Evansville Student Named Representative to State Board

Eddie Burkel, a second-year Supply Chain & Logistics student at Ivy Tech Community College Evansville, has been selected to serve as one of two student representatives to the Ivy Tech Community College State Board of Trustees for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Burkel, from Bolingbrook, IL, was selected for this role because of his demonstrated commitment to student success and willingness to represent the voices and perspectives of Ivy Tech students across the state, according to an email announcing his position. “Your ability to represent your peers and your dedication to making a positive impact on the student experience made you a strong candidate for this role.” 

He is the current president of both the Student Government Association, and Campus Activities Board, and was the creator of the award of REXcellence Committee. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Human Services Club, Pride Alliance, My Sister’s & Brother’s Keeper, Aspiring Educators, Disability Support Services and Spanish clubs. 

“It means more to me than I can really put into words to have been selected,” Burkel said. “When I came back to college, I never imagined an opportunity like this. It's an incredible honor, but it's also a responsibility. I'm proud to represent students from the Evansville campus, and I'm grateful for the chance to represent students from across the state.”

Burkel, a non-traditional student, said he chose Ivy Tech Evansville because of its affordability, convenient location, and strong reputation. “At first, I planned to pursue a general business degree, but after meeting with Career Link, I realized I wanted something more focused,” he said. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, I became fascinated by the supply chain disruptions we were all seeing, from empty store shelves to shipping delays, and I wanted to understand how everything worked behind the scenes.”

Burkel said he didn’t set out to become highly involved on campus. “I started at Ivy Tech when I was 55 years old, and honestly, I came here with one goal: to earn a degree.”

 He said that shortly after beginning his time at Ivy Tech, he was selected to participate in “Ivy Advance,” a virtual leadership program with students from all 19 Ivy Tech campuses. “That experience sparked something in me…I realized I wanted to be part of something bigger than just going to class. I wanted to help build a campus where students feel connected, encouraged, and know they belong, just like I did.”

Burkel said he realized that honing his listening skills was of utmost importance the more he worked with the student body at Ivy Tech. “Every student has a different story and different challenges, so I never want to assume I know what someone needs,” Burkel said. “The best way I can advocate for students is to listen first, understand their perspective, and then make sure their voices are heard.”