Tri Kappa Art Show on Display at Library

The public is invited to the Mary Bishop Memorial Gallery at the Crawfordsville District Public Library for the annual Tri Kappa Art Show. The show highlights artworks created by Montgomery County high school students. This wonderful art exhibition would not be possible without the instruction, guidance and leadership of our high school art teachers: Ms. Charissa Ajay and Ms. Amanda Ellenberger, Crawfordsville High School; Ms. Autumn Hinders, North Montgomery High School; and Ms. Catharine Simmerman and Ms. Sandy Minnick, Southmont High School.

Tri Kappa sponsors this juried art exhibit which gives our local high school students the opportunity to display and compete for cash prize awards each year. This exhibition is currently open and will be on display through Thursday, March 19. The public is welcome to visit the gallery during CDPL’s regular hours of operation.

The awards reception will be held on Wednesday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. in CDPL meeting rooms A & B. Students, teachers, family and friends are invited to attend; light refreshments will be served. In 2025, Tri Kappa awarded 50 cash prizes totaling $1,530 to 44 Montgomery County high school art students.

Tri Kappa is an Indiana-based, Greek service sorority that was founded in February 1901. They strive to “Bring women into a close, unselfish relation for promotion of charity, culture, and education.” They have 7,000 members in approximately 220 Active and Associative Chapters.

At the state level, the sorority has a close relationship with the Riley Cheer Guild which supports the music therapy program for children at Riley Hospital, as well as supporting other organization with financial donations and many hours of volunteer service. Some of these organizations include Hands in Autism, Camp Riley, Ronald McDonald House, Mental Health Association of Indiana, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Best Buddies and many other charitable causes.

The local Crawfordsville Tri Kappa Chapter was founded in 1927 and they endeavor to keep the funds they raise through various events, such as the Daddy/Daughter Dance, here in the community. They provide scholarships to local high school students each year to assist with college expenses and sponsor this exhibit’s awards. They have coordinated the Summer Lunch Program for more than 40 years, which provides lunches to approximately 75 students in the area who might otherwise not have access to lunch during the summer months when school is not in session. Tri Kappa also assists with the CHS Sunshine Society’s Cheer Certificate Program around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and they host an annual St. Patrick’s Day dance for the clients of mental health providers in this community.

If you are interested in learning more about the Tri Kappa organization, or if you would like to get involved with this dedicated group, visit their website at trikappa.org for further assistance.

For more information about CDPL’s hours of operation, visit online at crawfordsvillelibrary.in.gov. If you are an artist or a member of an artists’ group and are interested in displaying your work at the Mary Bishop Memorial Gallery in 2027, contact the gallery coordinator Toni Ridgway-Woodall at (765) 362-2242 or email her at twoodall@crawfordsvillelibrary.in.gov for more information.