Excellence in Career and Technical Education Award recipient: Julihannah Cruz

BLOOMINGTON – Ivy Tech Community College’s Bloomington campus has earned three Awards for Excellence in Career and Technical Education (CTE) from the Indiana Department of Education. The awards were presented at a ceremony on Feb. 18, 2020 at the Indiana Government Center Auditorium.

Ivy Tech Bloomington recipient of the student Award for Excellence in Outstanding CTE is Julihannah Cruz, second-year respiratory therapy student. Cruz came to Ivy Tech Bloomington as a high school graduate, having earned 36 dual credit hours. She was one of only 12 students accepted into the selective-entry respiratory therapy program. She has since earned her respiratory therapy student license which enables her to work in her field while completing her associate degree. She is set to graduate in May and has been offered numerous full-time positions in respiratory therapy at area hospitals.

Campus recipient of the program of study Award for Excellence in Outstanding CTE is the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program. The program is being recognized for providing exceptional outcomes in preparing Career and Technical Education students for continued postsecondary education and future employment opportunities. Ivy Tech’s ASN program can be completed in less than two years once admitted.

Recipient of the partnership Award for Excellence in Outstanding CTE is the strategic partnership of Ivy Tech Bloomington and Artisan Electronics. Artisan Electronics employs Ivy Tech graduates of the School of Information Technology, especially graduates who earned their CompTIA Security + [cyber security] industry certification. Artisan has also established an internship program for Ivy Tech students in an effort to provide hands-on learning opportunities in information technology.

Applicants for CTE awards from the IDOE were accepted across the state.

The Indiana CTE Awards for Excellence program identifies and celebrates career and technical education students, programs, and active partnerships that contribute to high quality career and technical education, career services displaying excellence in Indiana, and outstanding contributors to careers in technical education in Indiana.

Ivy Tech has multiple start dates and applications are accepted year-round. Classes start again on March 16, followed by June 8. Ivy Tech offers the potential to earn tuition-free job certifications through Next Level Jobs Indiana. For more information and to apply for free, visit ivytech.edu/bloomington/nextleveljobs.

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.