Ivy Tech Community Col lege Northwest

Anxious. Nervous. Excited. Overwhelmed. Expectant. Joy-ous. These adjectives describe what many of our 2010 gradu-ates are experiencing as we near the close of the academic year and they prepare to close one chapter of their lives and move forward onto another. This was perhaps most visible during our region’s Grad Fest celebrations last week, when the air seemed to be perme-ated with a sense of realization of accomplishment (obtaining caps and gowns, banquet tick-ets) and a looking forward into the future (visiting with four-year colleges). It’s time for our grads to re-move the mandatory yellow IT lanyard with its ID tag and flair, such as buttons that proclaim “Graduate in Progress”, or pins that signify a particular affilia-tion with a student club or or-ganization, such as SGA, PTK and KBD. (We do, of course,

hope that you keep these items as mementos of your time with us.) We—the staff and faculty at Ivy Tech, who don our own flair, such as buttons asking “When do YOU graduate?” and pins that remind our students that “WE BELIEVE IN YOU”—couldn't be more proud of our graduates, having seen most of them enter hopeful for a change in life, a need to grow

academically as well as profes-sionally. It is bittersweet to see our graduates leave our class-rooms, our over-crowded park-ing lots, our hallways. Yet it is with much faith in what Ivy Tech represents in providing our students with a firm founda-tion in education by which we send them off to grow, prosper, flourish...and hope that they do keep in touch.

Volume 4 , Issue 8

THAT IVY TECH FLAIR

Apri l 2010

• April: SGA Officer Elec-tions (2010-11 year) will be taking place at the Valpo campus on April 7th from 1-4pm in the main commons, on the Gary campus April 14th from 11:30am-2:30pm in the Student Lounge, at the Michigan City campus on April 15th from 11:30am-3:30pm in the cafeteria., and April 21st in East Chicago. Please check with your cam-pus Student Life Coordinator for details. Annual Gradua-tion Banquet: Friday, April 30, 2010. All graduating stu-dents will be eligible for 1 free ticket for themselves (to be picked up at Grad Fest, and after that– from their campus Student Life Coordi-nator). Graduates can pur-chase up to 2 guest tickets ($25 each) at their campus Business Office– after Grad Fest. Faculty and staff can purchase up to 2 tickets at $25 as well.. The last day to purchase tickets is April 14th.

• May: Graduation, 11:00am on May 8th at the Genesis Center in Gary. EC SGA Spirit of Chicago Dinner Cruise Monday, May 10th 5-9:30pm. Sign-up deadline April 7th. Last day of the Spring semester is May 9th. Summer Session begins May 24th.

THE IVY LINE

H O W C A N I G E T I N V O L V E D S T U D E N T L I F E ?

Student Life, which spans from club and organization member-ship to events, activities, fund-raisers and community involve-ment, focuses on ways to en-gage students’ interests for the benefit of the individual, the college, and the surrounding community. Networking and

forging connections is one of the main purposes of Student Life. You may, for example, choose to join the SGA, which is the governing student body, or you may be interested in a discipline-specific club—such as the Student Nurses Organi-zation or the Mortuary Science

Club—or applying for member-ship into one of our distin-guished honor’s organizations, such as PTK or KBD. Contact your campus Student Life Co-ordinator for information on how you can become involved in all Student Life has to offer.

ITCC buttons, pin and SGA logo

Ivy Tech Northwest’s Student Life Newsletter

Events to Watch Out for:

be presenting you with an action-packed Spirit Week; and in May we will be enjoying a leisurely dinner cruise on Lake Michigan.

Our officers are working hard to ensure that you receive a well-rounded college experience by supporting your hard studies with events that inform, encourage, and empower you – we hope that you have benefited from our ef-forts.

Please be reminded that a portion of your tuition is allotted to fund these SGA-sponsored events and activities; for this reason, you are encouraged to participate in all of our meetings and planning ses-sions. We welcome your involve-ment in SGA on any level, from

For those of you who I have not had the pleasure of meeting, I am the newest member of the Student Life team and your campus SGA advisor, Tonya Kidd. I began serving in this role in late December and I am thor-oughly enjoying my time with Ivy Tech – I am thrilled to work with the staff and faculty, along with the East Chi-cago Student Government Associa-tion!

We have had a lot of fun planning events for you, such as February’s Health Fair (free chair massage, any-one?), Black History program (Kenny’s Ribs – yummy!), and Slice With the Vice (pizza-pizza).

In March, we had an exciting trip to view the “Blue Man Group” perform-ance in Chi-cago; in April,

we are sponsoring a seminar on fi-nancial management, and will also

attending our meetings and casting your votes to filling out an application to hold office in the SGA. Please contact me at tkidd1@ivytech.edu if you would like more information about the SGA or any of the upcoming events. We value your input and welcome your presence!

