Graduates share their paths to success

Colin Stahl
Associate of Science, Engineering Technology
Outstanding Student Award
Cum Laude

Colin decided that he needed to build himself up professionally for the benefit of his career. Since his employer was offering tuition assistance through the Achieve Your Degree partnership with Ivy Tech—and the college had the programs and opportunities he was seeking—he decided to enroll.

During his studies, he was involved in the Maker Club as an officer, was active in the EPICS Robotics Workshop service-learning course, which introduces elementary and middle school students to robotics and programming basics, and served as a Supplemental Instructional lead for the Intro to Circuit Analysis course. He also volunteered to present the banana piano electronics project at the Girl Scouts STEM fair and served during Ivy Tech’s Day of Service.

He is currently employed at Catalent and worked full-time while he completed his degree. Colin says Ivy Tech’s course offerings and flexibility made it possible to fit education into his work and life schedule.

He says that he is grateful to have been a part of the Achieve Your Degree program because it has allowed him to further his education without worrying about how to afford the costs each semester.

Anna Salzman
Associate of Applied Science, Hospitality Administration
Summa Cum Laude

Anna graduated with her bachelor’s degree in archaeology in 2012 and decided to pursue an associate degree in culinary arts with the goal of studying or teaching food and drink in antiquity. She researched culinary programs and discovered that Ivy Tech Bloomington’s program was both affordable and accredited by the American Culinary Federation.

She says that she found her place once she began the program at Ivy Tech and has decided to pursue baking and pastry as a career. She even served as president of the Culinary Club in 2016, and was awarded multiple scholarships.

During her studies, Anna worked full time hours in her field, as a pastry chef at One World Enterprises and at Bloomingfoods Co-op.

Now, Anna works in a newly-created position at Indiana University. She is the Pastry Team Leader at The Eateries.

Terry Way
Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN-RN)

Terry chose Ivy Tech for the convenience in location and the unwavering reputation of the nursing program. Before that, he was active duty Air Force for 10 years and then Reserves. He had the opportunity to provide direct medical care when he deployed in 2009 and enjoyed it – from there, Terry committed to becoming a nurse, but it wouldn’t be for 6 more years that he would pursue the path.

Terry and his wife, Amanda, raise seven children and he credits his wife for her support throughout the last few years. He says if it hadn’t been for her guidance and encouragement, he may still be “spinning his wheels in the trucking industry.”

Terry looks forward to earning his bachelor’s degree in nursing, but has not yet made a decision about which college to attend.

He was just offered a position as a registered nurse at Community Health South and has accepted. He’ll begin work upon passing his national licensing exam (the NCLEX

Seth Combs
Associate of Applied Science, Biotechnology
Outstanding Student Award
Cum Laude

Seth decided to go back to school at Ivy Tech after life challenges forced him to put a hold on his university studies.

He first learned about Ivy Tech by attending an advisor appointment with a friend. During that meeting he was so impressed with Sarah Cote, Professor of Biology, and Ivy Tech’s programs that he set up a meeting himself with Professor Cote to discuss his interest in science and pharmaceuticals.

He credits Professor Cote with giving him the courage to return and complete his education at Ivy Tech.

Seth plans to transfer to Indiana University in the fall with the end goal of earning a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree.

Justin Muniz
Associate of Science, Software Development
Cum Laude

Justin enrolled at Ivy Tech just a few years ago because his goal was to earn an associate degree in software development and to work in a field that interested him – his main priority was to graduate.

He says that his education at Ivy Tech helped him gain the skills and knowledge that his employer seeks in job candidates.

He recently gained employment as an Associate Software Engineer at Platformatics, coding software for lighting systems.

Krisana Martin
Associate of Applied Science, Business Administration

Once Krisana learned about her employer’s tuition assistance program, she decided to enroll at Ivy Tech to help advance her career. She earned her associate degree with no-upfront costs, made possible through the Achieve Your Degree partnership Cook has with Ivy Tech.

She is considering continuing her education and earning a bachelor’s degree at Indiana Wesleyan University, and looks forward to the challenge.

