(BLOOMINGTON) – Ivy Tech Community College’s Bloomington campus will hold its annual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 10 at 6 p.m. in the Indiana University Auditorium, where it will confer approximately 1,165 associate degrees and certifications, up about 50 credentials over last year.
Maggie Nardi, paralegal studies graduate, and SGA president will give the commencement address. Nardi holds a bachelor’s degree in English from IUPUI but worked various jobs when she decided to enroll at community college, setting her on a career pathway.
Two honorary degree recipients will be recognized, including Charlotte Zietlow, a decades-long leader in local politics, civics, entrepreneurship, and community engagement, and Lynn Coyne, five-year campus trustee for Ivy Tech Bloomington and president and CEO of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC).
“Charlotte and Lynn have made significant contributions to higher education and our local economy over their years of service, for the benefit of students and families across Indiana,” said Chancellor Jennie Vaughan. “Between Charlotte establishing an endowed hospitality scholarship for Ivy Tech students, and Lynn’s invaluable counsel and development of strategic partnerships and guidance over the programs we offer, their honorary degrees are well-earned and it’s a privilege to recognize the accomplishments of both.”
This year, Ivy Tech Bloomington is graduating 113 Early College high school graduates that have earned credentials through dual enrollment opportunities, with 13 of them already enrolled in either summer or fall sessions at Ivy Tech. Early College graduates have earned either a certificate or statewide transfer general education core (STGEC) technical certificate, which enables high school graduates to go on to a state university with the entire 30 credit hour STGEC completed. Early College graduates are from Paoli, Loogootee, Bloomfield, Eastern Greene, Springs Valley, Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Edgewood, Martinsville, West Washington, and the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship.
Ivy Tech Bloomington is also conferring 68 Achieve Your Degree™ (AYD) associate degrees and certifications to 47 graduates. AYD is a tuition-deferral program in which Ivy Tech and employers collaborate to offer working adults the opportunity to earn associate degrees and certifications with no upfront cost to students. Locally, Ivy Tech has agreements with 17 employers, and the college works with more than 160 companies statewide. Employers represent a variety of industries, including technology, medical, financial, and manufacturing.
Associate Accelerated Program (ASAP) graduates have earned 75 associate degrees and certifications, out of 31 graduates. ASAP is a program that offers students, ages 21 and under, with the opportunity to earn an associate degree in as little as 11 months. Ivy Tech Bloomington offers ASAP degrees in liberal arts, education, business administration, informatics, and psychology.
The number of students graduating with honors is 350, with 71 graduating summa cum laude for maintaining a 4.0-grade point average.
Ivy Tech Bloomington will confer credentials to 27 military veterans and is graduating 7 international students representing the countries of South Korea, Colombia, Spain, China, Mongolia, and Ghana.
Approximately 75 Associate of Science in Nursing and 44 Practical Nursing degrees will be awarded.
Honorary Degree Recipient Full Biographies
Charlotte Zietlow was elected to the Bloomington City Council in 1971 and subsequently was the first female to be elected to the Monroe County Board of Commissioners. She founded the City of Bloomington’s first cookware store, Goods, Inc. in 1973 and later launched additional businesses. She has served as executive director of United Way of Monroe County, a community organizer for Planned Parenthood of South Central Indiana, and economic development coordinator at Middle Way House. In recognition of her social and civic contributions, the Monroe County Justice Building was named for her in 2012. In 2016, she established the Goods, Inc./Goods for Cooks Endowed Hospitality Scholarship for Ivy Tech students, and in 2018, she donated her 500-volume cookbook collection to Ivy Tech’s Joan Olcott library.
Lynn Coyne is in his fifth year of service as Campus Trustee for Ivy Tech Bloomington, where he has provided counsel on strategic partnerships and academic program offerings. He served as assistant vice president for real estate and associate counsel at Indiana University, and before that, Coyne held a private practice in real estate law, development, business transactions, and real estate planning. He is president and CEO of the BEDC, since 2014. He has also served as director of the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, member of the board of Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital, and past president of the Monroe County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees. He has been recognized with a number of awards, including the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service from Indiana University, the Distinguished Service Award from the Maurer School of Law, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce.
GRADUATE PROFILES
Shasta Anderson, 43, Associate of Applied Science, Hospitality Administration, Technical Certificate, Accounting
Shasta decided that she was going to set a positive example for her children and finish her earlier college studies, after stopping out due to finances. Since her employer, Cook, was offering tuition assistance through the Achieve Your Degree partnership with Ivy Tech, she decided to enroll.
