University news
Campbell University announces local graduate
Columbus native Rachana Pottem graduated from Campbellsville University on Dec. 6. Pottem received her master of science in information technology management.
Ivy Tech Columbus alumna honored for success
The Ivy Tech Foundation recently hosted its annual Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony recognizing 19 honorees, including Ivy Tech Columbus alumna Kathy Covert.
Covert is the vice president of workforce and organizational development for Schneck Medical Center in Seymour. Her many volunteer roles include serving on the Ivy Tech Columbus Board of Trustees.
Since 1998, the Distinguished Alumni Award has celebrated the success of Ivy Tech alumni by recognizing a group of graduates who have made a lasting, positive contribution to the community, state or college since completing their education. As the highest honor alumni can receive, the award is designated for individuals with outstanding professional, philanthropic or volunteer accomplishments.
Covert credits her success to her Ivy Tech education and never hesitates to provide her testimony and encouragement to current and future Ivy Tech students.
Ivy Tech offers firefighters scholarship
The Indiana Volunteer Firefighter’s Association and Ivy Tech Community College have partnered to give volunteer first responders across Indiana the chance to earn a two-year degree, tuition-free.
Ivy Tech has started to see enrollments using the scholarship and expect to see more leading up to the start of classes on Jan. 13.
What first started as an idea from Indiana Rep. Randy Frye, R-Greensburg, has turned into a new program to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters, in an effort to address the growing shortage of first responders, particularly in Indiana’s rural areas.
Frye previously introduced House Bill 1064 to establish an Ivy Tech scholarship fund, and the intent was to provide scholarship funds to volunteer first responders attending any program at Ivy Tech. The bill passed the Indiana House of Representatives, but was not heard in the Indiana Senate.
Ivy Tech has committed to provide $250,000 over two years to pay for tuition and fees for volunteer first responders to attend academic programs, with the exception of Flight Aviation and General Studies.
As long as a volunteer first responder is enrolled as a degree seeking student and holds good standing with a volunteer fire department, the individual may be eligible to receive a two-year degree for free. This offer applies to future and current Ivy Tech students; however, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to remain eligible.
To learn more, visit ivfa.org or ivytech.edu/volunteer.
