Ivy Tech Community College’s Lake County campus celebrated commencement ceremonies May 10, and Valparaiso's campus on May 9.
The Lake County campus honored 300 graduates. The students earned about 1,600 degrees and certificates combined during the 2023-2024 academic year.
“Graduation is a truly special moment,” said Marcos Rodriquez Jr., chancellor of the Lake County campus, in a press release. “It’s the culmination of our students’ dedication, late nights studying and unwavering determination.”
Kevin Teasley, founder and CEO of the Indianapolis-based Greater Education Opportunities Foundation, was this year’s honorary degree recipient and keynote speaker. The Greater Education Opportunities Foundation launched an Indiana charter school in 2002. Today, it supports eight schools serving almost 4,000 students in Indianapolis, Gary and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Ivy Tech’s graduation was held at the Steel Yard, home of the Gary SouthShore RailCats baseball team. One of the graduates was 77-year-old Mary Cunningham, the oldest graduate from Ivy Tech’s Honors College statewide.
“We at the Lake County campus feel an immense sense of pride for each and every graduate,” Rodriguez said. “This is a day we look forward to with almost as much anticipation as the graduates themselves. We can’t wait to see what more they achieve in the future.”
The college's Valparaiso campus also celebrated a commencement ceremony on May 9 at the Valparaiso University Athletics Recreation Center.
More than 1,200 students earned about 1,700 degrees and certifications in the 2023-2024 school year.
“We are incredibly excited and proud of all of our students and their many accomplishments,” said Campus Chancellor Aco Sikoski in a press release. “Our students have worked tirelessly to accomplish their degrees.”
Dr. Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech Community College, gave the keynote address.
Lisa Daugherty, president and CEO of Center of Workforce Innovations, was presented with an honorary degree.
Ivy Tech Community College operates more than 75 campuses throughout Indiana. It also serves thousands of students annually online. Ivy Tech offers associate’s degrees and certificates to students in over 70 programs. The college was founded in 1963 as Indiana Vocational Technical College.
– Heather Pfundstein, executive editor, contributed to this report.
Caption: Ivy Tech Community College’s Lake County campus celebrated commencement ceremonies May 10 at the Steel Yard, home of the Gary SouthShore RailCats baseball team. (Provided by Ivy Tech Community College)