EA S T CH I C A G O S G A I S O N T H E M OV E!

The Gary Campus was seeing yellow. The SGA expressed their support in the fight against cancer on throughout the month of March in several ways. First, the staff and students really show support with over $1100 in dona-tions for the American Cancer Society in the Daffodil Sale.

Second, on March 25th the Gary Campus participated in “Wear Yellow Day.” Majority of the campus supported this cause by wearing yellow suits, shirts, ties, etc. Everyone including staff and students participated in such a great cause. The members of SGA felt this was a great idea because in the month of March there was a daffodil sale throughout the region. Yellow was worn on the day adjunction with the delivery of the Daffodils.

Members of the SGA also wore as well as handed out stickers from the Ameri-can Cancer Society that read “I’m dressing down to share hope.” Overall the month of March was a success with contributing to the American Cancer Soci-

ety in donations and wearing yellow. The SGA expressed the interest in making this an annual event.

G A RY C A M P U S SGA SU P P O RT S T H E F I G H T A G A I N S T C A N C E R

Page 2 Volume 4 , Issue 8

semester, we got a new popcorn machine for school use, and things are starting to spice up a little here! Everyone looks forward to more activities in the future. This is how I made my new friends, and this has been a great accomplishment for me as a student here at Ivy Tech. Ivy Tech has provided a better eco-nomic future for my family and me. Thank you Ivy Tech."

As I look back on my own personal jour-ney through Ivy Tech, I am in awe about who I was at first and who I have

become in two short years. When I first walked in the doors for my first classes, I was just another student coming to class, doing homework and taking tests. I thought to myself that there had to be more to college

It's finally here: Graduation! Today I went upstairs, right outside of the business office, and sat down just to watch everybody for a minute and reflect on my first semester here at Ivy Tech, which doesn't seem all that long ago. I saw friends talking and laughing, plans being made for later and, of course, a few disgruntled faces (probably just got done testing!). All and all, though, I wanted to see how this college has affected my life as well as those of others over these last two years. I asked Tracy George (a graduate this semester), “What has the last two years of your life been like while here at Ivy Tech?” She replied, "Graduation is upon us, and we don't realize how fast the time goes until it's here and gone. Over the course of the last year, I have seen many changes from the SGA. There are new activities every

life than this. That's when I was introduced to the SGA. Now, as I finish my term as president and graduate on to more opportunities, I look at how much fun I had and how I got to meet so many new people that I would not have had the pleasure to meet other-wise. I want to personally thank eve-ryone I've met through this whole experience and, to the graduates.... SEE YOU ON THE RED CARPET!!!!!! —Brandon Lamber-son, Michigan City SGA President

MI C H I G A N CI T Y N E W S

As the end of the semester is quickly approaching, the campus is bustling with activities. On March 17th, there was an ARC Blood Drive and, once again it was a success, having our students, faculty and staff donating nearly 40 units. On March 3rd the SGA held a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days, and we raised $340.00 in orders and $20.00 by giving away popcorn for every 50 cent donation. Thank you to all who donated. On March 25th, Grad Fest was held here on campus, and we had quite a large turnout. Graduates picked up their banquet tickets and caps and gowns, received free popcorn from the SGA, giveaways, chips and beverages, and they

got the opportunity to visit with some four-year colleges and inquire about continuing their education. ON BEHALF OF THE VALPO SGA, CON-GRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR GRADUATES! WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT & WISH YOU CONTINUED FUTURE SUCCESS! In the next few weeks, we will be announcing the recipients of the SGA Scholarship, and we’ll be holding a celebratory reception breakfast on May 7th at 10am to congratulate our winners. We’ll also be holding our SGA Officer Elections on Wednesday, April 7 from 1-4pm in the main commons, so be sure to stop by to vote for your representatives and re-ceive free goodies from your SGA!

—Mary Eaton, Valpo SGA President

VA L PA R A I S O N E W S

Page 3 Volume 4 , Issue 8

Aladdin Oil Change Oasis 1689 W. Lincoln Highway/ US 30

Merrillville, IN 46410

219-769-6457

Show a valid Ivy Tech I.D. upon arrival and receive $5.00 off a Full-Service

Oil Change

Hours: Mon– Fri. 8-7

Sat. 7-4

Southlake Nautilus Total Fitness Centers

Locations: Hobart, Merrillville & Val-

paraiso

Regular membership fees are $39 a month plus initiation fee.

Ivy Tech discount: No initiation fee & $19.50 a month!

