TERRE HAUTE — Ivy Tech Community College’s Terre Haute campus will hold its annual commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 9 at 7 p.m. at the Hulman Center in downtown Terre Haute. Approximately 1,700 associate degrees and certificates will be awarded to more than 1,200 graduates. These graduates will soon join the workforce in the Wabash Valley or transfer to four-year institutions.

 

Graduates include 107 high school students who have earned college credentials. Most high school students who will graduate from Ivy Tech were able to complete their college credential at little or no cost by taking Ivy Tech dual credit classes.

 

The majority of these high school age graduates have earned the Statewide Transfer General Education Core technical certificate, also known as the “Start as a Sophomore” program. Students who have completed the program can transfer 30 credits to any Indiana public institution upon acceptance and start as a sophomore. Other high school students have earned certificates in career fields including information technology, automotive technology, and industrial technology.

 

Elizabeth Little, human services alumna, will give the commencement address. Little is the coordinator of the Pathway of Hope program at The Salvation Army of Vigo County.

 

Two honorary degree recipients, Ed and Jo Ann Carmichael, will be recognized on Thursday.

 

Graduates have varied plans for their careers and continued education.

 

Andrew May, father of three, was first hired in the mechanic department at Woodco Walls in Terre Haute because of his automotive technician skills. He now manages maintenance of the entire Woodco Walls fleet and will graduate with an Associate of Applied Science in Diesel Technology.

 

 

“I enrolled at Ivy Tech for training because not many people are familiar with the latest diesel technology,” said May. “I’m now taking on more responsibility at work and the training is definitely making my job easier.”

 

Abigayle Hall, Sullivan High School senior, will earn the Statewide Transfer General Education Core (STGEC) technical certificate in Ivy Tech’s “Start as a Sophomore” program. She is already enrolled at Ivy Tech for the Fall 2019 Semester to continue her education and plans to apply to the diagnostic medical sonography program to earn her associate degree. Hall took Ivy Tech dual credit and advanced placement classes at Sullivan High School.

 

 

“College level classes challenge you more,” said Hall. “I would encourage other students to get some college classes out of the way in high school. It’s easier to take the classes in high school than in college and you don’t have to pay for dual credit classes.”

 

Hall has already had clinical experience in the healthcare field and has job shadowed at Regional Hospital. After she completes her Ivy Tech associate degree, her goal is to start a career close to home.

 

Micah White served four years in the Navy before enrolling at Ivy Tech. He was working two jobs with no benefits just to make ends meet. He enrolled at Ivy Tech to explore different career fields and discovered the criminal justice program. He applied for a correctional officer position at Putnamville Correctional Facility and got the job because of his Ivy Tech coursework and experience. Micah has started his new career and will complete his Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice.

 

Stephanie Jones will graduate with an Associate of Science in Nursing. She said she has always wanted to be a nurse. Jones worked in the housekeeping department at Union Hospital before enrolling at Ivy Tech.

 

“I feel like nursing is what I was meant to do,” said Jones. “I enjoy being a bedside nurse because your focus is on the patients.”

 

Jones plans to work at Union Hospital while continuing her education in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at University of Southern Indiana.

 

Graham Arnold will complete an Associate of Science in Human Services, and has been accepted to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College to start a bachelor’s degree program in fall. Graham is a father of four, so Ivy Tech online classes allowed him to attend classes at night.

 

“My career goal is to work with teens to help give them confidence to reach their goals,” said Arnold. “If someone had reached out to me when I was a teen, I might have enrolled in college sooner.”

 

Emma Shrout graduated in April with a CNC Operator certificate and four certifications through the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS). She was a press break operator at Dixie Chopper and previously worked on CNC machines. After the company closed its doors, she enrolled at Ivy Tech. She plans to continue at Ivy Tech to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Machine Tool Technology while working part-time as a CNC machine operator.

 

An anticipated 85% of graduates will stay within the Ivy Tech Terre Haute service area and 93% will stay within Indiana.

 

For more information about the Ivy Tech “Start as a Sophomore” program visit ivytech.edu/sophomore.