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Ball State President Jo Ann M. Gora wears the Torchbearer medallion she received during ceremonies Nov. 17 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. Joining Gora for the event were Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman (left) and Melissa Proffitt Reese (right), an attorney with the Indianapolis firm of Ice Miller who nominated the president for the award.
The award is the highest honor given by the State of Indiana to Hoosier women who have overcome or removed barriers to equality or whose achievements have contributed to making the state a better place in which to live, work or raise a family.
During the second annual Indiana's Salute to Women ceremonies Nov. 17 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis, Gora was among 23 women from a wide range of professional fields to receive a Torchbearer medallion.
"I am greatly honored to be recognized in this group of outstanding women representing the arts, entrepreneurship, government and many other diverse fields," Gora said. "I am equally honored to represent the Ball State University community, and this award is truly a reflection of our commitment to providing high-quality educational experiences for our students."
Melissa Proffitt Reese, an attorney for Indianapolis-based legal firm Ice Miller, nominated Gora for the award in the education category, citing the president's accomplishments in professional achievement, community service, philanthropic service, leadership and innovation.
Among her accomplishments as president, Reese touted Gora for launching an aggressive $12 million capital campaign to renovate and expand Ball State's football stadium and boosting the university's Building Better Communities initiative, designed to assist Indiana communities in enhancing quality of life and economic capacity.
Reese also recognized Gora's commitment to incorporating leading-edge technology that extends beyond the classroom into the campus environment, citing Ball State's recent ranking as the nation's number one wireless campus in a survey by the Intel Corporation.
"For over 25 years, Gora has broken down barriers for women in higher education and sought to enhance the quality of life for both teachers and students alike," Reese wrote in the nomination letter.
The ICW was established in 1992 to eliminate barriers to equality. For more information about the organization, go online to www.in.gov/icw.
(Note to editors: For more information, contact Glenn Augustine, associate director of University Communications, at ggaugustine@bsu.edu, (765) 285-1560 (office), or (765) 748-4822 (cell). Sharon Langlotz, ICW executive director, may be reached at (317) 232-6720.)
