GARY– Ivy Tech Northwest, with campuses in Gary, Valpo, Michigan City and East Chicago, will graduate 626 students that will receive associate degrees and technical certificates on May 10 at 11 a.m. at the Gary Genesis Convention Center, One Genesis Center.

Among those are 220 members of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. The School of Health Sciences with 209 graduates, The School of Business with 185 and The School of Technology with 130 graduates represents the largest percentage of those graduating. The School of Public and Social Services, The School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and The School of Education have a combined total of 102 graduates.

Nearly 8,000 Ivy Tech Community College students throughout the state will receive an associate degree or certificate as the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college will hold 14 graduation ceremonies around Indiana in the month of May. In addition to awarding nearly 8,000 degrees and certificates, the community college has granted more than 15,000 certifications thus providing nearly 23,000 credentials preparing Hoosiers for the workforce and providing credits that transfer to four-year colleges and universities.

This academic year was a year of unprecedented growth for the college with more than 110,000 students enrolled at Ivy Tech’s 23 campuses statewide.

During its May 10 ceremony, Ivy Tech Northwest will present Mark Maassel, former president of Northern Indiana Public Service Company, with the honorary Associate Degree in Community Service. Under his leadership as tri-chair for the Ivy Tech Foundation capital campaign, nearly $3 million was raised to fund the Ivy Tech Community College Valpo campus at 3100 Ivy Tech Drive. The new campus serves not only students in the Valpo area, but throughout northwest Indiana. He is also former chair of the board of director of the Ivy Tech Community College Foundation that serves all 23 campuses of Ivy Tech throughout Indiana.

Associate Professor Jim Neary, former Associate Professor Joe Zernick and former Director of Facilities Art Tuesburg will also receive the honorary Associate Degree in Community Service. Neary, a math instructor at the Gary campus passed away in February 2008. Tuesburg, who was instrumental in the construction of the new Valparaiso campus and retired in 2007, also passed away in February 2008. Zernick, former program chair in accounting and business at the Gary campus, passed away in April 2008.

Also, Lauren S. Arnold will be recognized during the ceremony as the 2008 Distinguished Alumni. Arnold graduated from the Ivy Tech Respiratory Therapy Program in 1984 and is very active in the Michigan City and LaPorte areas.

Ivy Tech Community College is the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system and the state’s second largest public post-secondary institution with more than 110,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has 23 campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.