Indiana Primary Election Day
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Ivy Tech Bloomington to celebrate graduates at Commencement this Friday
Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington will host its annual Commencement Ceremony on May 10 at 6 p.m. at the Indiana University Auditorium, where it will celebrate the Class of 2024. Approximately 1,300 graduates have earned 1,750 associate degrees and certificates. This is the first Commencement Ceremony that Chancellor Erik Coyne will preside over and marks his first full year leading the Bloomington campus.
Kevin Nguyen, president of the Student Government Association and computer science graduate, will give the commencement address. Nguyen is graduating with summa cum laude honors and was named outstanding student in his program of study. He will speak to his experience and growth as an Ivy Tech student leader. Nguyen will transfer to Indiana University this fall to earn his bachelor’s degree in computer science. In the future, he plans to work as a software engineer.
Marjie Risen, program chair for education at Ivy Tech Bloomington, will receive an Honorary Associate of College and Community Service degree for her 25 years of service as she retires from her position.
By the Numbers
- Ivy Tech Bloomington is conferring 445 transfer degrees and certificates to graduates, 25% of all credentials awarded. Ivy Tech has transfer agreements with more than 100 in- and out-of-state schools, including guaranteed admissions programs to Indiana University.
- The campus is graduating 370 Early College students that have earned credentials with high school dual credit. Four students have earned a full associate degree before high school graduation. Early College graduates earn an Associate of General Studies, Indiana College Core technical certificate, or certificate.
- Local Early College high schools include Academy of Science & Entrepreneurship, Bedford-North Lawrence, Bloomfield, Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Eastern Greene, Edgewood, Hoosier Hills Career Center, Loogootee, Lost River Career Center, Mitchell, North Lawrence Career Center, Orleans, Paoli, Shoals, Springs Valley, Martinsville, Owen Valley, and West Washington.
- A total of 113 Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN/RN) degrees and 49 Practical Nursing (LPN) certificates will be awarded—a 22% increase in nursing graduates over last year.
- The campus is conferring 66 associate degrees and certificates, up from 44 last year, to 46 Achieve Your Degree™ (AYD) graduates. AYD is an employer-paid tuition assistance program that provides the chance for students to earn college credentials with no upfront costs. Locally, Ivy Tech has agreements with 18 employers.
- Associate Accelerated Program (ASAP) students will earn 39 associate degrees and certificates among 24 graduates. ASAP allows students ages 21 and under to earn an associate degree in less than a year.
- Six military veterans and eight international students representing the countries of China and Nigeria are graduating.
For more information about the ceremony and parking, visit ivytech.edu/bloomington/graduation.
Bloomington Nonprofits Invited to Apply for 2024 Digital Equity Grant
The City of Bloomington invites nonprofit organizations to apply for funding to support their efforts to bridge the digital divide and increase digital resources for residents. The Digital Equity Grants program will award $50,000 in funds to Bloomington-based nonprofits, with 2024 proposals accepted digitally Monday, May 6 through 5 p.m. on Friday, June 14th at bloomington.in.gov/digital-equity.
Bloomington’s Digital Equity Grants program, now in its fourth year, began as part of the Recover Forward initiative to help Bloomington recover from the pandemic and economic collapse, and advance racial, economic, and climate justice. Beginning in 2022, the award funds have become a regular part of the Information & Technology Services Department’s annual general fund budget. Since 2020, the City’s Digital Equity Grant Program has awarded more than $190,000 to local nonprofits.
An informational Zoom meeting about the Digital Equity Grant application process will be held at 10am on Monday, May 20th.
The Digital Equity Grants program is part of the City’s larger plan to improve digital equity in the community, address challenges, and pursue solutions identified in the City’s 2020 Digital Equity Strategic Plan including in the following areas:
- Availability Gap: Address areas where broadband is unavailable, competition is minimal, or bandwidth is inadequate.
- Adoption Gap: Where available, overcome barriers to broadband adoption including service affordability, usable devices, etc.
- Utilization Gap: Cultivate the knowledge, familiarity and digital skills needed to secure the benefits of the internet and computers.
- Institutionalization: Support community and organizational capacity-building to ensure digital equity is a continuing focus of community development.
The Digital Equity Grants program will accept proposals from nonprofits for projects that build capacity in the community to address digital equity challenges by:
- Facilitating access to broadband service, especially affordable options
- Increasing access to computing devices to effectively use the internet
- Cultivating the knowledge, familiarity and digital skills needed to secure the benefits of the internet and computers
- Improving skills needed to use the internet safely, securely and confidently to engage in digital life
- Mitigating community digital equity gaps identified in the City’s digital equity survey (https://bton.in/mE_-Q)
- Aligning with initiatives recommended in the city’s Digital Equity Strategic Plan (https://bton.in/-NQkR)
More information about the City’s efforts to increase digital equity, including answers to frequently asked questions about the Digital Equity Grant program, is available at bloomington.in.gov/digital-equity.
DOR Annual Public Hearing May 22, 2024
The Indiana Department of Revenue will host this year’s annual public hearing May 22, 2024, at 10 a.m. ET virtually and in person. The hearing provides a general overview of the agency’s progress during the past fiscal year and includes a forum for the agency to hear directly from taxpayers and participants.
- Attend in person: The hearing will be held in Conference Room D of the Indiana Government Center South building located at 302 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204.
- Attend virtually: Watch the hearing live online.
- Provide Comment: You may submit comments prior to the hearing. If attending in person, you may request a speaker slot before May 17.
This Week in Hoosier History
1919 – Thousands lined the streets of Indianapolis to welcome soldiers home from World War I. A victory arch spanned Meridian Street at the south entrance to Monument Circle.
For more local news . . . Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson