Richmond Region News

Ivy Tech-Richmond Spring Semester Registration times for classes starting Jan. 14

It’s not too late to start college. Ivy Tech Community College-Richmond spring classes begin in Richmond, Connersville and Rushville Jan. 14.

Prospective students can apply online or on campus, while returning students may register online or by visiting the Richmond, Connersville or Rushville locations.

Ivy Tech Richmond campus registration hours are 8 am-6 pm, Jan. 3, 8-5 p.m., Jan. 4 and Express Registration 9-noon, Jan. 5. The week of January 7-12 Richmond campus hours are 8am-7pm Monday-Thursday, 8am-5pm Friday and Express Registration 9-noon Saturday.

Connersville hours are 8 am-5 pm Jan. 3-4 and Jan. 7-11. 

Students and prospective students should come to room 1202 in Johnson Hall on the Ivy Tech Richmond campus, located at I-70 and U.S. 27, or call 765-966-2656 ext. 1202 or the Connersville campus, 717 West 21st St., or call 765-825-9394 ext. 6102; or call the Rushville College Collaborative Learning Center, 765-932-7191.

Questions: call 888-ivy-line, 7am-1am every day, or contact us 24/7 on the web at ivytech.edu/help.

January 10

Ivy Tech Richmond Seeks Nominations for 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award

Ivy Tech Community College-Richmond is seeking nominations for the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award. The award will be presented at Ivy Tech’s graduation on May 11.

Award criteria include having received a Technical Certificate, Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science degree from Ivy Tech Richmond, having made notable career progress and being a leader/active volunteer who has made a positive impact on his or her community and/or Ivy Tech Community College.

The deadline for receiving the nomination form and supporting letter is February 22.

Click here for nomination form and details or contact Cheryl Honkomp, Development Assistant, 765-966-2656 x2347.

January 20

Kim Guard leads Indiana Practical Nurse Educators

Kimberly Guard, RN, MSN, associate professor of Nursing at Ivy Tech-Richmond, is the new chairperson for the Indiana Council of Practical Nurse Educators. The organization includes all Practical Nurse (PN) programs in Indiana. Guard, said, “Our mission is to promote excellence in PN education, increase public awareness of the value of the LPN in the health care field and to introduce and sponsor legislation that supports the role of PN education.”

January 24

Ivy Tech Richmond Celebrates Ag Program with AgriBusiness Workshop

Ivy Tech Community College-Richmond is hosting a workshop on Emerging Opportunities with Ivy Tech and Agribusiness, Friday, Feb. 1, 10 am-1:30 pm, in McDaniel Hall on the Ivy Tech-Richmond campus.

The event celebrating the fifth anniversary of College’s Agriculture program will feature Purdue University Agriculture Dean Dr. Jay Akridge, panel discussions on changes in agribusiness and the college’s Agriculture students and graduates.

Speakers in addition to Dean Akridge are Bonnie Norris, Harvest Land Co-op discussing changing needs of employers; Mathew Eldridge, Smith Implements, Inc., discussing technology and the future of Agribusiness; and, Kirk Thornburg, Skyview/Country View Family Farms, discussing modern technologies in livestock production.

Ivy Tech students and graduates will share their success stories during the celebration luncheon.

Farm Bureau members across the region have been invited. Registrations by January 29 at ivytech.edu/richmond/news/events.html are required. Questions about the event contact Tom Tully, Agriculture program chair, 765-966-2656 x 4103.

Ivy Tech-Richmond Bobcats Win Ivy Tech Invitational Basketball Tournament

The Ivy Tech-Richmond Bobcats overpowered the Indianapolis Ivy Tech Bears to win the Ivy Tech Community College Invitational Club Teams Tournament championship Saturday in Indianapolis.

