MARION, Ind. — Today, Ivy Tech Community College and the Brickley Farm Foundation announced a $3.4 million gift to the Marion campus to support students in the nursing program. The historic gift – the largest ever received by the Marion campus – will support student success and development of the healthcare workforce in the region.
The gift will create the Dr. Harry Brickley Nursing Scholarship Program, covering full tuition and fees for 30 nursing students per year starting with the 2026-2027 school year, with a goal of supporting a minimum of 180 students over six years with $1.98 million. The gift can also be renewed for an additional four years, totaling $1.44 million, for a total of $3.4 million toward supporting students.
We are so thankful to Dr. Harry Brickley and the Brickley Farm Foundation for investing in our students as they pursue nursing careers that are in high demand. This gift will help Ivy Tech continue to address the need for quality nurses in the Marion community and around the state.
– Dr. Marty Pollio, Ivy Tech President
Dr. Harry Brickley, who founded the Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, has been a strong supporter of Ivy Tech through scholarships and gifts of land to promote agricultural programs. This gift is given in memory of his parents, Harry and Ina Brickley, and with the hope to inspire others to support nursing programs throughout Ivy Tech.
“As a longtime healthcare provider, I know firsthand the importance of nurses and the need for them in our community and across the state,” Dr. Brickley said. “I hope to see continued support for all that Ivy Tech does for Indiana communities.”
Preference for the scholarships will be given to students from Norwell, Bluffton, Southern Wells, Blackford and Huntington high schools, along with students from high schools in Grant County. The scholarship will be available to students in their first year of the program, and automatically renewable for five consecutive semesters.
Dr. Brickley completed his surgery residency in the Chicago area before returning to Indiana as a surgeon. He began a farm operation in communities surrounding his hometown of Bluffton and founded the Foundation in 2016.
The Ivy Tech Nursing Program in Marion has a current enrollment of 88 students and is one of 23 Ivy Tech nursing programs offered throughout the state. Ivy Tech graduates the highest number of associate-level nurses in the nation, and one in three nurses in Indiana got their start at Ivy Tech.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