Through the Ivy Tech/Cook tuition-deferral partnership, Shasta was able to go back to school with no upfront costs, finish her associate degree, and complete a technical certificate along the way.
During her studies at Ivy Tech, she served on the Student Government Association as secretary, earned an SGA officer scholarship, and participated in the annual O’Bannon Day of Service in our community, all while also working her full-time job.
Shasta’s son, Damon, also works full time at Cook and takes classes at Ivy Tech through the Achieve Your Degree program. One day, he hopes to become a chef at West Baden or French Lick Resort.
She is proud to have completed her associate degree, hoping it will open doors for advancement into a new position with her current employer, and encourage her children to also achieve their educational goals.
Amanda Todd, 28, Associate of Science, Nursing (RN), Cum Laude
Amanda was an elementary school teacher for four years before she decided to go back to college to pursue her calling to become a nurse. She quickly chose Ivy Tech’s nursing program because it is known as one of the most competitive and comprehensive programs.
During her studies at Ivy Tech, she earned the Indiana Career and Technical Education Award for Excellence from the Indiana Department of Education, earned seven scholarships, and served as president of Ivy Tech’s Lee J. Marchant School of Nursing club.
She says that she is overwhelmed by the amount of support and encouragement from her husband, family, and fellow nursing graduates.
Amanda has accepted a full-time nursing position at IU Health Hospital Inpatient Rehab unit. She plans to continue her education to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and will go on to earn her Master of Science in Nursing. She hopes to eventually become a nurse practitioner.
Kyle Baugh, 27, Associate of Science, Engineering Technology, Outstanding Student Award
Kyle chose to pursue his education at Ivy Tech Community College because of the flexible class options, affordable cost, and student-focused resources. Right out of high school, Kyle attended university, but was not sure of his career path, he had large impersonal classes and limited scheduling options. He decided to work full time instead. The jobs he took were tough manual labor positions, so he always had the idea to return to college. He says he got the push he needed when he met his wife, Blair. She was studying for her master’s in nursing and served as encouragement for him to jump back in.
Kyle and his wife welcomed their first child, daughter Monroe (one and a half years old), while they were both completing their college degrees. He is still amazed at what his wife was able to accomplish and credits all the grandparents for setting positive examples and providing support along the way by caring for their daughter when needed.
He is working as a manufacturing associate for Catalent and is searching within for new opportunities that will set him onto a career pathway of interest.
Kyle is keeping his options open for earning a bachelor’s degree someday, in order to advance his career.
Bethany Argenbright, 27, Associate of Applied Science, Business Administration
Bethany began taking classes at Ivy Tech right after high school. It took her some time to decide on a career path and focus her efforts in that area of study. It has been a long journey for Bethany and so rewarding for her to complete her associate degree.
She is the first person in her family to go to college and complete their degree!
She credits her husband, family, and best friend for supporting her throughout her journey. Bethany plans to re-enter the workforce as a receptionist at a medical facility or veterinary clinic.
Maggie Nardi, 33, Associate of Applied Science, Paralegal Studies, Outstanding Student Award, Magna Cum Laude
Maggie holds a Bachelor of Arts in English & Creative Writing from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and had worked various jobs when she decided to go back to school. She went back for her master’s degree in library science but it wasn’t the right fit, and she decided to take a break due to health and financial concerns.
Her father-in-law suggested attending Ivy Tech to earn an associate degree in paralegal studies. He thought the program would provide similar research components, which is what Maggie liked so much about her earlier studies. He was right – Maggie enjoyed her time at community college!
During her studies at Ivy Tech, she served as Student Government Association president and vice president was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and worked in the library, where she started as a work-study student and began to feel at home at Ivy Tech.
She is currently employed part-time at a local law office and will seek full-time work in her career field.
Bertram Rodgers, 52, Associate of General Studies, Summa Cum Laude
Bertram came to Ivy Tech Community College in need of a mid-life renaissance. He had previously attended three universities throughout his life. He says he made some bad decisions in the past and that he knew very little about community college when he decided to enroll. Little did he know, Ivy Tech was going become the best thing that ever happened to him.
Bertram began to thrive because he was finally accepted and celebrated for who he is as a person and student. He excelled in the classroom, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. He says that his learning experience at Ivy Tech is the catalyst by which he has been able to turn his life around and become someone who is capable of earning recognition.
During his time at Ivy Tech, Bertram served as Phi Theta Kappa honor society president, was a member of Campus Pride club, served as a Peer Mentor, and participated in the Political Awareness club.
