While some Indiana University students plan their day off or search for the best spot to watch the total solar eclipse on April 8, 15 scholars are working on projects to support rural Hoosiers for the once-in-a-lifetime event.
The Center of Rural Engagement’s 2024 Rural Solar Eclipse Scholars support partners around Indiana, helping them use the eclipse as a catalyst for social connection, eclipse liaison Hannah Jones said.
Many rural partners for the scholars program also applied for the center’s microgrant program, asking for extra hands and planning support, Jones said. Students are a great resource for that, she said, and the scholars got creative with their $1,000 scholarships.
“All of the eclipse scholars have the exact same research prompt, but the outputs are so wildly different and creative and amazing,” Jones said. “Whenever I'm talking to the students like, ‘Wow, that is a wonderful idea that I never would have expected.’ And I'm so glad that it's happening.”
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The 10-week scholarship program goes through the end of the semester, capping off with a symposium April 29, Jones said. Scholars will present their research and create a “unique deliverable” — like a zine, collage, or brochure.
Jones said one project focuses on the art of square dancing and another on animation, for example.
Senior Ashleigh Fender said Jones allows scholars to stay creative under specific guidelines each week. She’s working with Historic Connersville Inc., a city southeast of Indianapolis. Her project includes distributing sunflower seeds to all students in the county.
“So their entire county will be filled with sunflowers, which is really cool for tourism,” Fender said. “During the wintertime, those sunflower seeds are kind of feed for birds.”
Fender will also present research on Native American and indigenous people’s perspectives on solar eclipses.
Fender is currently planning on creating a booklet on why sunflowers follow the sun, she said, trying to keep it creative and easy to read.
The scholars are a mix of majors, disciplines and levels, and Fender said she loved hearing everyone’s perspective.
“I can't wait until the very end when we have a big symposium, and I can't wait to see what everyone chooses for their project and their deliverables,” Fender said.
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In Bloomington, Jones highlighted a project by senior Brooke Martoccia at Monroe Lake. Martoccia planned programming and activities at the lake throughout the weekend and the day of the eclipse.
“That eclipse project is exciting to me, because it's very much about the intersection of education around the eclipse, but also making it engaging and fun with the community,” Jones said.
Simons Foundation as part of its In the Path of Totality initiative supported The Rural Eclipse Scholars program, Director of Strategy and Communications Kyla Cox Deckard said.
“We're just really fortunate to have this opportunity to be part of such a once-in-a-lifetime spectacular event,” Deckard said.
Aubrey is our higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her at aubmwrig@iu.edu or follow her on X @aubreymwright .
