Grads celebrate, asked to give back
3 campuses hold single commencement ceremony in Valparaiso
Austin Brummel had a paper sign taped to the top of his mortarboard reading, “Last minute, just like everything else I did in college.”
Brummel, 24, of Dyer, was waiting in the wings of the Athletics-Recreation Center at Valparaiso University to receive his associate degree as a physical therapy assistant from Ivy Tech Community College. He said he made the sign Saturday morning, just before the ceremony.
“I’m a procrastinator at heart,” Brummel said, adding that he does better under pressure. “It worked in high school and it worked in college, so here I am.”
Speakers told the more than 1,800 graduates from the Lake County, Valparaiso and Michigan City campuses about the support they received in their journey to achievement and their nature to give back to the community.
That message likely resonated with James Dennie who was receiving an associate degree in health care and awaiting word on whether he would be accepted into a certificate program to be either a surgical technician or a respiratory tech.
Dennie, 51, of Wheatfield, said he served 20 years in the Navy before retiring and taking a job in a steel mill and later, with a vendor for the mills.
Officials with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which provided his tuition and a stipend, recommended Dennie
go into health care or culinary arts because dust from the mill aggravated his asthma, he said.
He started at Ivy Tech two years ago.
“It was a real eye-opener because looking at most of your classmates, they’re the same age as your kids,” said the father of four teenagers. “You’re wanting to be a father to them but you can’t.”
Still, Dennie found his life experience and maturity paid off.
“I’m a lot better student as a college student than I ever was in high school,” he said.
Supporters cheered as the graduates walked in to “Pomp and Circumstance.” Many held bouquets or balloons and grabbed phones to capture pictures or video of the moment.
Kara Monroe, senior vice president and provost for Ivy Tech, laid out a threepronged charge for the graduates: to celebrate and then figure out what was next for their education; to see who they could support in their quests to continue their education as others had done for them; and to say thank you.
“Feeling and expressing gratitude is one of the keys to a happy life,” she said.
More than a decade ago, said Aco Sikoski, chancellor of the Valparaiso campus, Ivy Tech State College became Ivy Tech Community College.
“It means we believe in the potential of Northwest Indiana and we are in partnership with you as a people to have the quality of life you deserve,” he said.
Sikoski said what he saw in the graduates was their capacity to serve.
“It should be no surprise that giving back, naturally, comes to a lot of our students,” he said, adding that includes helping others overcome obstacles, collecting items for those in need, and countless other charitable efforts. “The lessons learned in these experiences and in class are transferable skills for life.”
He highlighted the accomplishments of students who received “Distinguished Graduate” awards for their campuses.
Mechell Hardiman, graduating from the hospitality program in Lake County, overcame homelessness to earn her degree and was active in organizing events for student government and the Culinary Club on her campus, Sikoski said.
Andrew Bochnicka, earning a business degree from the Valparaiso campus, was president of the Gay Straight Alliance and struggled with coming out, turning to campus resources including life coach services for help, Sikoski said. He worked in retail while attending school, coordinated a beach cleanup and plays saxophone in the Valparaiso Community/University Concert Band.
Maggie Burgdorf, receiving a degree in medical assisting from the Michigan City campus, was honored with the Award for Excellence for Outstanding Career and Technical Education Student from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and is a volunteer at the Michiana Humane Society.
“While each of you is a member of a number of communities large and small, today is the last day you will be in the same community as graduates,” Sikoski said, adding the graduates will go on to join other communities. “The discipline that carried you to this day will serve you in
your future pursuits.”
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.