Hoosiers for Higher Education

Statehouse Visit

Check out the Indianapolis Star photo gallery from the 2010 Statehouse Visit

Report on the 2010 Statehouse Visit and Indiana Innovation Alliance Day

The 19th Annual Hoosiers for Higher Education Statehouse Visit was held on Tuesday, February 2 with the theme of "Innovation Accelerated by Tradition." A crowd of over 500 was in attendance, which exceeded all previous Statehouse Visits during a non-budget session.

Various exhibits were featured that demonstrated IU's breadth and scope in areas of economic development, research, community service, health care and public policy. The "Innovation Accelerated by Tradition" showcase included health screenings from the IU School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, National Center of Excellence for Women's Health, and Department of Ophthalmology. The Indiana Geological Survey and the IU Center for Research in Environmental Sciences demonstrated their scientific research and programs that support state initiatives. The Global Research Network Operations Center demonstrated IU's interactive, three-dimensional, real-time network visualization system call GlobalNOC World View--a system that has the ability to keep an eye on weather and earthquakes while watching the networks in real time. Other programs that were featured included IUPUI Motorsports Engineering, the Pervasive Technology Institute, the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (a collaboration among IU, Purdue and Notre Dame), the IU School of Dentistry's Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, I-Light/Indiana Gigapop, and the IUPUI Center for Service and Learning's Neighborhood Partnerships. The IU School of Law in Indianapolis featured the Program on Law and State Government, providing internships for law students and support for state government.

A program was held in the North Atrium of the Statehouse and featured two special guest speakers, IU President Michael A. McRobbie and IU Trustee and former HHE Director, Sue Talbot. President McRobbie focused his remarks on the variety and depth of IU's statewide engagement initiatives, as demonstrated by the above displays. Ms. Talbot challenged the students to always advocate on behalf of IU and be thankful to our legislative body of 150 public servants for the support they have provided to IU and higher education throughout the history of the state.

Senator Vi Simpson (Ellettsville) enthusiastically encouraged the mostly student crowd to not only thank their legislators for past support of IU and higher education, but to also tirelessly share their messages with “the people that work for you." Representative Peggy Welch (Bloomington) focused on the importance of the future of Indiana to have a world-class K-12 educational system in order for IU and other higher education institutions to maximize the potential of Hoosier students.

James Bonsall, III, the president of the IU Southeast Student Government Association and member of the HHE Student Advisory Board, spoke of the importance of student leadership. He shared the importance of students leading with vision and purpose in order for future IU students to enjoy the resources of their work. He concluded by challenging students to "push yourself, your student government, and your legislators to have that vision and to continue to support Indiana University."

The 2010 General Assembly session is a "short session" thus the budget is not addressed. However with the continued uncertainty of the economy and previous budget cuts in all of state government, future budgets are being watched closely. In meetings with their respective legislators, students shared their appreciation for the long term support of higher education and their hope that when the economy does begin to rebound, that higher education will be given strong consideration. IU South Bend senior and Mishawak resident, Vittoria Gianetto said, "It's just amazing to be around this atmosphere, I really appreciate the work they (legislators) put into IU--all of the campuses."

At the conclusion of each Statehouse Visit, a reception is held at which time annual HHE awards are presented by President McRobbie. This year, because of final readings of bills in the Senate, the President was invited to present the Welsh-Bowen Distinguished Public Official Award to State Senator Connie Sipes (New Albany) on the floor of the Senate. She was joined by family and friends in the gallery and was given a standing ovation by her Senate colleagues.  Sen. Sipes has been a passionate advocate of education and received two degrees in education from Indiana University Southeast. She has been a teach and principal, and currently serves on the district board of Ivy Tech. She was named Principal of the Year in District 12. She also has a commitment to the wellbeing of children, the elderly and disabled. She has served on the Indiana Commission on Autism, the Committee on Childcare, the Select Joint Commission on Medicaid Oversight, and the Commission on Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities.

In conjunction with the Welsh-Bowen Award, a scholarship was given, to Alison Grover, a senior at IU Southeast. Alison will graduate with a degree in English Secondary Education and shares Senator Sipes' great interest in service and education. She is a Supplemental Instructor, Math Tutor, Student Ambassador and serves on the Secondary Education Advisoy Council. She has been named to the Dean's and Chancellor's list each semester of her college career. Ms. Grover is the daughter of Peggy and Bill Grover of New Albany.

President McRobbie also presented the fith Sue H. Talbot Distinguished HHE Member Award to Community Captain and lifetime IUAA member Sara Laycock. Ms. Laycock received her Indiana University degree from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU Bloomington in 2003.  Upon graduation, Sara has spent her career working the areas of economic development in Bloomington and Indianapolis.  She currently serves in the department of economic and community development for the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors.  Her volunteer leadership for IU and the Alumni Association includes service on the Board of the Monroe County Chapter of the IUAA until 2006, as an IU Bloomington student recruitment volunteer, and Ms. Laycock currently holds the position of President of the Central Indiana Chapter of the IU Alumni Association in Indianapolis. 

A scholarship was also given in honor of Ms. Laycock as the Talbot Award recipient. Iris Summers is a sophomore in the IU Bloomington School of Public and Environmental Affairs. She is a teaching assistant in the IU Apparel and Merchandising and Interior Design School and since November has served as a legislative intern in the Indiana State Senate. She has been selected as one of eighteen SPEA students to travel to Seoul, South Korea to perform research in public transportation. Ms. Summers is from Valparaiso and is the daughter of Stuart and Megan Summers.