His plan is to complete an internship this summer before he transfers to DePaul University in Chicago to study film.
Additional info Bertram’s younger years coincided with a period of healing from the turmoil of the 1960s when the Voting Rights Act had been legislated and other newfound freedoms had been penned to the page, but reluctantly given in the Mississippi Delta, where he grew up. He says he never saw a “colored only” sign, though a recent view of his birth certificate actually describes him as “colored.”
Emily Gardner, 19, Associate of General Studies
Emily was accepted and enrolled at Indiana University right out of high school but deferred in order to choose community college first. She says that she could not have been more right about her decision. Emily earned a higher education degree, found a great job, and grew her network during her time at Ivy Tech. She says that her learning experiences have made her stronger and wiser.
At Ivy Tech, Emily was awarded a scholarship and became a work-study student. She volunteers some of her time to serve as a counselor for the Girl Scouts and serves on the Hoosier Hikers Council.
She says that she is so incredibly thankful for all of the supportive staff and faculty and that she felt a sense of family at Ivy Tech. All the pieces have fallen into place and now Emily feels confident and prepared to move on to “bigger things,” although bittersweet.
Emily will continue her education this fall toward earning her bachelor’s degree – she was accepted again into Indiana University and plans to focus her studies on outdoor recreation, parks, and human ecology.
Rachel Robinson, 31, Associate of Science, Nursing (RN)
When Rachel moved to Bloomington from Myrtle Beach, where she was working as both a phlebotomist and bartender, she decided to follow her dream to become a nurse. She knew that Ivy Tech’s nursing program had a great reputation and wanted to learn from the best, so she applied and enrolled in courses.
During her time at Ivy Tech, she participated in the nursing club and earned a scholarship award.
Rachel has just accepted a full-time position at IU Bloomington Hospital on the Cardio Recovery Unit.
In the future, she plans to transfer to Indiana University to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Ethan Batan, 20, Associate of Applied Science, Heating Ventilation, & Air Conditioning Technology, Outstanding Student Award, Magna Cum Laude, Apprentice
Ethan chose to attend Ivy Tech Community College after high school because if offered an affordable, hands-on education that was accessible to his home in Spencer, Ind. He knew he wanted to pursue an education in the trades and learn valuable skills that employers need. He settled on HVAC because the job opportunities in the industry are countless.
Ethan earned a scholarship award during his time at Ivy Tech and played in a band formed through the HVAC department, called “Fire in the Furnace Boys.”
Ethan is currently employed as property manager of an apartment complex in Plainfield, Ind. and plans to find employment specifically in the HVAC industry. He has leads for a technician role in both Bloomington and Indianapolis.
Mackenzie Schuck, 18, Associate of Science, Elementary Education
Mackenzie chose Ivy Tech Community College for the ASAP program, which enabled her to earn an associate degree in only 11 months. She was determined not to take a year off after high school for fear of not returning to complete her education. Her parents also attended Ivy Tech and loved their experiences. The ASAP program was the right fit for Mackenzie and she is so proud now that she made the right decision.
The ASAP program is rigorous and students spend full days in class, every week, in order to earn their associate degrees in as little as 11 months. During her time in the program, Mackenzie also held two other jobs to make ends meet! She currently observes at a local preschool and is working toward becoming a teacher.
Mackenzie earned a Campus Pride scholarship award and was involved with the Campus Pride club during her time at Ivy Tech.
In the future, she plans to transfer to Western Governors University to complete her bachelor’s degree in early elementary education.
Jack Dreesen, 35, Associate of Science, Accounting, Certificate, Entrepreneurship, Outstanding Student Award, Summa Cum Laude
Jack chose Ivy Tech Community College because he needed to change his life around, he was just feeling stuck. He had attended college in the past but it didn’t work out – he struggled to pass a course and it became a mental barrier to his success as a student. He found his place at Ivy Tech, where he could zero-in on the subject and finally become successful.
During his time at community college, Jack earned more than a handful of scholarships, was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society, IT club, Student Leadership Academy, Duke it Out Business Pitch Competition, was student literary magazine editor, and a Peer Mentor.
He recently had interviews with various employers and has just accepted a position at the Gayle & Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship.
He plans to transfer to Indiana University in the fall to pursue his bachelor’s degree in either Informatics or Accounting.
Justin Dorman, 32, Associate of Science, Supply Chain Management & Logistics. Technical Certificate, Statewide Transfer General Education Core (STGEC), Outstanding Student Award
Justin chose Ivy Tech Community College because of the proximity to both his home and work. When he decided that he was ready to further his career in the supply chain industry, he enrolled in courses toward an associate degree.
