Ivy Tech celebrated the Warsaw site’s renaming to Ivy Tech Kosciusko County with a rededication ceremony at Miller Hall Wednesday.
Chancellor Dr. Kim Barnett-Johnson said while the name change was official Monday, “we’re making it official in the community today.”
Ivy Tech Board of Trustees and administrators had discussions on how to increase enrollment at the site. Board member Phil Metcalf shared when the Warsaw location was built, it was meant to be for the entire county, Barnett-Johnson said. Metcalf asked if by calling the site Ivy Tech Warsaw, it set some type of perspective the site was only for Warsaw residents.

    Dr. Kim Barnett-Johnson, chancellor of Ivy Tech Fort Wayne and Warsaw, spoke Wednesday for the rededication of Ivy Tech Kosciusko County. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union
  

“So that’s when we started to do some research,” she said. Barnett-Johnson met with several community members and asked their opinion on the name change. “And across the board, everybody was like, ‘That’s a great idea.’”
Barnett-Johnson said Ivy Tech has been working on a strategic plan for the Warsaw site for over a year.
“We’ve put a lot of hard work talking about what’s happening here at this site and what we’d like to see happening here. And so this event is really, truly just a culmination and celebration of that work that has been done over the past year, as well as the work that is going to happen with community collaboration and community partnership in the future, in years to come,” she said.
She hopes the name change allows for everyone in the surrounding area to know Ivy Tech Kosciusko County is there for everyone.
“If there was ever a thought that it was just for Warsaw, we want to dispel that and let people know it’s for Kosciusko County and the surrounding counties,” she said.
Metcalf shared the history of Ivy Tech in Kosciusko County during Wednesday’s rebranding ceremony.
Ivy Tech started out in Kosciusko County above an ice cream shop on Center Street in downtown Warsaw, he said. From there, it moved to “one area of the middle school when the high school moved to the new campus.” It moved to a location on East U.S. 30 before moving to its current location. The building was dedicated in 2011. Former first lady Laura Bush attended the dedication, Metcalf said.
One of the programs started at the Warsaw location was the health occupations program. The Orthopedic and Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (OAMTC) was started to help students learn skills to go into the orthopedic industry.
Metcalf said Ivy Tech Kosciusko County has always represented more than just Warsaw, noting 60% of students attending the site live outside the city limits of Warsaw. Of that 60%, 30% live outside Kosciusko County. There are eight counties that have students attend classes at the campus.
“So that’s why we decided to call it Ivy Tech Kosciusko County because we do represent more than just Warsaw,” he said. He noted the campus gives students skills that align with business and industry standards.
“We want them to have a career that will have impact and enrich their lives and to become productive citizens ...,” he said.
Before Metcalf spoke, Mary Martin, regional director for Gov. Mike Braun’s office, read a letter from Braun.
In his letter, Braun said he was excited about the new opportunities the rededication ceremony brings to Ivy Tech Kosciusko County. For decades, Ivy Tech has been a cornerstone of opportunity, innovation and workforce development across the state.
“Today’s rededication is more than a ceremony, a milestone. It is a testament to the unwavering dedication of faculty, the staff, perseverance of students and the enduring commitment to provide accessible, high-quality education. With the introduction of new programs and enhanced facilities, Ivy Tech Kosciusko is not only equipping students for success, but also strengthening the area’s workforce and economic future. Your efforts ensure that Kosciusko remains a thriving center for learning, growth and opportunity. Today, we celebrate more than just a physical building. We celebrate a vision, a vision that empowers individuals, supports local and regional industries and elevates the entire community. May this dedication serve as renewed commitment to excellence, education and unlimited possibilities that lie ahead,” Braun’s letter said.