Contact Maureen Janeczko (219-945-1197)at the Hobart location, M-F 8:30-

3:30 for sign-up information. mjaneczko@southlakenautilus.com

Dell Computers

Ivy Tech now has an agreement with Dell

Computers that offers all students and em-ployees a significant discount on select

Dell products. Check out www.dell.com/ivytech to see the spe-cial prices being offered to Ivy Tech

employees and students. Check out,

for example, the AMD-powered enter-prise level OptiPlex 740 Minitower

priced at $575, a savings of $423. This is just one of four specially priced com-puter bundles being offered to our stu-

dents.

You can order from www.dell.com/ivytech or call the Dell

sales team at 800-695-8133 (option 2) and use the Ivy Tech Community College

member ID# US12526708.

Indiana University Northwest–

Savannah Fitness Center Gary, IN

Ivy Tech Students can use IUN’s Sa-

vannah Fitness Center for a dis-counted price. Ivy Tech students pay $30 per semester. Student must provide their Ivy Tech ID for

proof with the Fitness Center Appli-cation. The form is turned in along with payment to the IUN Bursar’s

Office– Hawthorne Hall. Locker fee is $10 per semester and you must fur-nish your own lock. For more informa-

tion, call: 219-980-6793 .

Sam’s Club Collegiate Membership

College comes with plenty of new expenses. But with a Collegiate Membership, watching your money is a no-brainer. You'll receive

amazing values on groceries, computer gear, laundry detergent and so much more - plus a $15 Gift Card when you sign up (and again when you renew the next year)! It's all the benefits of Membership for just $40 annu-ally. In addition, you'll get two Membership cards, one for you and one for a household member, so you can even share the savings

with a friend (18 and over).

Just visit your local Sam's Club to sign-up today. Bring your Ivy Tech ID with you and

request the Collegiate Membership.

Page 4 Volume 4 , Issue 8

Northwest Region Student Life Staff

_______________

Jennifer Riggs Director of Student Life,

Development and Leadership– Northwest Region

jriggs@ivytech.edu

219-981-1111 x 2397

April Gabbert-Strang Student Life Coordinator–

Valparaiso Campus

agabbertstrang@ivytech.edu

219-464-8514 x 3044

Artensia Kennedy Student Life Coordinator–

Gary Campus

akennedy42@ivytech.edu

219-981-1111 x 2286

Tonya Kidd

Student Life Coordinator-

East Chicago Campus

tkidd1@ivytech.edu

219-392-3600 x 275

Deanna Schoof

Student Life Coordinator-

Michigan City Campus

dschoof@ivytech.edu

219-879-9137 x 233

Upcoming Regional SGA Meetings East Chicago—April 1st at 3:45pm Valparaiso—April 6th at 12pm and April 21st at 11am. Michigan City—April 8th at 1pm in the cafeteria.

Club Meetings Valparaiso Human Services club meets every Wednesday at 9am. ICUC will meet on April 6th and 20th as follows: Gary (C106), EC (215B) and Valpo (C208) April 6th & 20th—Valparaiso SNO meeting from 4-6pm in

April 24th—PTK meeting at 12:30pm at the Gary cam-pus.

Upcoming Events April 1st—Census Day. Be sure to be counted! April 8—Pride and Pedestal. Society of Innovators First of the Year Networking Event at Towle Theatre, 5:30pm April 9—Mystey Dinner at Aberdeen Manor in Valpa-raiso. $50 per ticket. Contact Cindy Hall at 219.464.8514. April 12-14—Body Sculpting class. Mondays and Wednes-days from 6-7pm. Contact Josephine Blockson at 219.981.4430.

April 13—International Stu-dent Reception . Valparaiso campus; main commons from 5-6pm. April 14th—Valparaiso Stu-dent Nurses Organization Health Fair. Main Commons. 10am-4pm. April 19-23—East Chicago Spirit Week April 30—SGA Graduation Banquet at Duneland Falls in Portage. 6pm reception. 7pm dinner.

Ivy Tech Northwest Student Life Web Page:

http://www.ivytech.edu/northwest/Acareer/studentlife/index.html

This Month’s Events Around the Region...

Join the Student Life and campus SGA Group Pages on Campus Connect to stay up to date on information and activities! In Campus Connect, click on the “Group” tab in the top right and go to “Group Index”. Click on the arrow next to your campus for the drop down menu. Select “Student Organizations”, then select your campus SGA page. For the Student Life page, click on the arrow next to the Gary Campus, then select “Social and Cultural” and join the “Student Life and Leadership” page. NOTE: All regional groups are listed under the Gary campus under Student Organizations.

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