Proposed legislation encourages Hoosiers to become teachers
The Indiana House of Representatives recently voted unanimously in support of legislation co-authored by State Rep. Jack Jordan that would help more Hoosiers become certified teachers. House Bill 1528 would allow individuals enrolled in a transition-to-teaching certification program to apply for a Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship. The scholarship currently provides $7,500 per year for up to four years to students earning a teaching degree and who commit to teaching in Indiana for at least five years. Under the new legislation, Hoosiers enrolled in a transition-to-teaching certification program could apply for a one-time scholarship up to $10,000.
Applicants pursuing a transition-to-teaching certification would need to have a bachelor’s degree, agree to obtain an initial practitioner license and teach in an Indiana school corporation for at least five years to be eligible for the scholarship. Representatives from the Indiana School Boards Association, the Indiana Urban Schools Association, and Indiana Small and Rural Schools Association also testified in support of the legislation. House Bill 1528 now moves to the Senate for further consideration. For more information, visit iga.in.gov.
Campus Superstar 2023 virtual auditions
Campus Superstar is Indiana’s annual college campus singing competition where IU students can audition to win $5,000. Auditions must be submitted by February 23 at 11:59pm.
Contestants must prepare a 60 second, a cappella song for their audition. Audition submissions must be uploaded to YouTube with the link shared below or the video submission as an mp4 uploaded below. (Videos must be unedited live performances, no lip syncing). Contestants should be “dressed to impress” in their videos. You will submit your YouTube link here
Contestants moving on to the next round of competition will be contacted by February 27 and must be available for an in-person audition on March 2-6. The Final Round will be held Sunday, April 16th at Newfields in Indianapolis.
*All contestants must be a enrolled in a college program in the state of Indiana to be eligible.
Indiana State Police seeks recruits for Motor Carrier Inspectors
The Indiana State Police is extending the application window for Motor Carrier Inspectors (MCI). The MCI positions will staff permanent scale facilities in West Harrison, Terre Haute, Richmond, and Seymour. Inspectors enforce state and federal regulations for commercial motor vehicles and drivers operating within the State of Indiana to include size and weight requirements.
MCI Trainees are paid during the MCI school and are provided with all necessary equipment. Effective July 1, 2023, the proposed NEW starting salary for a Motor Carrier Inspector will increase to $52,000 a year. After the first year of employment, the salary will increase to $54,000. Additional benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage, basic life insurance, paid time off and holiday pay, and a retirement program available through PERF.
Trainees must complete the Motor Carrier Inspector School, which is tentatively scheduled to begin on May 15, 2023, and conclude on July 21, 2023. The training will be conducted through a combination of in-house academy-style learning and on-the-job training. The academy-style training will be conducted Monday through Friday at the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division in Indianapolis, with housing provided. During the training, trainees will develop skills, including emergency vehicle operations, defensive tactics, communications, hazardous materials, first-aid, post-crash investigations, and truck inspections.
To apply for a Motor Carrier Inspector position, visit the Indiana State Police website at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/indianasp. Applications for Motor Carrier Inspector must be submitted by Sunday, March 5, 2023.
Black History Month Gala Culminates Month-long Celebration
The City of Bloomington invites the community to attend the 19th Annual Black History Month Gala, which will take place on Saturday, February 25, beginning at 6 p.m. The ticketed public event will be held at Woolery Mill (2250 W. Sunstone Dr., Bloomington, IN). Tickets are available in advance through the Buskirk-Chumley Box Office, online at bctboxoffice.org, or by phone at 812-323-3020.
The gala offers an opportunity to acknowledge, honor, and celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans who have devoted their time, talents, and resources to make a difference in the Bloomington community and beyond. The 2023 Black History Month celebration theme is ‘Black Innovation’. This month, Bloomington is honoring, celebrating, and exploring Black inventors, creators, and change agents and how their contributions, from the traffic light to the cell phone, have changed our lives.
The deadline to purchase gala tickets is February 24. For a complete listing of Black History Month events in the community and virtual program Zoom links, visit bloomington.in.gov/bhm.
This Week in Hoosier History
1885 – Over 800 people gathered in the nation’s capital as President Chester Arthur led dedication ceremonies for the Washington Monument. To represent Indiana, Governor Albert Porter had appointed Colonel R. W. McBride from Waterloo in DeKalb County. At the time, the 555-foot monument was the tallest structure in the world.
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