In the future, she plans to keep pushing herself and working hard to advance her career at Cook.

Jennifer Hicks
Associate of Applied Science, Business Administration

Jennifer decided that she wanted to seek other career opportunities with her employer, and get out of production. So, when she learned that her company, Cook Group, was offering tuition reimbursement through Ivy Tech’s Achieve Your Degree program, she signed up for classes.

She says it was convenient from work to attend Ivy Tech to complete her degree.

Jennifer plans to continue her education and transfer to Indiana State University to earn her bachelor’s degree in human resources development.

Jessica Corbin
Associate of Science, Early Childhood Education
Summa Cum Laude

Jessica decided that she was ready to return to the workforce after having her daughter in 2012. She first chose to attend Ivy Tech to gain her education.

During her studies, Jessica was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society, a TEACH grant recipient, and Wonderlab volunteer.

As a recently single mother, Jessica aims to set a positive example and show that anyone can succeed. She credits her education in Ivy Tech’s Early Childhood Education program with shaping the teacher and parent she’s become today.

Jessica is currently employed as an Infant Toddler Teacher at the Bloomington Developmental Learning Center in town, and she hopes to transfer to Indiana University in the fall to earn her bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Sustainable Studies.

Brooklynn Melton
Associate of Applied Science, Healthcare Specialist
Outstanding Student Award
Cum Laude

After moving to a new state during her senior year of high school, Brooklynn’s college plans were put on hold. She had lost the in-state tuition rate for college, so she took one year off after high school to research her options for higher education.

Brooklynn chose Ivy Tech because of the many opportunities that were available to her in finding the right career path in the medical field. She says that earning her degree as a healthcare specialist has opened up many doors.

During her time at Ivy Tech, she served as a volunteer for her local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and at Reach High Consulting & Therapy in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) clinic, where she is also currently employed.

This fall, Brooklynn plans to transfer to Indiana University to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

In the future, she hopes to find work as a traveling trauma nurse.

Abigail Duncan
Associate of Science, Elementary Education (TSAP)
ASAP Program
Outstanding Student Award
Cum Laude

Abbi chose Ivy Tech’s Associate Accelerated Program (ASAP) right out of high school because it was close to home, and she wasn’t quite ready to leave home just yet. She appreciates that she was able to grow and affordably explore her educational and career options at Ivy Tech.

Abbi plans to transfer to Indiana University Southeast to earn her bachelor’s degree. She says she’s not worried at all about her ability to succeed because she has already established valuable study and testing skills.

In the future, Abbi looks forward to graduating with her bachelor’s degree at only 20 years old! She is so excited and credits Ivy Tech’s ASAP program as the only way this would have been possible.

Casey Hamilton
Associate of Applied Science, Homeland Security/Public Safety

Casey chose Ivy Tech because she needed flexibility to complete her degree. She is a military veteran who currently serves in the Guard as a Staff Sergeant, and keeps a full time job. Casey has been deployed three times to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo. She even kept her full course load when she deployed to Kosovo!

Casey attends Ivy Tech through the G.I. Bill, and she says that the DJ in the veteran’s office has been wonderful in making it a seamless experience.

Casey is currently employed but she has just found new work with her degree. She’ll start her new job soon in the Career Pathways Program as a Safety and Risk Mitigation Analyst for NSWC Crane.

In the fall, Casey plans to transfer her associate degree to Indiana University and complete her bachelor’s degree in public safety.

 

Ann Maas
Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN-RN)
Cum Laude

Ann had a 4.0 GPA when she applied to enter Ivy Tech’s Marchant School of Nursing! As a wife and mother of four children, she decided to attend Ivy Tech because it was close to home.

Ann served as president of the nursing club and was member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She received several scholarships including the Ferguson Scholarship, Annie and Lee Marchant-Kay Leach Endowed Scholarship, and SGA Veterans Scholarship.

In the future she plans to continue her education, but first her family is moving to Washington, D.C. Once settled, she plans to earn her bachelor’s degree and then a master’s in midwifery.