Natalie Craig chooses Ivy Tech for community feel, looks toward internship at French Lick Resort

Natalie Craig, Hospitality Administration student, chose Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington because it offers a smaller campus and a community feeling. Before attending Ivy Tech, she went to Indiana Digital Learning School, which is an online Indiana public school.

“Not having attended a high school that was brick and mortar, I felt comfortable going to Ivy Tech knowing that everything was located in the same building,” Craig said. “I liked how they offered online courses as well as virtual options because I was used to them.”

Craig says her experience has been great so far. “I really enjoy having 8-week course options because it allows me to focus on just a few classes at a time and still take the same amount of credit hours in one semester.”

Craig is also benefitting from free classes after 12 credit hours, free textbooks, and a frozen tuition rate with the Ivy+ tuition model. “This [Ivy+] allowed me to take additional classes without having to worry about paying for them, as well as free textbooks,” she said. “This helped keep the amount of financial aid that I needed at a lower amount.”

Ivy Tech Bloomington recently entered into partnership with French Lick Resort to offer career experience for students through paid internships. Beginning this fall, Hospitality students will gain hands-on skills at this premier, Four Diamond resort.

“I will be applying for the French Lick internship program, and I believe the partnership that Ivy Tech has created with French Lick will be a great opportunity for students who are entering into this field of work,” she said.  “Receiving experience from various positions at this resort will provide someone with great knowledge of the industry and give them a starting point for their career.”

After graduation in 2023, Craig will be looking for hands-on experience working in events and to be hired as an event coordinator. “Ivy Tech is preparing me for this goal by offering classes that pertain to my Hospitality degree that will allow me to enter into this field with a background of knowledge,” she said.

Craig has earned a scholarship from Home Goods, Inc., made the Dean’s list, and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.   

Ivy Tech Community College offers more than 70 career and four-year transfer programs, with courses that start multiple times per year for quick entry and graduation. To get started, apply for free online at ivytech.edu, call 812-330-6013, or email askBloomington@ivytech.edu. For information on tuition-free programs at Ivy Tech Bloomington, visit ivytech.edu/bloomington/NLJ.