The Richmond club team in its fifth year has won the Ivy Tech championship two of the last three years. Bobcat player Bradley Burton,  Toledo, Ohio Libbey High School graduate in his first year at Richmond, was named tournament MVP. Burton and Anthony Brown, a Libbey High graduate  and first year player at Richmond, were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Team coach Brad Marshall credits the win and 14-10 season to a “stepped up” recruiting program and a “very athletic” team.  The Bobcats will wrap up the season on the road participating in the Columbus Regional Club Team tournament March 22-24 and the NIRSA/NCCS National Championships at North Carolina State University in April.

Team members are Ron Anderson, Detroit; Anthony Brown, Toledo; Bradley Burton, Toledo; Da’Ron Chappell, Detroit; Donald Crawley, Richmond; Kiante Fahie, Richmond; George Pennington, Richmond; Bobbie Smith, Dayton; Tyren Tillman, Richmond; Devin Wills, Detroit.

The Ivy Tech-Richmond Bobcats practice and play at the Richmond Boys & Girls Club. Games are open to the public.

February 6

Ivy Tech-Richmond’s Corporate College Offers CNC Operator Training

Richmond- Local businesses need Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Operators with NIMS certification. They asked Ivy Tech’s Corporate College to offer training for this position.

“There aren’t enough trained people to fill the growing need for employees with these and other technical skills”, says Kim Thurlow, executive director of Ivy Tech-Richmond’s Corporate College.

“Jobs that once relied on manual skills are disappearing at a fast pace. They are being replaced with ones that require fewer employees with some technology skills. These good paying jobs with wages $18 to $22 an hour are among the hardest to fill in our area and across the state,” Thurlow said.

The CNC class begins March 5 with a Feb. 28 deadline for enrollment. It is a 104 hour, 28 week course that will meet from 5:30-9:30pm Tuesday and Thursdays through June 13. The class ends with a NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) certification examination. The $3,200 course is scheduled to allow currently employed applicants to work and attend the classes.

CNC Machine Operators are not machinists. They run a CNC program-not design one. The training focuses on maintaining machines, recording SPC (statistical process control) data, set-up of tooling and fixtures and quality inspection. This is a nationally recognized, portable certification for CNC lathe that provides proof of an individual’s ability to perform the job.

For questions or more information contact Jeff Holt at 765-966-2656 X 4106.

Other Open Enrollment courses scheduled to begin in March are: DISC® “Discover your strength” March 19; Presentations for Professional Communication March 26; Programmable Logic Controller Training (PLC) tentatively scheduled March 11-16. Contact Becky Murray, Director Corporate College, at 765-966-2656 x 4011.

Area Practical Nurses, LPN Students Invited to Practical Nurses Open House at Ivy Tech 

Practical Nurses and student LPNs are invited to an Indiana Practical Nurses Association Open House and discussion from 5-7 p.m. March 20 in Johnson Hall at Ivy Tech-Richmond.

The discussion, Challenges of Practical Nursing “Practical, Professional and Proud,” will be in Stidham Auditorium. Members and potential members are encouraged to attend, join the discussion and assist with planning the August convention. 

For more information contact Kim Guard, Associate Professor Nursing at 765-966-2656 x1156 or kguard@ ivytech.edu.

March 15

Ivy Tech Richmond Schedules 50th Anniversary Events

Ivy Tech-Richmond will begin the local Ivy Tech Community College’s 50th Anniversary celebration with a Founder’s Day event 5-6:30 pm, March 22 on the Richmond campus. Ivy Tech campuses across Indiana are celebrating 50 years of “Changing Lives” with Founder’s Day events throughout March. Ivy Tech was founded March 15, 1963. Ivy Tech-Richmond began in 1967.

The Founder’s Day event in the Lingle Boardroom in Johnson Hall will include remarks at 5:45 p.m., an exhibition of the John E. Stidham collection of the W.A. Eyden family’s paintings and recognition of 2012-13 student scholarship recipients.

