Evansville Campus to Graduate More than 1,530 During May 8 Ceremony at the Ford Center

Ivy Tech Community College Evansville will celebrate its 2026 Commencement on May 8 at 7 p.m. at the Ford Center in downtown Evansville.

More than 1,530 students are eligible to graduate this academic year, including 653 who will graduate with honors. Nearly 200 students in the Class of 2026 have earned a perfect 4.0 GPA.

As Commencement coincides with National Nursing Week, nearly 100 nursing students will graduate, alongside 290 additional graduates in healthcare fields who have collectively earned 421 credentials. Most have already secured positions with local healthcare providers and will begin their careers immediately following graduation.

Additionally, 310 graduates completed their degrees with full or partial employer support through programs such as Achieve Your Degree at Ivy Tech and the Building Trades Apprenticeship Program.

A notable highlight this year is the growing number of high school students earning college credentials before graduating from high school. According to Chancellor Daniela Vidal, 661 high school students in Ivy Tech Evansville’s 10-county service area have taken this step.

“These students looked at their future and decided not to wait,” Vidal said. “They stepped into college before many of their peers had even considered applying.”

More than half of these students completed the Indiana College Core, allowing them to begin a four-year degree as sophomores—saving both time and money for themselves and their families.

Across the region, 28 high schools offer Ivy Tech dual credit courses, and five are designated Early College High Schools sponsored by Ivy Tech. 

Vidal also recognized the perseverance of adult learners.

“The ones who sat in class after a full shift. The ones who studied after their kids went to bed,” she said. “They could have stopped, and no one would have blamed them—but they didn’t.”

Commencement Speakers

The 2026 Commencement guest speaker will be Matthew Nix, president and CEO of Nix Companies Inc.

A fifth-generation leader of his family’s 120-year-old welding business, Nix joined the company full-time in 2004 and founded the holding company in 2017. Under his leadership, the organization has grown from four family members to a regional workforce of more than 200 employees, achieving significant expansion through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions. He is actively involved in regional and professional organizations focused on economic development and leadership, with a particular interest in supporting family-owned businesses.

The Student speaker for the event will be Hilary Salas, a graduate of the Associate Accelerated Program (ASAP), will also address the class. She graduates summa cum laude and has been named the 2026 Outstanding Graduate in Liberal Arts.

Awards

The Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented to Stephanie Hirons, director of behavioral health at Ascension St. Vincent.

A first-generation college graduate, Hirons earned her Associate of Nursing from Ivy Tech in 2017. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in psychology and nursing, a Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling, and a Doctorate in nursing with a concentration in health systems leadership. She is a licensed mental health counselor and board-certified psychiatric nurse.

Hirons is deeply engaged in the community, serving on the board of the Southwestern Indiana Suicide Prevention Coalition and chairing the annual Suicide Prevention Walk in Evansville. She is also a crisis intervention trainer for local law enforcement and an active volunteer with numerous organizations, including NAMI Evansville, Homeless Connect, and Dementia Friendly Evansville.

The Benefactor of the Year award will be presented to Waupaca Foundry’s Plant 5 in Tell City, Indiana.

Since its founding in 1996, Waupaca Foundry has been a major producer of gray and ductile iron castings for automotive, construction, and industrial markets. Its longstanding partnership with Ivy Tech began when the Tell City campus served as a hub for hiring, training, and workforce development.

In 2017, when the Ivy Tech Tell City Career & Technology Center faced potential closure, Waupaca Foundry provided critical financial and in-kind support. In partnership with the Perry County Development Corporation, the company helped lead a fundraising campaign that secured more than $173,000—funds that were later matched to purchase essential equipment and sustain the campus.

Waupaca continues to support Ivy Tech through equipment donations, program development in robotics and automation, and ongoing industry collaboration.

“This partnership demonstrates the value of Ivy Tech as a talent pipeline,” said Ivy Tech Tell City Director Katie Zoglman. “Waupaca’s commitment goes far beyond financial support—it directly impacts workforce training, curriculum development, and career opportunities in our region.”