Honors College

Our Mission: To Empower Engaged Students 

Gifts made to the college directly benefit dedicated, deserving students engaged in stimulating, one-of-a-kind courses and research within our supportive community. Your investment has both immediate and life-long impact. Here are a few of their voices:  

“The Honors College has provided me with so many opportunities for growth including fellowships, attending and presenting at regional and national conferences, taking interesting and engaging courses that encourage me to expand my thinking, and being a part of a true community. Through several changes in my major and my future plans, the Honors College was my constant.” (Jamie, an alumna from the Indianapolis area) 

“I can honestly say that the honors curriculum transformed my college career as I shaped, sculpted, and reshaped my perspectives, values, and engagement in the world. I have personally benefited from enriching relationships, both professional and personal, with fellow students and faculty alike. I had ample opportunities and support to expand my horizons, travel and present at conferences, and conduct research through Honors Undergraduate Fellowships. Life truly is all of what you make it. The world is your oyster, and the Honors College can provide you a platform to personal and professional growth unmatched in other settings. Take notice of those Honors College students around you; they will be the leaders of tomorrow.” (Jon, a recent first-generation graduate from southern Indiana)

 

This year the Honors College focuses on opportunities. With the expansion of the house, we are excited of what opportunities we will have in our future!


Opportunities for Support – click the red text below to give to the Honors College!

Thanks to a generous donor who has provided the initial funds to begin renovations of the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Honors House, the project has broken ground and is in the beginning stages of the expansion. This fund helps complete that project, which will include an additional classroom, gathering spaces for students, additional offices, and an outdoor gathering space that will include a labyrinth. Additional funds will enable the Honors College to ensure that the spaces best serve students and provide upgraded facilities for faculty and staff.

A gift to the Honors College Fund will benefit dedicated, deserving students engaged in stimulating, one-of-a-kind courses and research within our supportive community. This fund enables Honors College classes to pursue novel immersive learning experiences and scholarships for matriculating and continuing students.

Donors to the campaign to help fund the honors house expansion will have the opportunity to be recognized in the new space. Those who give at the levels below in the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Honors House fund or the Honors College fund will be recognized as:


Supporting the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry, the Pioneering Department of Immersive Learning at Ball State University, will go toward underwriting the unique VBC opportunities found nowhere else on our campus: extensive travel, collaborative mentorship with the best faculty and industry leaders, and significant time to devote to deep, creative work on some of society’s biggest questions. In August of 2023, the Virginia Ball Center integrated into the Honors College. This change has given the VBC increased visibility and allowed it to contribute more fully to the overall campus experience. During its 24-year history, VBC sponsored projects have been recognized nationally and internationally, garnering eight Emmy Awards, ten International Aurora Awards, and a host of other accolades.


 

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Match
Dan Brown's Honors College Challenge to Honor Warren VanderHill
Dan Brown will match donations up to $500 to the Honors College Fund in honor of Warren VanderHill.
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Match
Whitinger Scholars Match
An anonymous donor will match $1,000 once the Whitinger Scholars fund raises $1,000.
Leaderboard
Provost Marri College Leaderboard Challenge
The three colleges with the most donors will unlock an additional $250 for 1st place, $150 for 2nd place and $100 for 3rd place from Provost Anand Marri.
Department (8)
Leaderboard
Morning Leaderboard Challenge
The three areas with the most donors by 10 a.m. will receive $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 in challenge funds.
Units, Funds, & Programs (130)
Leaderboard
Donor Leaderboard
The four units with the most donors by 5 p.m. will each receive $500.
Unit (129)
Leaderboard
College Donor Leaderboard
The college that has the most donors by midnight will receive $5,000 in challenge funds.
College (8)
Leaderboard
Donor Leaderboard
The five units with the most donors by midnight will each receive $1,000.
Unit (132)
Leaderboard
College Gift Increase Leaderboard
The three colleges with the biggest percentage of increased gifts from OBSD 2024 will receive $3,000, $2,000 and $1000.
College (8)
Event
Young Alumni Giving Challenge
When ten young alumni give by Noon, YAC President Giang Petroviak, will donate $200 to the Young Alumni Council Student Leadership Scholarship fund.
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Graduates of the Last Decade Challenge
In honor of 10 years of the Young Alumni Council, 250 gifts from graduates of the last decade to any University Fund unlocks a $250 donation from the Young Alumni council to the Student Leadership fund.
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Foundation Employee Giving Challenge
100% participation of Foundation employees unlocks $500 from Foundation and BSUAA President Jean Crosby towards the Ball State Fund.
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EPM Employee Challenge
VP for Enrollment Planning and Management Paula Luff will match dollars raised from EPM employees, up to $500, to the Jack Beyerl Student Emergency Aid Fund.
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Early Bird Challenge
Rise and shine! The first student, employee, parent, and graduate who give will earn $250 extra for the fund they supported.
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Race to Give Challenge
The first 2 academic departments and the first 2 sports teams to receive a gift will each receive $500 in challenge funds.
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International Alum Challenge
The first international alum to make a gift on One Ball State Day will earn $500 in challenge funds for the fund they supported.
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Social Media Video Challenge
Post a One Ball State Day video on social media with #OneBallState. We'll select two random participants, and they'll get to designate $500 to the fund of their choice! Winners will be chosen at 9am and 3pm!
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Name That Goose Challenge
Honk honk! The two most creative goose names will each earn $500 for the fund of their choice! Get creative and post your goose name with #OneBallState and #HonkHonk on social media. Winners will be selected at Noon and 10:30 p.m.!
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Selfie Challenge
Post a One Ball State Day selfie with #OneBallState and earn $250 for the fund of your choice! We'll choose one random winner at 1 p.m.!
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Faculty and staff social media challenge!
Share a photo of your OBSD postcard so everyone knows what you’re supporting on OBSD. Be sure to stamp your post with #OneBallState. Two random participants will get to donate $500 in challenge funds toward their favorite area. We'll choose a winner at 7pm!
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OBSD Video Challenge
We’re randomly selecting two One Ball State Day videos posted on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram with #OneBallState. Two lucky winners will each get to donate $500 to the area of their choice! Be sure to tag @BSUFoundation and use #OneBallState. Winners will be chosen at 8 p.m.!
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Closing Time Challenge
The last student, employee, parent, and alumni donor will each earn $250 for the program they supported.
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Monthly Donor Challenge
Help us get to 100 monthly donors by midnight! Two recurring donors will be randomly selected and earn $250 for the fund their gift was to.
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First Time Donor Challenge
The unit with the most first time alumni donors will receive $1,000.
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Paint the U.S. Cardinal Red
Gifts from all 50 states will unlock $1,918 to support the Ball State Fund.
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LinkedIn Challenge
Share a One Ball State Day post on LinkedIn on April 2nd for a chance to designate $500 to your favorite Ball State area! Must use #OneBallState and tag the Ball State Foundation!
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Or you can contact us at oneballstateday@bsu.edu.