FORT WAYNE – Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne and Kosciusko County celebrated its 55th Annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
The college graduated more than 2,000 students in Fort Wayne and Kosciusko County and awarded 3,500+ degrees, certificates and technical certificates.
The class of 2025’s student speaker was Jennifer Byrkett, who graduated with a degree in surgical technology.
“Graduating is our accomplishment because we all made the decision to try,” said Byrkett in her address. “As I was writing and thinking of what I would say, my five-year-old daughter sat across from me, playing with her toys. It was in that moment that I knew I was happy that I made that decision to ‘try.’”
The College gives two Curtis Awards each year: one recognizing an outstanding graduate from the college’s career and technical schools, and the other, the university/transfer schools. This year’s winners are Kathryn “Katie” Bryan from the School of Nursing, and Zach Crow from the School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, and Applied Sciences.
The Curtis Award winners are chosen from among the Ivy Tech Fort Wayne & Kosciusko County Outstanding Student Awards, which are awarded to one student per academic school. This year’s Outstanding Student awards went to the following students: Zach Crow, Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Applied Science; Kyle Hamel, Arts, Sciences & Education; Mariah Garcia, Business, Logistics & Supply Chain; Alex Ridge, Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management; Edwin Chairez-Castaneda, Entrepreneurship & Innovation; Jennifer Byrkett, Health Sciences; Christopher Chavez, Information Technology; Kathryn “Katie” Bryan, Nursing; and Amber Hershberger, Public Affairs & Social Services.
“The steps you take after this ceremony are built on the foundation you've created here,” Chancellor Dr. Kim Barnett-Johnson said during the ceremony. “As you move forward, know that you will always be part of the Ivy Tech family. We are proud of you and wish you the very best.”
Each Ivy Tech across the state nominates the winner of its President’s Award, which goes to a full-time faculty member, for the Glenn W. Sample Founder’s Award for Excellence in Instruction. The Ivy Tech Fort Wayne & Kosciusko County nominee is Associate Professor for Life and Physical Science Theresa Bissell.
Each Ivy Tech across the state nominates the winner of its Adjunct Faculty Award, which goes to a part-time faculty member. These nominees are then eligible for the Gerald I. Lamkin Award for adjunct faculty members. The Ivy Tech Fort Wayne & Kosciusko County nominee of the statewide Lamkin Award is Paramedic Adjunct Dan O’Shaughnessey.