W.A. Eyden and his sons, W.A. Eyden Jr. and Walter Eyden were Richmond area artists from the late 19th century to mid-20th century. The father was among the founders of the Richmond Group artists. W.A. Eyden Jr. studied with John Bundy and William Merritt Chase and had a gallery/studio in New York’s Greenwich Village. Walter Eyden painted and was a salesman working at Nolte and Kemper Carpet Store in Richmond.

Alumni, Friends of the College, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend.  Interested in attending? Contact Stella Davis at 765-966-2656 x 2344 or sdavis@ivytech.edu.

Additional 50th Anniversary Events: 20th Annual Car Show & Student Veterans’ Heroes Celebration, April 27. Auto Registration 8:30 am, Show 9-1 pm, free to the public, Johnson Hall parking lot, Richmond campus; 43rd Graduation, 1:30 pm, Tiernan Center, Richmond High School; Alumni Night at the River Rats, August TBA; and Movie Night with the Alumni, September TBA.

March 18

Ivy Tech Corporate College's supervisor course focuses on leadership skills

 Frequently new supervisors are those who are internally promoted because they have strong technical skills but may have limited experience in the skills needed to lead their staff effectively and move their organization to a higher level.

Last week participants from five area employers completed the Ivy Tech Corporate College Management & Supervisory Institute (MSI 2.0). The 105 hour cohort based institute is designed to equip a new supervisor to lead effectively.  Participants have the opportunity to explore the  ‘big picture’ perspectives of business operations and consider the impact of their decisions in the workplace. They develop an increased appreciation of diversity and its value to the organization while learning to facilitate effective meetings and increase productivity. “New supervisors as well as those with experience but who have not had formal supervisory training benefit from the institute,” said Kim Thurlow, executive director of Corporate College-Richmond.

Employees from Osborn International, (one of the six Indiana companies statewide to win a Corporate College 2012 Partner Award), Wayne Dairy, Richmond Casting, GE Energy and Ivy Tech Richmond successfully completed the program and earned the Institute certificate. To receive the Institute certificate participants must complete at least 85 percent of all courses, deliver a presentation on their learning to guests during the course’s final session and complete assessments including a personal Extended DISC ® profile.  Participants in past cohorts have remarked “I was inspired.  Every supervisor at our company should attend this program” and “I never knew I was a supervisor until I went to MSI.”

For information about MSI 2.0 classes and other Corporate College training programs, contact Becky Murray, Director of Corporate College at 765-966-2656 ext. 4011 or bmurray@ivytech.edu.

March 22

20th Annual Ivy Tech-Richmond Car Show, Student Veterans’ Heroes Celebration set for April 27

Ivy Tech’s Car Show and Student Veteran’s Organization are partnering on April 27 at Ivy Tech-Richmond to celebrate 20 years of car shows and recognize Heroes in area police, fire and sheriff’s departments and in all branches of military service. The day is part of the year-long Ivy Tech Community College 50th Anniversary celebration.

The free public event includes the Car Show and Corral with all types of vehicles from Model T’s to Street Rods and motor cycles with Military Semi-Hum-V’s to Ambulances on display. Show and/or Corral registration is $15 in advance online or on-site at 8:30am with the show open from 9am-1pm. The rain date is April 28, 12:30pm registration, 1-4pm show. All proceeds from the Car Show/Corral will fund Automotive Program student scholarships.

There will be giveaways from all branches of service, massage therapy from Reid Hospital Message Therapy, a tractor train for the kids, food and DJ music.

For more information or register go to ivytech.edu/richmond/news/carshow.html or call Cheryl Honkomp, 765-966-2656 ext. 2347 or chonkomp@ivytech.edu.

March 26

Ivy Tech Richmond offers enrollment process in area high schools starting April 4

Beginning April 4 Ivy Tech-Richmond staff will be in area high schools offering students the opportunity to complete the enrollment process from start to finish – apply for admission, complete new student orientation, take an assessment test and enroll for the  summer/fall semester(s).

