FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 11, 2012

Ivy Tech-Bloomington entrepreneurship video wins $25,000 award at national conference

Ivy Tech Community College’s Bloomington campus has been awarded $25,000 for “best entrepreneurship program promotional video” at the 10th Annual Conference of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), held in Chicago October 7-10. Ivy Tech-Bloomington was one of eight colleges nationwide that submitted videos showing its entrepreneurs in action.

The promotional video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xvpBL3L26LI), produced by Blueline in Bloomington, Ind., promotes the college’s Gayle & Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship. The award was presented by the Coleman Foundation for “best execution of the entrepreneur engagement strategy” among last year’s elevator grant award recipients. At last year’s national NACCE conference, 11 colleges were awarded elevator grants by the Coleman Foundation for their programs.

“We are very pleased to receive this generous award from the Coleman Foundation, in recognition of the work being done at the Gayle & Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship to benefit our students and the communities we serve,” said Chancellor John Whikehart, Ivy Tech-Bloomington. “This award will enable Ivy Tech’s Bloomington campus to further develop entrepreneurship engagement through our Cook Center.”

Ivy Tech-Bloomington Chancellor John Whikehart was one of five college leaders from across the nation who was asked by NACCE to speak at the annual national conference. He was asked to speak about how to maximize exposure for community college entrepreneurial education programs.

Other Ivy Tech-Bloomington representatives presented session topics covering growth issues for entrepreneurs and experiential learning opportunities for students.

The three day conference, which marked NACCEs 10th year as a major force in entrepreneurship education, drew more than 500 community college administrators and faculty from across the nation and around the world.

About the Coleman Foundation
The Coleman Foundation (http://www.colemanfoundation.org/) is a private, independent grant-making foundation established in 1951. The Foundation supports educational institutions offering entrepreneurship education across the country, organizations providing cancer care, treatment and support, and agencies providing services for individuals with developmental disabilities only in the Chicago Metropolitan area – its primary geographical focus.

About NACCE

The National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) (http://www.nacce.com) is an organization of educators, entrepreneurs, and distinguished business development professionals providing quality programs and services in entrepreneurship education and serving as advocates of community-based entrepreneurship. Founded in 2002, NACCE is at the heart of the “entrepreneurship movement.” Through membership, an annual conference and exhibition, a quarterly journal, monthly webinars and podcasts, a dynamic list-serve, and other resources, NACCE serves as the hub for the dissemination and integration of knowledge and successful practices regarding entrepreneurship education and student business incubation. NACCE is a founding member of the White House-led Startup America Partnership.

About Ivy Tech Community College

Ivy Tech Community College (www.ivytech.edu) is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

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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.