Bloomington— Ivy Tech Community College’s Bloomington campus will hold its annual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 12 at 6 p.m. in the Indiana University Auditorium, where it will confer approximately 1,052 associate degrees and certifications to graduates.
Bridget Badder, Associate of Science in Nursing graduate, will give the commencement address. Badder earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University in 2012 and enrolled at Ivy Tech in 2015. She worked in public relations for a nonprofit organization in Chicago for several years before she discovered her true desire was to pursue work in the medical field. She is currently employed by IU Health Bloomington Hospital as a patient care assistant in obstetrics and will start work in a new role in labor and delivery after graduation.
She received an Indiana Career and Technical Education Award from the Indiana Department of Education in February 2017.
“During her time at Ivy Tech Community College, Bridget excelled academically, served in many student organizations, and held multiple leadership positions,” said Jennie Vaughan, Chancellor at Ivy Tech Bloomington. “We’re really proud of Bridget and congratulate her on her educational success, as she moves into a high-demand career that she was called to do.”
Ivy Tech Bloomington is conferring degrees to 33 ASAP (Associate Accelerated Program) graduates. ASAP was designed to provide students (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, and Business Administration. A new ASAP offering in Informatics will begin this summer.
The number of students graduating with honors is 183, with 23 graduating Summa Cum Laude for maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Ivy Tech Bloomington is graduating 8 international students representing the countries of Brazil, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, and India, and will confer degrees to 10 military veterans.
Approximately 68 Associate of Science in Nursing and 25 Practical Nursing degrees will be awarded.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
