Ball State Students Highlight Civic Responsibility at 2025 Indiana Civics Summit

The Indiana Bar Foundation hosted its third annual Indiana Civics Summit on April 17, 2025, convening educators, policymakers, and civic leaders from across the state for a day of learning, dialogue, and inspiration. This year’s summit put student voices front and center—and Ball State University students rose to the occasion, demonstrating the power of youth-led civic engagement in both local and national contexts.

Among the featured sessions was a student panel representing Ball State’s Democracy Fellows and student government leaders.

Kianne Rose discussed a recent proposal before the Student Government Association to create a campus holiday on U.S. general election days sparked timely conversation about student participation in democracy. She explained the importance of institutional advocacy. “We hear from students who want to be more involved—but that means addressing barriers and rethinking how civic responsibility fits into academic life,” she said.

Rose, a second-year Legal Studies student and Organizational Senator representing the National Pan-Hellenic Council, emphasized that advocacy must include underrepresented voices. Drawing from her experience as Parliamentarian for NPHC, she encouraged attendees to honor legacy and leadership through civic participation, especially within governance structures that shape student life.

Abigail Denault, a Journalism major and active member of the Cardinals Vote! program, spoke passionately about the importance of local political engagement. “It’s easy to get swept up in national headlines,” she noted, “but many of the decisions that impact our daily lives—on education, housing, and equity—happen at the local level.” As a journalist and former election judge, Denault underscored the role of media and storytelling in building a more informed and activated electorate.

Afton Vanek, an Art History major with minors in Spanish and Global Studies, drew from her international experiences to reflect on the importance of civic humility. Having met with representatives in Washington, D.C. as part of citizen diplomacy efforts, she stressed the value of listening across perspectives. “Democracy isn’t about everyone agreeing—it’s about how we listen and learn from one another,” Vanek said. Her work with local organizations such as Prevent Child Abuse Delaware County connected her global outlook to her community impact.

The student panel was part of a broader showcase of civic programs during the Summit, which included presentations from Plainfield High School’s We the People team, the Indiana Ethics Bowl, and the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site’s Future Presidents of America initiative. Ball State’s Democracy Fellows program was highlighted as a model for student leadership and civic learning in higher education.

Keynote speaker Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, delivered a powerful address on his latest book, The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America. Rosen explored how civic virtue and moral reasoning shaped America’s founding ideals and remain central to democratic life today.

As Indiana prepares for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the Summit served as both a reflection and a call to action. Ball State’s student representatives demonstrated that the future of democracy is in good hands—not just because of what they’re learning in the classroom, but because of how they’re choosing to lead beyond it.