Explore Careers, Experience Indiana
Sweetwater Sound in Fort Wayne, Ind., welcomes STEM Living-Learning Community (LLC) students for a tour. Photo courtesy of Garrett Tur, MA ’21
Long before they pursue internships and complete several classes in their major areas of study, Ball State University students have opportunities to interact and build relationships within Indiana’s key industries throughout the state, thanks to a partnership between Housing and Residence Life’s Living-Learning Communities (LLC) and Ball State’s Governmental Relations and Industry Engagement (GRIE) office.
This partnership led to the creation of strategic avenues for students—mostly first-year students—to have voluntary, off-campus, career-related engagements with opportunities to experience the enjoyable qualities of living and working in Indiana. Approximately 250 students participated in these engagement opportunities throughout the 2023-24 academic year.
“There are a variety of activities and trips that align with the idea of place-based learning and engagement,” said Ball State graduate Garrett Tur, MA ’21, area coordinator for Living-Learning Communities. “Alongside that is the effort to connect students to employment, internship, and career opportunities within Indiana.”
For one trip, several nursing LLC students visited Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities, also a Paralympic sports facility, in Fort Wayne, Ind. There, the students learned about the facility’s features, career pathways, and the staff’s engagement with Paralympic sports.
In a workshop with Paralympic Goalball Team USA, nursing LLC students learn to play goalball at Turnstone in Fort Wayne. Similar to soccer but playing using a ball with a built-in bell, goalball is designed for visually impaired individuals.
On another outing, kinesiology LLC students saw an Indiana Pacers basketball game in Indianapolis and visited one of the team’s athletic trainers.
“My favorite part of the trip was getting to know more about what it is like to be an athletic trainer with a professional sports team since that is my career goal,” said student Hayley Moss. “I also loved exploring the different places in Indy near the mall and watching the Pacers game.”
Ball State graduate Jeff Eads, AA ’97, director for Industry Engagement at the University, said the LLC and GRIE partnership is part of a larger ecosystem of Ball State programs and initiatives aimed at supporting students and helping Indiana thrive.
“The intentional work being accomplished through our Living-Learning Communities helps provide—from day one on campus—our students with a definition of what success in Indiana can look like for them. We are preparing students for their pursuit of fulfilling careers and meaningful lives,” Mr. Eads added.
