Last Updated on March 22, 2021 by Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo Region
KOKOMO, Ind. — The board and staff of Security Federal Savings Bank have a long tradition of supporting the communities they serve, through its main office in Logansport to its branches in Kokomo, Delphi, Lafayette, and West Lafayette. Members of the bank’s leadership team recently toured Ivy Tech’s transformed Kokomo Campus, with a special stop at the Security Federal Savings Bank Academic Reception Area, named in honor of the financial institution’s generous gift to the campus’s capital campaign.
The academic reception area serves as the gateway to the administrative and academic wing in Ivy Tech Kokomo’s Main Building. The area includes offices for faculty and staff, the administrative offices, conference rooms, a break room, and mail room, as well as “huddle spaces” where faculty, staff, and students can gather for small meetings.
“We are so proud to be part of the creation of this state-of-the-art campus for Ivy Tech’s Kokomo Service Area, a region that serves many of the communities Security Federal serves,” said Annette Russell, Security Federal’s president and CEO. “Our bank board has earmarked 10 percent of our earnings to go back into the communities we serve and certainly recognizes the importance of education. The board members are huge advocates for anything that’s connected with education. Ultimately, supporting Ivy Tech in its mission to educate our citizens and prepare them for successful lives and careers helps us in the banking industry too.”
David Tharp, market leader in business lending at Security Federal’s new Kokomo branch on East Boulevard, noted that Ivy Tech is a critical driver of this region’s economy. “Workforce development is the most important factor in attracting and retaining employers,” Tharp said. “The education offered by Ivy Tech is essential in developing the ‘human capital’ needed to meet the needs of business and industry.”
Robert Hayes, deposit services manager at the bank’s Markland Avenue branch, echoed David’s comments. “When businesses are looking to expand or relocate, the first thing they look for is a highly skilled and trained workforce ready to fill their jobs,” Hayes said. “This area is blessed to have Ivy Tech offering the programs to prepare these workers.”
Russell has been an active member of the Ivy Tech community since a campaign committee was formed more than 10 years ago to raise the funds to make the College’s Logansport campus a reality. Today she serves as president of the Ivy Tech Kokomo Campus Board of Trustees that oversees the College’s efforts in Cass, Fulton, Howard, Miami, and Tipton counties. She sees the Kokomo Campus transformation as vital to the entire region.
“The ‘new’ campus will open many doors with the latest technology and equipment to prepare students to immediately enter the workforce as valuable employees or transfer to college and universities for further education,” Russell said.
“The transformed campus offers a feeling of unity and collaboration designed to attract people of all backgrounds, whether just beginning a career or making a career change,” she continued. “And the new campus enhances the already quality education offered by the many talented and well-qualified instructors I’ve been able to meet as a trustee.”
Russell is particularly impressed with Ivy Tech’s efforts to address the skills gap facing all of Indiana, working with business and industry to identify the skills that are needed and focusing on meeting those needs. She also is impressed with Ivy Tech’s ability to meet training needs for existing employees, citing the customized program Ivy Tech developed to respond to Security Federal’s need for enhanced training in leadership skills.
Lindsey Miller, Security Federal’s marketing director, is a prime example of the value of an Ivy Tech education put to work at the bank. Facing challenges as a single mother working full-time, she was able to overcome barriers and succeed as a student at Ivy Tech, earning an associate degree in Liberal Arts in 2012 and transferring her credits to IU Kokomo where she completed a bachelor’s degree. Both Russell and Miller are members of Ivy Tech’s Circle of Ivy, a women’s philanthropic organization that supports faculty and staff initiatives to help Ivy Tech students succeed.
Security Federal’s donation to #THETIMEISNOW capital campaign is just the latest in its support of Ivy Tech and its students. Security Federal has established an endowed scholarship at Ivy Tech Kokomo, partnered in Ivy Tech Kokomo’s annual “Doing the Dream” program, and served as an anchor of the Ivy Tech Logansport scholarship fundraiser.
“Security Federal has been such a great partner for many years and we at Ivy Tech are so grateful for their support,” said Kelly Karickhoff, executive director of resource development for Ivy Tech’s Kokomo Service Area. “Thanks to their contribution, we are closer to meeting our goal of raising $3 million to complete the Kokomo Campus transformation. And the Security Federal Reception Area will serve as gateway for students to meet with their instructors for the mentoring and tutoring that will help them succeed.”
For more information on the capital campaign and the new Kokomo Campus, contact Karickhoff at kkarickhoff@ivytech.edu or 765-252-5501 or go to the campaign website at ivytech.edu/kokomotransformation .
SOURCE: News release from Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo Region