | Learning Center | +140.00% |
48
goal: 20
|
| 3 | $1,000 | Undergraduate Research & Creative Project Support | +81.25% |
29
goal: 16
|
| 4 | $500 | Indiana Public Radio | +43.59% |
56
goal: 39
|
| 5 | Ball State University Police Department | +41.90% |
149
goal: 105
|
|
| 6 | Charles W. Brown Planetarium | +34.48% |
39
goal: 29
|
|
| 7 | University Libraries | +20.51% |
47
goal: 39
|
|
| 8 | Student Voluntary Services | +16.67% |
7
goal: 6
|
|
| 9 | Career Center | +12.50% |
9
goal: 8
|
|
| 10 | Women of Beneficence (Discovery) | +11.54% |
29
goal: 26
|
|
| 11 | Disability Services | +11.11% |
30
goal: 27
|
|
| 12 | Student Emergency Aid Fund | +5.26% |
80
goal: 76
|
|
| 13 | Ball State PBS | -2.56% |
38
goal: 39
|
|
| 14 | Alumni Scholarships | -9.38% |
29
goal: 32
|
|
| 15 | Field Station and Environmental Education Center | -10.00% |
9
goal: 10
|
Ended
College Donor Leaderboard
The college that has the most donors by midnight will receive $5,000 in challenge funds.
| Rank | Prize | Department | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5,000 | College of Fine Arts | 723 |
| 2 | Teachers College | 670 | |
| 3 | College of Communication, Information, and Media | 512 | |
| 4 | Miller College of Business | 429 | |
| 5 | College of Sciences and Humanities | 399 | |
| 6 | College of Health | 286 | |
| 7 | Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning | 190 |
Ended
Who is giving?
Which part of the Ball State family is making the biggest impact on One Ball State Day?
| Rank | Answer | Donors |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alumni | 2,210 |
| 2 | Friend | 911 |
| 3 | Employee | 828 |
| 4 | Parent | 712 |
| 5 | Student | 441 |
| 6 | Young Alumni (2016-2026) | 242 |
| 7 | Indiana Academy Alum | 112 |
| 8 | Emeritus/Retired | 71 |
| 9 | Burris Alum | 15 |
Ended
Dash & Splash Leaderboard
Dash & Splash participant who has the most gifts between 12–1 p.m. will win $1,000 for the fund they’re racing for.
| Rank | Prize | Fund | Gifts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,000 | Registrar General | 44 |
| 2 | Online Student Support Fund | 21 | |
| 3 | Indiana Academy General Fund | 11 | |
| 4 | Elementary Education General | 9 | |
| 5 | Learning Center Fund | 9 | |
| 6 | Burris General Fund | 8 | |
| 7 | Department of Early Childhood, Youth, and Family Studies | 6 | |
| 8 | Speech Pathology and Audiology | 4 | |
| 9 | Dr. Paul W. Parkison Fund for Accounting Excellence | 3 | |
| 10 | Michael Bauer Debate Fund | 3 | |
| 11 | Psychological Science General | 3 | |
| 12 | CCIM Dean's Fund | 3 | |
| 13 | Graduate Student Research Support Fund | 2 | |
| 14 | University College General | 2 | |
| 15 | Aquatics Program Development Fund | 2 |
Ended
College Leaderboard
The four colleges with the biggest percentage of money raised from OBSD 2025 will receive $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 and $500.
| Rank | Prize | College | % +/- | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3,000 | Teachers College | +260.28% |
$165,078.10
goal: $45,819.00
|
| 2 | $2,000 | College of Health | +56.82% |
$94,393.86
goal: $60,194.00
|
| 3 | $1,000 | College of Sciences and Humanities | +14.83% |
$69,831.79
goal: $60,811.00
|
| 4 | $500 | College of Fine Arts | +14.02% |
$160,177.42
goal: $140,480.00
|
| 5 | Miller College of Business | +7.52% |
$133,851.87
goal: $124,491.00
|
|
| 6 | College of Communication, Information, and Media | -4.40% |
$64,849.42
goal: $67,835.00
|
|
| 7 | Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning | -13.84% |
$32,120.46
goal: $37,280.00
|
Ended
The First 5 Non Academic Challenge
The first 5 non-academic department/area/program/team to receive a gift will each receive $500 in challenge funds
Completed
Student Donor Challenge
5 randomly selected student donors will receive $250 to designate to the fund of their choice.
Completed
The First Four Challenge
The first student, employee, parent, and alumni donor will each receive $250 given to the fund their gift went to.
Completed
First 5 Academic Departments
The first 5 academic departments to receive a gift will each receive $500 in challenge funds.
Completed
First International Alum Challenge
The first international alum to make a gift from abroad on One Ball State Day will get $500 in challenge funds designated to the fund their gift went to.
