A Columbus couple had an influential role in development of the Ivy Tech Community College in the region.
She served 24 years on Ivy Tech’s Columbus region board of trustees until her 2011 retirement, including three terms as chairwoman.
Garton, who earned an associate degree in graphic arts in 1981, became the first Ivy Tech graduate to serve as a board chairperson.
Garton’s focus during her board involvement was to bring more awareness of Ivy Tech, a college that has helped some individuals become the first in their family to earn a college degree, she said.
“Anyone who went to an Ivy Tech graduation couldn’t help but be affected by how it helped students,” Garton said.
A certificate or degree from Ivy Tech has proven to be a ticket to success, she said.
“You can do whatever you want to do,” Garton said. “You’re going to be trained and support yourself and your family.”
Students were always a top priority for Garton and her fellow board members, something she said still remains true today at Ivy Tech.
“That’s always been very foremost in everybody’s mind,” she said. “It changes lives. We know it and we’ve seen it.”
Garton’s husband also played a significant role in development of Ivy Tech in Columbus.
As president of the Indiana Senate for 26 years, through 2006, Bob Garton helped establish the Columbus campus at its current location in the Columbus Municipal Airport AirPark in 1983.
While in the Senate, Bob Garton helped direct funding to Columbus for the Columbus Learning Center, which opened in 2005 as a shared facility for Indiana University, Purdue University and Ivy Tech. That included $500,000 in lab equipment.
Garton was employed by Ivy Tech at the administrative headquarters Indianapolis from 1996 until 2011, when he retired as vice president of professional development.
The Gartons were recipients of an honorary associate of science degree in college and community service award from Ivy Tech the year they retired.