Admissions representatives will answer questions about using high school dual credit toward degree completion, financial aid, college support services including advising, developing an academic plan to complete college on-time, and to discuss transfer after they complete their Ivy Tech program.

Ivy Tech- Richmond staff members will be at the following schools:

Centerville High School – April 4, 10am – 2pm

Hagerstown High School – April 9, 9:30am – 1:30pm

Northeastern High School – April 11, 8:30am – 12:30pm

Connersville High School – April 11, 1pm – 4:30pm

Those who are unable to meet with the representatives and have questions should contact Stephanie Hill Alexander at 1-800-659-4562, ext. 1216 or by email salexand@ivytech.edu.

Ivy Tech Richmond students recycling electronics, scrap metal for scholarships April 13 at Kroger's on US 40 East

Ivy Tech Community College-Richmond’s Science of Traditional and Alternative Energy class is collecting and recycling electronics and scrap metals Saturday, April 13, 8 am-noon at the Kroger Plaza parking lot on US 40 east. Proceeds will endow Ivy Tech scholarships for area students studying science, agriculture, energy or technology. 

“The students plan the class collection project to coincide with Earth Day celebrations, spring clean-up and help area residents recycle items collecting in garages and basements,” said Krista Morisen course instructor.

The class is accepting: electronics including computers, monitors, TVs without wood, no big screens, telephones, Fax machines, copiers, ink cartridges and other electronics and scrap metal, iron, copper, aluminum, cast metal and large items such as stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, autos and auto parts, mowers and metal machinery. Donors with large articles or collections of material are asked to schedule pickups before April 13 by calling Kristin Gregory at 765-259-1004.

Donors of large articles or amounts of materials will receive a receipt for tax purposes from the Ivy Tech Community College Foundation. All proceeds go to the Ivy Tech Community College Foundation Scholarship Fund. 

Questions about the project should be directed to Gregory or course instructor Krista Morisen at kmorisen@ivytech.edu.

April 18

Ivy Tech Richmond Programs, Students Receive State Excellence Awards

Two academic programs and two students were honored at the annual Indiana Career and Technical Education Program Awards for Excellence Tuesday in ceremonies at the Indiana Government Center in Indianapolis.

Ivy Tech Community College-Richmond’s Agriculture and Computer Information Technology (CINT) programs were among three Postsecondary programs receiving Awards for Excellence. The program chairs are Thomas Tully, Agriculture, and Curtis Blakely, CINT.

Two Ivy Tech Richmond students, Melody Scott, an Early Childhood Education major from Liberty, and Cressida Woodard, a Medical Assisting major from Richmond, received the Postsecondary Student Career and Technical Education Awards for Excellence.  Scott and Woodard were among six Ivy Tech Community College students honored. They are Dean’s list students and members of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.   

Indiana is a leader nationally in career and technical education with outstanding students in programs across the state.  The annual awards program allows for the recognition of student excellence based upon scholarship, leadership, employability, and career and technical skill proficiency.  Nominations are reviewed by committees with representatives of business and industry as well as career and technical education administrators and teachers.

April 18

Ward Receives Ivy Tech President’s Award for Excellence in Instruction

Barbara L. Ward, M.S.N, Associate Professor and Department Chair in the School of Nursing is the  Ivy Tech Community College-Richmond recipient of the 2013 President’s Award for Excellence in Instruction. She is Ivy Tech-Richmond’s nominee for the 2013 Ivy Tech Community College Glenn W. and Mary Catherine Sample Award for Excellence in Instruction.

Ward, a Lynn resident, received her Associate and Bachelor of Science degrees in Nursing from IU East. A former Reid Hospital & Health Care Services Intensive Care and Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse, she joined Ivy Tech-Richmond’s School of Nursing faculty in 1997 and was named Department Chair in 2011.

