Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington will host its annual Commencement Ceremony Tuesday, May 12 at 6 p.m. at the Indiana University Auditorium, where it will celebrate the Class of 2026 in a sold out event.
In the largest ceremony to date, more than 500 graduates will walk across the stage as they step into careers and transfer to earn their bachelor’s degrees. Approximately 1,300 total graduates earned 1,900 associate degrees and certificates, an increase of 50 credentials over last year.
Destinie Rodriguez-Lopez, nursing graduate, will give the commencement address. She will speak to her experience as a first-generation college student, reflecting on the sacrifices, resilience, and support systems that helped her reach this milestone, while encouraging fellow graduates to move forward with purpose.
Rodriguez-Lopez decided to become a nurse because she wanted a degree that would open unlimited doors for her future, while also putting her in a position to help others.
I was soul searching for what I wanted to do in life and how I could afford it. Ivy Tech gave me a clear path."
– Destinie Rodriguez-Lopez, nursing graduate
She has accepted a position at Indiana University Health Bloomington in the emergency department and plans to continue her education to earn a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s or doctorate in nursing with a focus on trauma medicine.
This year, Ivy Tech Bloomington has its first graduates from the new evening nursing Transition to ASN (RN) program that launched Fall Semester 2025. The Bloomington campus was the first Ivy Tech campus statewide to offer an evening nursing training option.
The School of Health Sciences will graduate a record 42 EMTs, marking the largest class in the program’s history and expanding the emergency response workforce in the region.
An honorary Associate of College and Community Service degree will be awarded to recent retiree Debra Vance for her 44 years of service to the college and community, and to recognize her lasting impact on the institution.
To view the Ivy Tech Bloomington 2026 Commencement Ceremony via live stream on the day of the event, visit ivytech.edu/bloomington/graduation.
Graduation by the numbers
- 1,300 graduates
- 1,900 credentials awarded, including associate degrees and certificates
- 519 transfer degrees
- 385 early college (high school) graduates with 20 earning an associate degree
- 171 nursing graduates
- 35 Achieve Your Degree graduates
- 18 military veterans
- 40 international student graduates representing the countries of Afghanistan, China, Columbia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malawi, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Philippines, Romania, Russia, and South Korea
About Ivy Tech Bloomington
Ivy Tech Bloomington offers more than 40 career and four-year transfer programs, with courses that start multiple times per year for quick entry and graduation. To get started, apply for free online at ivytech.edu/bloomington, call 812-330-6013, or email askBloomington@ivytech.edu. For information on free, short-term training programs, visit ivytech.edu/bloomington/NLJ.
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.
