A total of 19 honorees who overcame an assortment of personal challenges were recognized by the Ivy Tech Foundation with Distinguished Alumni Awards.
The Distinguished Alumni Award, which have been presented since 1998, has celebrated the success of Ivy Tech Community College alumni by recognizing select graduates who have made a lasting, positive contribution to the community, state or college since completing their education. The award is highest honor presented to Ivy Tech alumni.
“Ivy Tech has seen tremendous success throughout the past 56 years, this is due in great part to the successes of our alumni,” said John Murphy, Ivy Tech Foundation president. “We have honored over 250 distinguished alumni who have made valuable contributions in their communities and have been exceptional in their professional careers. They are excellent examples of what can happen when desire and opportunity intersect.”
The following alumni received the Distinguished Alumni Award for 2019-2020:
Wendy Bailey (Anderson campus): Bailey teaches, encourages, and mentors students, both as an educator in the Anderson Community School system and community volunteer. She is also currently collaborating on a book with other fellow mentors.
Debra Morrow (Bloomington campus): Morrow’s started her career she was a client of Middle Way House, a facility that supports survivors of domestic violence. She continued her education in criminal justice, graduating magna cum laude from Indiana State University and now directs the very agency that had provided her safety and shelter in a time of need.
Kathy Covert (Columbus campus): Covert is the vice president of workforce and organizational development for Schneck Medical Center.
Lynda Gamroth (Evansville campus): With her degree from the Evansville campus, Gamroth turned a lifelong hobby into a lucrative grassroots business bringing joy to couples and families across the Midwest with stunning photography of their special days.
Erick and Trenton Ehinger (Fort Wayne campus): Trent and Erick Ehinger, along with their father, Ed, lead 3E Industries, LLC, one of the premier lawn, landscaping, and outdoor design companies in the Fort Wayne region.
Karen Mangia (Indianapolis campus): Mangia is vice president at Salesforce and gives time to numerous arts organizations.
Ryan Wolf (Kokomo campus): Before Wolf earned his degree from Ivy Tech Kokomo, he served in the military, completing three tours in Iraq, and worked as an independent contractor in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tracey Campbell (Lafayette campus): Campbell’s many achievements in the field of nursing are notable. A flight nurse with St. Vincent Hospital, Tracey also serves as a guest lecturer in forensic nursing at Franciscan St. Elizabeth Hospital. Campbell launched the Center for Hope at Home Hospital in Lafayette, providing care for survivors of sexual assault.
Jose Peralta (Lake County campus): Peralta was determined to complete his degree at Ivy Tech in Lake County despite the challenges of working a full-time job as a bus driver in Chicago and caring for his family. He now owns a successful catering company and food truck, providing employment to family members.
Alyssa Lay (Lawrenceburg campus): Lay is the director of K-14 initiatives and recruitment for the Ivy Tech Lawrenceburg Campus.
Stacy Crawley (Madison campus): Crawley is a certified fitness coach, speaker, and trainer. She is actively engaged in numerous leadership roles within the community, including the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Giving Circle, and Madison Area Bicycle Club.
Kevin Grider (Marion campus): Grider inspires others with his spirit of entrepreneurship. His company, Midwest Fresh, only utilizes products
produced in the Midwest, primarily from local small entrepreneurs.
Tracy Jackson (Michigan City): Tracy completed her degree from Ivy Tech Michigan City, then continued her education and obtained certifications within surgical services while she pursued a career as a surgical technician.
Mia Johnson (Muncie campus): After failing out of the first four-year college she attended, Johnson found her purpose thanks to an Ivy Tech instructor. She continued her education and rose from a clerk in the Ivy Tech testing center to vice chancellor of academic affairs.
Patrick Ripberger (Richmond campus): Ripberger has worked to enhance the health and wellness of his community, both in his professional role with Reid Health and volunteer service with numerous organizations.
Chris Furlow (Sellersburg campus): Furlow is a British ex-pat with a desire to help others lead healthier lives.
Radharani Buenrostro Magallon (South Bend/Elkhart campus): Magallon is active in Phi Theta Kappa- Beta Beta Alpha, helping the chapter earn a five-star rating this year. Most recently, she joined the South Bend/Elkhart Campus staff as the Hispanic outreach coordinator.
Jordan Brown (Terre Haute campus): Brown has applied his Ivy Tech education in all business endeavors he and his family own and operate. Both J & N Metal Products and Hoosier Aviation were founded on the family’s love of aviation and focus on improving quality jobs in the Wabash Valley.
Christine Hildebrand (Valparaiso campus): Hildebrand is a surgical educator for Porter Regional Hospital in Valparaiso and on the campus’ surgical technology advisory board.