Her interest in and commitment to nursing came about through personal experiences with family members who had serious illnesses and injuries. “I believe an important component in a patient’s care and recovery is their family members’ understanding of in-hospital care and their role in the patient’s care when they return home.”

In the classroom, Ward says she “is student focused and tries to balance the different aspects of learning styles in her classes. Some students are audio learners, others learn through taking notes and others are visual learners. Helping students to discover how they learn best is one key to their being successful in nursing school.”

April 19

Ivy Tech Car Show, Heroes Celebration Adds Events

Ivy Tech Community College’s 2013 Car Show and Veteran’s Heroes Celebration, 9 am-1 pm, Saturday April 27 at Ivy Tech-Richmond will fill two parking lots facing I-70 with events and vehicles. The free to the public, something for everyone car show and celebration attracts car enthusiasts and honors the area’s military veterans, police, fire and sheriffs’ departments and all branches of military service. Public parking will be available in IU East lots to the south of Ivy Tech’s Johnson Hall. Handicap Parking will be available. The day is part of the year-long Ivy Tech Community College 50th Anniversary celebration.

The show features cars- collector, classic, street and more plus trucks, tractors, military vehicles, emergency vehicles, motorcycles and Hummers. It also features a car corral for buyers and sellers. Entrants receive dash plaques, Tee shirts and goodie bags.

General Public receives giveaways from all branches of service and massage therapy from Reid Hospital Message Therapy. There will be food and auto vendors, DJ music, a Silent Auction featuring auto themed furniture and a tractor train for kids.

Car Show and/or Corral registration is $15 in advance online or on-site at 8:30am. The show/celebration is open 9am-1pm with car show awards presented at 1 p.m. All proceeds from the Car Show/Corral fund Automotive Technology Program student scholarships. The rain date is April 28, 12:30pm registration, 1-4pm show.

For more information or register go to ivytech.edu/richmond/news/carshow.html or call Cheryl Honkomp, 765-966-2656 ext. 2347 or chonkomp@ivytech.edu.

April 23

Bowling is Ivy Tech 2013 Distinguished Alumni

Tia R. Bowling, RN, MSN, NP-C, is the 2013 Ivy Tech Community College-Richmond Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. The award will be presented at Ivy Tech’s 43rd graduation ceremony May 11 in the Tiernan Center.

Bowling, a Richmond resident and 1986 Lincoln High School graduate, earned a Practical Nursing Certificate from Ivy Tech-Richmond in 1988. Following graduation, she worked for 16 years in the mental health care field. In 2004, she decided to pursue a different direction in health care. Returning to Ivy Tech she earned the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) in 2006 and was selected as graduation speaker.

“It was an exciting time. We were the first class to graduate after moving into the new building-Johnson Hall. I decided then to come back and teach in some capacity at Ivy Tech one day,” Bowling said. Over the next six years she earned the Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2009 and Master of Science in Nursing in 2012 from Indiana Wesleyan University. While earning her degrees, she worked fulltime in obstetrics at Reid Hospital and Health Care Services before transferring to Fayette Regional Health System as a medical surgical nurse and supervisor of the acute rehab unit for five years.

She joined Ivy Tech-Richmond’s School of Nursing as an adjunct instructor in medical terminology in 2010 and joined the nursing faculty in 2011 teaching Psychiatric Mental Health and Medical Surgical Nursing.  She became a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners in January 2013. Bowling is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She and her husband Mike have a grown son and daughter.

April 25

Ivy Tech Richmond Recognizes Outstanding Students, Faculty and Staff

Ivy Tech Community College Richmond recognized outstanding students, faculty, staff and advisors at the Annual Student Recognition Banquet April 19 in Johnson Hall on the Ivy Tech Richmond campus.

Rebekah LaVere, Hagerstown, Paralegal Studies major, was named Outstanding Student Leader of the Year. LaVere is past president of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society. She is active in Student Government Association, College Activities Board (CAB) and the Alternative Spring Break Program. She led the PKT Chapter in achieving Four Star status and personally achieved national Five-Star Competition Edge status, a comprehensive leadership development program. She plans to transfer to IU East to complete her bachelor’s degree.