During his time at Ivy Tech, he volunteered as Fire Chief at the local Volunteer Fire Department in Owen County.
Justin says that earning his associate degree has made it possible for him to advance his career with his current employer, Baxter Pharmaceuticals.
He plans to transfer to a university to complete his bachelor’s degree but has not yet decided where. He intends to study transportation security.
LeeAnn White, 34, Associate of Fine Arts, Outstanding Student Award, Magna Cum Laude
LeeAnn decided to enroll at Ivy Tech Community College when she became tired of working low-wage jobs due to her lack of education. She was determined to prove to herself that she could do it. LeeAnn never graduated high school as a teenager, so this will be the first graduation ceremony she’s ever attended!
She earned academic honors at Ivy Tech by making the Dean’s list. She was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and once served as the guest speaker at New Student Orientation.
Thanks to a very special professor, LeeAnn has found employment locally, at Textillery Weavers. She makes throws on a computer-operated loom, which allows her time for her own art on the side.
She is keeping the doors open to someday earning a bachelor’s degree when her children get a little older.
LeeAnn credits her husband, four children (ranging in age from five to 16), and the rest of her family for their support. She says that she couldn’t have done it without them.
Josh Ross, 24, Associate of Applied Science, Kinesiology & Exercise Science, Outstanding Student Award, Cum Laude
Before he chose to attend Ivy Tech Community College, Josh tried attending two universities and studying in three different degree programs. None were the right fit. He chose Ivy Tech’s Bloomington campus because it offered an exercise science degree program. He says he was always into athletics growing up and wanted to pursue a career in which he could help people become healthier through fitness.
He persevered throughout his time at Ivy Tech and fine-tuned his time management skills. He drove from Columbus, Ind. to complete his degree, held a full-time job, became engaged, married, and is now expecting a son who is due to be born just weeks after graduation. Josh’s proudest moment is when he was named the Outstanding Student in his program of study.
After the baby arrives, he plans to continue his education and earn a bachelor’s degree.
Josh currently works the desk at Columbus Fit. Once he acquires his professional certification, he will become a personal trainer, assigned to clients.
Mason Brothers, 22, Associate of Applied Science, Design Technology, Outstanding Student Award
Mason chose to attend Ivy Tech Community College right out of high school because he had earned dual credits through the Early College program. He also chose Ivy Tech because it is affordable and close to home, which made it possible for him to keep a full-time job during his studies.
During his time at Ivy Tech, Mason earned a scholarship and served as a Supplemental Instructor for a 3D design course.
Along with graduating with his associate degree, Mason holds professional certification as a Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate, affording him additional marketability in his career field.
Mason is employed locally at Tri-County Steel in Bedford, Ind. as a contract draftsman. He gained employment there with the education he received at Ivy Tech.
Tracy Lamptey, 18, Technical Certificate, Optometric Technology
Following high school graduation, Tracy applied and enrolled at Ivy Tech Community College because it offered her degree program of interest. She learned about the Optometric Technology program while talking with her family. Tracy’s sisters also attended and graduated from Ivy Tech, one of which, is graduating at the same time as Tracy!
She earned a couple of scholarships along the way and says that her biggest challenge was time management – between attending classes, working at her job, completing clinicals, and studying- her time was spread thin.
One day, Tracy intends to become an Optometrist. She is transferring to Indiana University this fall to study chemistry, and to complete pre-requirements for entry into Optometry School.
She was just hired locally as an Optician at America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses. Tracy is glad she will have experience in the field when she begins her studies at IU in the fall.
Lynn Lamptey, 22, Associate of Applied Science, Network Infrastructure, Magna Cum Laude
Lynn decided to move back to Bloomington from Michigan and transfer to Ivy Tech Community College. She wanted to complete a degree without excessive debt and says that naturally, Ivy Tech was the best option. While at Ivy Tech, she earned scholarships and grants that eased the financial burden.
Lynn was a resilient and dedicated student. She sustained a fracture in her leg just weeks before finals and was put on bedrest. She had put so much effort into preparing for her Networking final that she got her doctor’s permission to go to campus to complete the exam. She says that she crutched back and forth from the classroom to the data center to build and configure her network to complete the final and that she ended up with the highest score. Her future plans include finding full-time work in her career field as a network administrator and studying for her bachelor’s degree, and eventually her master’s.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College (ivytech.edu) serves communities across Indiana, providing world-class education and driving economic transformation. It is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering high-value degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its communities, along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.
