Lindsey Mosier, right, receives an Ivy Tech alumni pin from Jeremy Gaddis of Ivy Tech after receiving her degree on stage Friday night at the Ivy Tech graduation ceremony at the Indiana University Auditorium. Mosier's mother, Lisa Bault-Arnold, not pictured, also received her degree during Friday's ceremonies. Staff photo by Chris Howell

Julia Thacker didn't have any interest in going to college when she graduated from Martinsville High School.

"I swore I'd never go," she said.

But she changed her mind when she got laid off from her office job at Morgan Health Services, "the only job I ever had that I liked."

She enrolled at Ivy Tech Community College, spent 2 1/2 years commuting to Bloomington for classes and earned her degree — 20 years after her parents, James and Mildred Thacker, graduated from Ivy Tech.

Thacker, 24, was one of more than 200 graduates who took part in Ivy Tech commencement ceremonies Friday night at the Indiana University Auditorium.

With cheering family members and friends packing the lower levels of the facility, the robed graduates crossed the stage to receive associate of science and associate of applied science degrees and technical certificates. Altogether, 372 students graduated from Ivy Tech's Bloomington campus, more than 100 of them with academic honors.

The ceremony included:

• Graduation of the 14-member first class of industrial trades apprentices from the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center.

• Presentation of a Distinguished Alumna award to Dianna Holtsclaw, a 1984 graduate now teaching in Ivy Tech's practical nursing program.

• An honorary degree for Steve Howard, who will retire in September as president of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce.

Bill Mallory, IU's head football coach from 1984 to 1996, sent the graduates off with a rousing speech, urging them to stay focused on their goals and approach life with passion.

"Have purpose," he said. "Give yourself direction. Don't allow yourself to get on a merry-go-round of confusion."

As Mallory noted, many of the Ivy Tech graduates needed purpose to earn their degrees. He mentioned a man who started college in 1991, took time off for family reasons, then finished with a 4.0 grade average; and a 57-year-old grandfather, laid off by GE and Otis Elevator, who finished his degree.

Steve Thompson, one of the Crane apprentices, had been out of school almost 20 years when he started the program, which combined weekly Ivy Tech classes with job training as an electrician. And back at East Washington High School, he hadn't been a particularly good student. "Cs and Ds, mostly," he said.

But after working five years at Crane as a police officer, he jumped at the chance to enter the apprenticeship program. Helped by his daughters, Kendra, 19, and Amanda, 17, and supported by his wife, Kristi, he did well. He was honored Friday as the top student in the apprentice program.

"It was pretty tough," said Thompson, 41, of Salem. "There was lots of homework and it just took lots of dedication, a lot of self-discipline."

College officials said other apprentices also excelled. Bill Dove took design technology classes in addition to working and taking apprentice courses. Gerald Gammon Jr. helped build an Ivy Tech electrical lab. Pat Wagoner juggled work, school and parenting triplets.

For many students, Ivy Tech was a family affair.

Lindsey Mosier received an associate of science degree in criminal justice Friday at the same time her mother, Lisa Bault-Arnold, received a certificate in general technical studies.

And Julia Thacker said she took inspiration from knowing how hard her parents worked to complete their Ivy Tech degrees.

"It was a lot different for them," she said. "They had three kids and they both worked full time. They'd tell me how hard it was to leave the kids at home at night to go to school."

Thacker said she would wait to celebrate until she and Arthur Lietzman, her boyfriend since ninth grade and an Ivy Tech student, get married in three weeks.

"He told me he'd marry me after I graduated," she said. "I made him stick to that."

Reporter Steve Hinnefeld can be reached at 331-4374 or by e-mail at shinnefeld@heraldt.com.

Honorees

Distinguished Alumna: Dianna Holtsclaw

Honorary degree: Steve Howard

President's award: Janice Malinovsky, adjunct instructor in general education.

Outstanding Student: Ludek Hamala, accounting; Lieska Campos, Lana Curcic, Eunhee Lee, business administration; Brian Burns, Chris Pheifer, Michael Simpson, computer information systems; Tina Morris, criminal justice; Greg Frankland, design technology; Jennifer Posson, early childhood education; Clifton Campbell, Vicky Snyder, electronics & computer technology; Jodi Jeffries, Susan VanDeventer, associate in nursing; Anita Thompson, Heather Williams, practical nursing; Ardith Johnston, Christina Potts, Jessica Seely, office administration; Brian Gasque, Brian Taylor, manufacturing & industrial technology; John Longstreet, paramedic science; Steve Thompson, industrial apprenticeship.

 

	Cousins Nikki Evans, right, and 3-year-old Shannon Staggs peer through the glass doors in front of the IU Auditorium Friday evening while waiting for the Ivy Tech graduation ceremony to start. They were in attendance to watch Shannon's mother graduate. Staff photo by Chris Howell