Ivy Tech Community College, Columbus
Success Stories

The areas of study available at Ivy Tech Community College are all designed to prepare you to enter the workforce with a good paying job or transfer to a four-year college or university to complete your bachelor's degree. Whichever path you choose, success is within your reach.

Take a look at what Ivy Tech graduates have to say about their experiences and what they are doing today. If you have your own Ivy Tech success story share it with us here.

Featured 2008 Graduates:

Mariné Loveless was inspired by her own life experiences

Life experiences inspired her career

Mariné Loveless was born in Cancun, Mexico. In December 2006, while a teenager, she moved to the United States and Kokomo and enrolled at Northwestern High School, where she earned several awards including a student of the month award and awards for academic achievement and sports. She graduated from Northwestern High School in 2003 with a Core 40 diploma.

Mariné's family hired an immigration attorney who did not complete all of the appropriate paperwork, so Mariné's immigration status prevented her from pursuing a college education when she graduated from high school. Mariné and her family eventually completed the necessary paperwork on their own. Mariné received her green card in December 2005. Soon after she received her green card, she and her husband welcomed their daughter, Bethany. Bethany's birth helped Mariné realize that she needed to continue pursuing her dreams.

The experience Mariné had with her immigration status led her to think about pursuing a career in the legal field. Mariné enrolled at Ivy Tech in the fall of 2006 as a paralegal student. She has been on the Dean's list every semester since enrollment. At the end of the fall of 2007 her GPA was 3.857. Even though Mariné is not a native English speaker, and she did not move to the United States until she was in high school, her writing assignments are flawless.

In addition to superb academic performance, Mariné has been very involved with student life at Ivy Tech. In fall of 2007, Mariné began peer tutoring and worked with an Ivy Tech student who was taking Spanish. She met twice a week with the student and helped the student with homework assignments, pronunciation and exam preparations. In addition to her peer tutoring, Mariné was a lab assistant at Ivy Tech and is currently a data clerk for the ASA Tutoring Center. She helps students in the ASA center with math problems and assignments. In addition to her Ivy Tech activities, Mariné assists with the Kimmunity program at Chapel Hill Christian Church.

Upon graduation Mariné plans to obtain a paralegal job with a law firm or governmental agency. She wants to be able to assist people who need legal assistance and hopes to make a difference in individual lives. As a college graduate, she hopes to inspire her daughter and help her realize that American dreams are reachable for anyone with courage and determination to work through and beyond life's obstacles.

Jonathan Bedrava takes his education around the globe

As Jonathan Bedrava carefully folded sheets of colorful paper for the crowded classroom, the students and teachers eagerly watched in anticipation of trying their hand at the ancient Japanese art form of origami. In this case, however, the classroom was far from Jonathan's Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo campus. It was in the small village of Buche on the northwest coast of Ecuador.

During the summer or 2007, Jonathan was among a group of Ivy Tech students, alumni and friends who traveled to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands.

Jonathan, named Outstanding Student in the Computer Information Systems program, has made the most of his experience at Ivy Tech. Not only is Jonathan an academic stand-out, but he has participated in a number of cultural activities offered through the Office of Student Life and Development. In addition to the trip to South America, Jonathan also has traveled with the college to Plains, Georgia, to meet former President Carter and to New Orleans to help put one more family back in their home during his time at Ivy Tech. The trip to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands; however, stands out above the rest.

“It was a life-changing experience,” said Jonathan. “We learned as much from the people that we met as the kids did that day in the classroom. We were taken out of our comfort zone many times. What we learned can't be found in a book.”

Ivy Tech Kokomo Director of Student Life Alayne Cook agrees.

“I've known Jonathan for quite a while. It's been so great to see them experience what they have—to see them function so well in a completely different environment.

“As we work with students, we never know the result of the stone tossed in the water. We often see the first ripple, but we may not know the impact of each experience. Jon has taken such an interest in learning Spanish on the trip, I could see him as a CEO someday, working in a country where his new language skills will be essential.”

Chancellor Steve Daily fervently believes in the importance of service and experiential learning.

“This kind of trip is what comprehensive community colleges are about,” said Chancellor Steve Daily, who serves on the Save the Rainforest International Board of Directors. “We were able to provide scholarships for two of our students. We try to provide as many opportunities like this as we can for students each year. This trip is one that makes such a huge impact on their lives. It gives them a totally new perspective on the world.”

After graduation, Jonathan will be returning to the Islands for another eco-tourism adventure before heading off to IUPUI in the fall to pursue a bachelor's degree in informatics.

But for now, Jonathan graduates in May signaling the end of his Ivy Tech education. Graduation is only the beginning for Jonathan, though, because as he could attest, the world is his classroom—and class is about to begin.

Norma Saenz is unpacking dreams and providing a future for her family

Ivy Tech education is a dream come true When Norma Saenz was packing up her belongings to move from California to Indiana in March of 2003, she remembered to bring with her two of her most valued possessions—a goal and a dream.

By May 15, 2008, she will have unpacked half of that suitcase with the other half sure to follow.

At semester's end, Norma will be graduating from Ivy Tech Community College with an Associate of Science Degree in Paralegal Studies—her goal of attaining a college degree fulfilled.

Norma's story of success begins in the South American country of Guatemala, a place, needless, to say, that is quite different from Logansport, Indiana. As a young girl growing up in Guatemala, Norma always dreamed of being a lawyer, but in Guatemala, she says, that was not really an option.

Never losing sight of that dream, she moved to California when she was 17 and began attending an occupational center to prepare herself for college. Later, she moved to Logansport, completed her GED, and began taking classes at Ivy Tech in the evenings while working full-time. Those days were sometimes difficult, she says, as she had to juggle her coursework and job with a new and even more demanding responsibility—parenthood.

Norma says instructors at Ivy Tech were always very understanding of her situation and willing to help her along the way, coming to class early or staying longer if necessary and continually encouraging her to go further in her education and to follow her dreams.

One of those dreams is to earn a bachelor's degree and one day even a law degree. Both are dreams she plans to pursue very soon.

After earning her associate degree from Ivy Tech, Norma will be transferring to Indiana University Kokomo to pursue a bachelor's degree in sociology. After that, who knows? Norma says she plans to begin working part-time as a translator in the court system or at a law firm. Eventually, she plans to finally unpack that long-held dream she brought with her all the way from the tropical climate in Guatemala to California and finally to Logansport—the dream of going to law school and becoming an immigration lawyer.

Norma says that her Ivy Tech education has not only prepared her to transfer to IUK or enter the workforce, but it has made her a much more well-rounded mother, wife, and citizen.

“My Ivy Tech education is changing my life a lot in how I talk to my children, how I educate my children, and how I interact with my husband and friends,” says the first-generation college graduate, who will proudly include her maiden name on her diploma to emphasize that point. “I'm also learning more about the political system in the U.S. and that is very important to me.”

The children she speaks about, her four-year-old boy and two-year-old girl, are two of the driving forces behind her education.

“The reason I enrolled in college four years ago was to give my unborn baby a better life,” explains Norma. “I now have two children who are my reason to succeed and excel in everything I do.”

In response to how her education from Ivy Tech has changed her life, Norma says confidently and with tremendous assurance, “If we do not have education, we have nothing.”

Now if you'll excuse her, Norma has some more unpacking to do.