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📜 This Week in Indiana History 📜

Indiana Becomes a State (1816)

This week in Indiana history, we are celebrating the greatest state in the United States — Indiana. On Dec. 11, 1816, Indiana officially became the 19th state admitted to the Union.

Indiana’s path to statehood began in 1811, when Indiana Territory officials first explored the possibility of petitioning for statehood. However, an insufficient population and the looming War of 1812 delayed the process. After the war, officials renewed their push. In December 1815, the territorial legislature formally petitioned Congress for statehood, and this time the effort succeeded. President James Madison signed the congressional resolution authorizing Indiana to form a state constitution, paving the way for its official admission in 1816.

More than two centuries after joining the Union, Indiana continues to stand as a testament to resilience, community, and the never-ending spirit of the Hoosier State.

IU Wins Big Ten, Earns No. 1 Seed in College Football Playoff

HOO HOO HOO, HOOSIERS!

For the first time since 1945 (yes, you read that right), the Indiana Hoosiers are outright Big Ten champions in football. IU prevailed 13-10 over Ohio State last Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium, improving to 13-0 on the season and securing the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

IU quarterback Fernando Mendoza — one of four Heisman finalists — finished 15 of 23 for 222 yards and a third-quarter touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt that put the Hoosiers in front for good. He also threw one interception (just his sixth of the season), but the win makes him the betting favorite (-1000) to become the first Heisman winner in IU history. Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia (+600), Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love (+18000), and Ohio State QB Julian Sayin (+50000) are longshots.

You can read our full Big Ten Championship recap here.

The first round of the CFP begins Friday, Dec. 19, with No. 9 Alabama playing at No. 8 Oklahoma. The Hoosiers play the winner of that game in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.

IN Towns with the Best School Districts

When it comes to raising a family in Indiana, strong schools often sit at the top of the priority list. Indiana achieved an unprecedented milestone in 2024-25, with 87.3% of third graders demonstrating proficient reading skills on the IREAD assessment. That's nearly a 5% jump from the previous year and the largest single-year increase since the assessment began in 2013.

So, which towns stand out for consistently producing some of the state's highest-performing school districts? Find out here.

Holidays IN the Parks

Indiana’s 24 state parks are amazing year-round, and during the holiday season, they turn it up a notch with festive activities ranging from Christmas-themed scavenger hunts to drive-through light shows, visits from Santa, and more. Here are a few of our favorites:

Pokagon State Park - Toboggan Run

The 1/4-mile toboggan run is open on weekends from 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. through March 1. Reach speeds up to 40 mph while dropping 90 feet to the bottom.

Ouabache State Park - Wonderland of Lights and Santa

Open now through Christmas, enjoy a drive-through lights show for just $5 per car. The campground is lit up, and the fire tower has a 20-minute synchronized light show. You can also enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while visiting Santa from 6–9 p.m. on Dec. 13 and 20 at the Trails End Shelter.

Clifty Falls State Park - A Grinchy Breakfast

If you feel like your heart is two sizes too small, head to the Clifty Inn in Clifty Falls State Park for A Grinchy Breakfast from 9–11 a.m. on Dec. 13.

Want to learn more about Holidays IN the Parks? Check out our in-depth blog post!

Earn your MBA without pressing pause

Thinking about your next career move, but not sure how to make it work with everything else you’ve got going on? The Kelley Evening MBA — Indiana’s #1 part-time MBA (U.S. News & World Report, 2025) is built for working professionals in downtown Indianapolis.

You’ll learn from world-class Kelley faculty, collaborate with classmates from leading Indiana companies representing diverse industries and backgrounds, and tackle real business challenges you can apply at work the very next day. It’s hands-on, collaborative learning that pays off personally and professionally.

Take the first step toward your next chapter and discover how the Kelley Evening MBA pays off.

Main Street Coffee

Zach Duke, an ambitious Indiana dad with a goal of playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, joined Get IN. with Nate Spangle to share his journey of learning and excelling in soccer while growing a following of over 140,000 people on Instagram and TikTok. His hidden gem recommendation was one we’ve never received before — Main Street Coffee in Spencer. Watch below to learn what makes them one of the best coffee shops in Indiana.

North Mass Boulder

North Mass Boulder in Indianapolis has an insane amount of indoor walls to climb for beginners to experts, plus yoga classes, saunas, and the Top Out Café upstairs. Monthly memberships are just $75 for adults and $780 for the year, and discounted rates are available for students.

Learn more about North Mass Boulder here.

What’s your Hidden Gem? Submit here to have it featured!

👏 1 Big wIN 👏

Amidst a three-game losing streak to fall to 8-5 this season, the Indianapolis Colts turned back the clock on Tuesday by bringing quarterback Philip Rivers out of retirement and signing him to the practice squad.

We’re calling this a big win for Rivers because he just turned 44, has 10 kids and one grandson. Yeah, the Colts are about to have a literal grandpa slinging the pigskin.

With Daniel Jones lost for the season due to a torn Achilles, backup Anthony Richardson on injured reserve with an orbital fracture, and third-stringer Riley Leonard week-to-week with a knee injury, the Colts were basically out of options.

The eight-time Pro Bowl selection hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2020-21 season when he led the Colts to their most recent playoff appearance with an 11-5 record. He’s seventh in league history with 63,440 passing yards and sixth all time with 421 touchdown passes.

Assuming all goes well this week in practice, it feels like Rivers will see the field in Seattle on Sunday. Kickoff is at 4:25 p.m. ET.

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🎧 He Went a Year Without a Cell Phone 🎧

🎙 There were no cell phones or whistles present on today's show, as I sat down with Tommy Short, a former Division I and Team USA basketball referee and now motivational speaker, author, and founder of Think Better Perform Better, who shares his transformative journey of living without a cell phone for an entire year.

Tommy discusses the drive behind his decision, which stemmed from a career traveling as a college basketball referee and the realization that his priorities were misaligned.

Highlighting the psychological and practical lessons learned during this period, Tommy emphasizes the importance of intentionality, presence, and reconnection with oneself and others.

He also touches on many of his professional experiences, including officiating for Team USA Basketball during two Olympic runs, and the value of failures in shaping one's future.

This episode also gets into the broader implications of cell phone dependency and addiction and offers actionable insights for listeners to cultivate meaningful connections and prioritize their time effectively.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about:
- Tommy's Experiences as a College Basketball and Team USA Referee
- The Benefits of Living Without a Cell Phone for a Year
- Implications of Cell Phone Dependency

Listen on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube!

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