Ivy Tech Community College honored 160 students through the Ivy Tech Student Leadership Academy, including 14 from the Ivy Tech Northeast region, Dec. 9 at the Conrad Hotel in Indianapolis.
The Ivy Tech Student Leadership Academy is a leadership development program designed specifically for Ivy Tech students. The academy provides students with an opportunity to further develop their leadership and professional development skills, while learning more about the history and traditions of the College. This state-wide program has a standard structure and curriculum that is offered to students through the region in which they are enrolled. Its goals are to:
- Develop students leadership skills
- Develop students professional development skills
- Develop future student and alumni leaders
- Enhance retention of students from fall to spring semester
- Increase participants pride in the College
Regionally, students who participated find leadership roles on campus. Candy Lucero is president of ¡G.O.A.L. y Amigos!, the College’s Latino student organization, and Dontae Hampton was the College’s delegate for College Debate 2016, a national non-partisan group that brings together college students nationwide and teaches them “to identify issues and engage peers in the presidential election.”
The students who participated in addition to Lucero and Hampton are Travis Armstrong, Karen Caprioni, Elasha Carswell, Dustin Catalan, Teresa Haag, Phyllis Lomanto, Gabrielle Marcano, Innocent Odoh, Rachel Thompson, Jennifer Walker, Genie Walters, and Steven Widenhoeft.
The 160 students were chosen through a competitive application process, with more than 600 students applying. Fifteen students from each region were chosen to participate in the 10-week co-curricular program and have successfully completed the program. The students were honored at the luncheon, where Ivy Tech President, Dr. Sue Ellspermann, addressed the graduates. In addition, Sam Centellas, the executive director of La Casa de Amistad from South Bend, Ind. provided the keynote address.
Each academy graduate received a specially designed medallion to wear during Commencement. In addition, they will receive a scholarship for a three credit hour course that could be used the spring semester immediately following.
Inside Ivy Tech 