Britney Khan chose Ivy Tech as a bridge to reach her dreams

Originally from New York City, Britney Khan grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, a small Caribbean island, and felt her dreams were too vast and at times unreachable. With her sights set on her goal to earn a degree and build a life and career in the United States, she finally moved back in 2022. As a first-generation college student and unsure of how her college journey would unfold, she chose to begin at Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington.

“Ivy Tech offered a bridge to an accessible path,” she said. “Knowing I could start at Ivy Tech, build a strong academic foundation, and then transfer to a four-year university while saving significantly on tuition solidified my decision.”

During Khan’s time at Ivy Tech Bloomington, she seized every opportunity to grow, reached academic milestones, and gained leadership skills. She earned associate degrees in both informatics and general studies. She was elected International Vice President for Division III of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, was recognized as a New Century Scholar, and earned a place on the All-Indiana Academic Team. She was invited to give the keynote address at the 2025 Commencement Ceremony.

She received numerous scholarship awards to help pay her tuition and persist in her studies. Following graduation, Khan won a highly-competitive national transfer scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. The Cooke Scholars award enables her to transfer to a four-year university and receive up to $55,000 per year for up to three years.

“Learning that the scholarship could cover up to $55,000 per year for the necessary two to three years to complete my bachelor’s degree felt almost unreal. In that moment, I knew it would become a defining goal,” she said. “It gave me the confidence to think bigger-to explore institutions nationwide that aligned with my aspirations.”

Khan was one of only 90 students in the nation out of 1,600 applicants selected to receive the Cooke Scholars award and the only student in Indiana.

She was accepted into the University of Michigan and plans to transfer to earn her bachelor’s degree in international studies. Her career goal is to do humanitarian work with the United Nations, support underdeveloped nations in crisis, and contribute to global disaster management.

Starting her educational journey at Ivy Tech was the bridge to what comes next.

“Ivy Tech represents more than a college—it represents possibility,” she said. “It gave me a beginning where I could not only earn credits but ultimately set myself up for long-term success.”