The Ivy Tech Community College Northwest held their periodic state board meeting at the Task Force Tips building in Valpo - where lost and disabled emergency personnel are honored for their service.
"We're having a community reception to introduce our business partners and our supporters of Ivy Tech to our state board of trustees," said Karen Williams, the executive director of marketing at Ivy Tech, "Basically, it's a mix of people from throughout NWI, in the seven counties that we serve, who we invited to come this evening."
Ivy Tech is the fasting growing higher education institution in the area, largely in part thanks to the vision of Thomas Snyder, President of Ivy Tech.
"President Snyder really has put a different spin on Ivy Tech Community College," said Lupe Valtierra, chancellor of Ivy Tech Northwest," Tom is probably one of the most innovative people we know. He heads up the largest community college system in the country."
It's by the community and through the support of local institutions that schools such as Ivy Tech have had such great success.
"We have more to do," Snyder said, "We have to expand...we're going to need local encouragement and local support, so as we grow from here, we're going to need the continuation of these great benefactors, supporters and friends."
Ivy Tech is a multi-regional massive network of higher educational institutions across the state, so it's integral to bring the individuals involved together to communicate ideas and successes with one another.
"There are fourteen regions to Ivy Tech. Each region has a state board representing them," said Dee Haklin, the vice chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College Northwest, "so they are here from all over the state."
Both Mayor Jon Costas and Congressman Pete Visclosky came and celebrate the growth and success of this institution, showing their support for all that Ivy Tech has done for providing education to our community, affordably and with excellence.
"We're just thrilled to have our Ivy Tech facility here," said Costas, "It is a great, great, important step for us to make sure that we take education to the people, make it affordable, make it fit the needs of our workforce and make sure that we provide success opportunity for our students going forward, and Ivy Tech is doing that."
Visclosky agreed, saying, "I simply want to compliment and to thank the leadership, the staff and the educators of the Ivy Tech system...for the exceptional job you have and continue to do to improve the economic opportunity for the people we all work so hard for, as well as to improve their quality of life, and the quality of life for their entire family."
Deb Butterfield, a member of the board of trustees, wrapped up the evening saying, "Ivy Tech's tagline of 'Changing lives. Making Indiana great' really is true. It is absolutely inspirational to see what this institution is doing for this region and for the state of Indiana."