Jeff Deaton, Liberty, a Human Resource Management major, was named Student of the Year. Deaton is the immediate past regional president of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and served as vice president of the Richmond PTK chapter.

Rebecca Keen, Richmond, Medical Assisting instructor, was selected as Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year by the student body for excellence in teaching.

Sharon Lilly, Cambridge City, Student Life Assistant/Events and Evening Coordinator, was selected Staff Member of the Year by the student body for her work with students

Valerie Ray, Richmond, executive director of Finance and Facilities, was named Outstanding Student Organization Advisor for her work as advisor to Phi Theta Kappa International Student Honorary.

The College Activities Board (CAB) was named the Club of the Year for its commitment to student engagement and increase in student programming.

Ivy Tech-Richmond to award 748 degrees and certificates

Ivy Tech Community College- Richmond will award 748 degrees and certificates at its 43nd graduation ceremony 1:30 pm, Saturday, May 11 at Tiernan Center. Graduation will be broadcast live on Whitewater Community Television, WETV education channel 20 on Comcast Cable.

Representative Luke Messer from Indiana’s 6th Congressional District, Dr. Rebecca Nickoli, Vice President Ivy Tech Community College Corporate College and Jeff Deaton, Class of 2013 graduate, will speak during the ceremony.

Stephen C. Borchers, Ann L. Franzen-Roha and Avis M. Stewart will receive Honorary Associate of Science degrees in College and Community Service. Tia R. Bowling, will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. Barbara Ward, associate professor and School of Nursing chair and Jane Williams, adjunct faculty in the Office Administration program, are the winners of the Excellence in Instruction Awards and will serve as Co-Grand Marshals for graduation.

Dean’s Award winners are: Karen Candlish, Richmond, School of Nursing; Jeff Deaton, Liberty, School of Business; Gary Keen, Union City, School of Public and Social Sciences; David Melton, Richmond, School of Technology; Alicia Steele, Connersville, School of Education; Matthew Stewart, Union City, School of Applied Science and Engineering Technology; and, Cressida Woodard, Richmond, School of Health Sciences.

Lou Anne Manning and Matthew Stewart are members of the All-Indiana Academic Team, a program sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and USA Today.

The School of Nursing pinning ceremony will be 10 am, Saturday, May 11 in Civic Hall. Thirty students will be honored.

May 7

Borchers, Franzen-Roha, Stewart to receive honorary degrees from Ivy Tech-Richmond

Stephen C. Borchers, Ann L. Franzen-Roha and Avis M. Stewart will receive the Honorary Associate of Science degree in College and Community Service at the Ivy Tech Community College-Richmond’s 43rd graduation ceremony Saturday.

Steve Borchers is a Richmond resident and Executive Director of the Wayne County Foundation. He is being honored for his lifelong commitment to philanthropy and his leadership of the Wayne County Foundation and awarding of over $1 million annually in distributions, grants and scholarships, including direct support for special Foundation-administered initiatives.  He is a graduate of the Ohio State University.

Ann Franzen-Roha is a Richmond resident and Director of Financial Aid at Ivy Tech-Richmond. She is being honored for her life-long commitment to Ivy Tech-Richmond students’ success during the more than three decades she has led Financial Aid. She recognizes that Federal Aid has not kept pace with student’s education costs, especially in paying for textbooks. She has assured there will be an enduring source of help with textbook costs. She is a Purdue University graduate.

Avis Stewart is a Richmond resident and Vice President for Community Relations at Earlham College. He is being honored for his dedication to education as the basis of personal growth, success, and community service and leadership. He has been a role model for not only minority youth but all young people in the community and has worked on many levels and in numerous venues to “make the community the best.” He is a graduate of Earlham College.