Last Updated on January 2, 2017 by cassnetwork
KOKOMO, Ind. – Ivy Tech Community College honored 160 students through the Ivy Tech Student Leadership Academy (SLA), including eight students from the College’s Kokomo Region, at a December luncheon at the Conrad Hotel in Indianapolis.
The Ivy Tech Student Leadership Academy is a leadership development program designed specifically for Ivy Tech students. SLA provides students with an opportunity to further develop their leadership and professional development skills, while learning more about the history and traditions of the College. This state-wide program has a standard structure and curriculum that is offered to students through the region in which they are enrolled.
Kokomo Region students honored at the event included Taylor Hodge, James Montgomery, and Amanda Walden from Kokomo; Matthew Nelson and Lucia Ponce from Logansport; Jennifer Hattabaugh from Greentown; Adam Dodds from Peru; and Jossie Helmerick from Windfall.
“We extend our congratulations to these outstanding students, first for being selected for this competitive program and second for completing its curriculum,” said David Bathe, chancellor of Ivy Tech’s Kokomo and Lafayette Region. “We look forward to the great things they will do as student leaders at Ivy Tech and beyond.”
The 160 students were chosen through a competitive application process, with more than 600 students applying. Students from each region who completed the 10-week co-curricular program were honored at the luncheon where Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann addressed the graduates. The keynote speaker was Sam Centellas, executive director of La Casa de Amistad, a community center on the west side of South Bend, Ind., that offers educational and life skills-based programming for the Hispanic/Latino community in the Michiana area.
Each SLA graduate received a specially designed medallion to wear during commencement. In addition, they will receive a scholarship for a 3-credit-hour course during spring semester.
The goals of the SLA program are to:
- Develop students leadership skills
- Develop students professional development skills
- Develop future student and alumni leaders
- Enhance retention of students from fall to spring semester
- Increase participants’ pride in the College