Completed
10AM—Noon Leaderboard
The five units/areas/teams that raise the most money from 10 a.m. — Noon each receive $1,000 in challenge funds.
| Rank | Prize | Unit/Area/Department | Raised |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,000 | Men's Golf | $16,157.00 |
| 2 | $1,000 | Gymnastics | $5,392.34 |
| 3 | $1,000 | Field Hockey | $5,165.00 |
| 4 | $1,000 | Theatre & Dance | $4,556.64 |
| 5 | $1,000 | Indiana Academy | $4,537.08 |
| 6 | Men's Tennis | $3,825.52 | |
| 7 | Women's Volleyball | $3,191.76 | |
| 8 | Communication Studies | $3,185.30 | |
| 9 | Soccer | $3,105.00 | |
| 10 | Football | $2,760.78 | |
| 11 | Accounting | $2,286.04 | |
| 12 | Men's Swimming & Diving | $2,075.26 | |
| 13 | Nutrition & Health Science | $2,045.52 | |
| 14 | Men's Volleyball | $2,041.04 | |
| 15 | Miller College of Business | $1,880.26 |
Ended
Afternoon Leaderboard
The five departments/areas/programs with the most donors between 3-5 p.m. will each receive $1,000 in challenge dollars.
| Rank | Prize | Department | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,000 | Theatre & Dance | 59 |
| 2 | $1,000 | Field Hockey | 59 |
| 3 | $1,000 | Indiana Academy | 53 |
| 4 | $1,000 | Communication Studies | 38 |
| 5 | $1,000 | Soccer | 36 |
| 6 | Gymnastics | 26 | |
| 7 | Men's Volleyball | 21 | |
| 8 | Accounting | 17 | |
| 9 | Football | 17 | |
| 10 | Men's Tennis | 16 | |
| 11 | Burris Laboratory School | 16 | |
| 12 | Spectrum | 15 | |
| 13 | Ball State University Police Department | 14 | |
| 14 | Cross Country/Track & Field | 13 | |
| 15 | Men's Golf | 12 |
Ended
Most Donors - Unit Leaderboard
The five departments/areas/programs with the most donors by midnight will each receive $1,000
| Rank | Prize | Department | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,000 | Theatre & Dance | 517 |
| 2 | $1,000 | Indiana Academy | 310 |
| 3 | $1,000 | Field Hockey | 232 |
| 4 | $1,000 | Gymnastics | 190 |
| 5 | $1,000 | Communication Studies | 183 |
| 6 | Football | 143 | |
| 7 | Accounting | 130 | |
| 8 | Soccer | 125 | |
| 9 | School of Music | 121 | |
| 10 | Men's Tennis | 108 | |
| 11 | Cross Country/Track & Field | 95 | |
| 12 | Men's Volleyball | 93 | |
| 13 | Burris Laboratory School | 91 | |
| 14 | Men's Golf | 84 | |
| 15 | Department of Media | 78 |
Ended
Non-Academic/Non-Athletic Evening Leaderboard
The five non-academic/non-athletic areas with the most donors from 6-8 p.m. will each receive $1,000.
| Rank | Prize | Department | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,000 | Ball State University Police Department | 21 |
| 2 | $1,000 | Registrar | 13 |
| 3 | $1,000 | Mock Trial | 11 |
| 4 | $1,000 | Student Emergency Aid Fund | 10 |
| 5 | $1,000 | Christian Student Foundation | 7 |
| 6 | Ball State Student Media | 6 | |
| 7 | Proud Ball State Parents & Families | 6 | |
| 8 | Women of Beneficence (Discovery) | 5 | |
| 9 | University Libraries | 5 | |
| 10 | Guardian Scholars | 4 | |
| 11 | Cardinal Kitchen | 3 | |
| 12 | Alumni Programs | 3 | |
| 13 | Employee Emergency Fund | 3 | |
| 14 | Housing & Residence Life | 3 | |
| 15 | Rinker Center for Global Affairs | 3 |
Ended
Ball State Employee Social Media Challenge
Faculty and staff social media challenge! Share a photo of your 'Because of Ball State' postcard to share how Ball State has shaped who you are today—or what you and your area have been able to accomplish because of Ball State. Be sure to stamp your post with #OneBallState and #BecauseOfBallState. Two random participants will get to donate $500 in challenge funds toward their favorite area.
Completed
Social Media Video Share Challenge
Share any of the One Ball State Day videos on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram Stories, or TikTok using #OneBallState for a chance to earn extra challenge dollars. Two participants will get to donate $500 to their favorite area. Tag @BSUFoundation or @BallStateAlumni ❤️
Completed
LinkedIn Challenge
Share a One Ball State Day post on LinkedIn on April 1st for a chance to designate $1,000 to your favorite Ball State area! Use #OneBallState and tag the Ball State Foundation!
Completed
Paint the U.S. Cardinal Red
Paint the U.S. Cardinal Red. Gifts from all 50 states will unlock $5,000 from the Alumni Council to Ball States greatest needs.
Completed
Because of Ball State Video Challenge
Share your “Because of Ball State” video with #OneBallState for a chance to win $1,000 in challenge dollars to support the area of your choice. We’ll select three winners!
Completed
CFA Dean's Challenge
30 gifts to the Emens Auditorium Fund will unlock $300 gift from Dean Seth Beckman.
Completed
Charlene Alexander Chief Strategy Office Challenge
Dr. Charlene Alexander, Chief Strategy Officer, will give $600 to the Chief Strategy Office Unit that generates $600 in gifts on One Ball State Day.
Completed
Provost Marri College Challenge
Top 3 colleges in number of donors will unlock $250 for 1st place, $150 for 2nd place and $100 for 3rd place from Provost Marri.
| Rank | Prize | Department | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $250 | College of Fine Arts | 723 |
| 2 | $150 | Teachers College | 670 |
| 3 | $100 | College of Communication, Information, and Media | 512 |
| 4 | Miller College of Business | 429 | |
| 5 | College of Sciences and Humanities | 399 | |
| 6 | College of Health | 286 | |
| 7 | Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning | 190 |
Ended
Registrar Staff Challenge
April Hay, University Registrar, will match up to $250 of her staff’s donations during OBSD.
Completed
