Ivy Tech Bloomington to celebrate Class of 2021 on May 15: Graduation events will take place in-person and virtually

Ivy Tech Community College’s Bloomington campus will host an in-person graduation celebration event and virtual commencement ceremony for the Class of 2021 on Saturday, May 15. Celebration events will be held on the main campus starting at Noon, followed by the premier of the virtual commencement ceremony that evening at 6 p.m. on Ivy Tech Bloomington’s YouTube channel. Ivy Tech Bloomington will confer approximately 1,482 associate degrees and certificates to 2021 graduates, which is up 210 credentials over this time last year. More credentials will be awarded throughout the spring and summer as graduation applications continue to be submitted through the close of the academic year

During the daytime celebration events, graduates will “process” in their vehicles through the campus parking lot to pick up their graduation items, including commemorative cords and yard signs, and then take a ceremonial walk across the stage in Shreve Hall to hear their name announced and receive their diploma cover.

Kevin Oliver, Associate of General Studies graduate and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society president will give the graduation address in the virtual ceremony. Oliver holds a bachelor’s degree and decided to come to Ivy Tech for a career change. He’s pursuing medical school.

An Honorary Associate Degree will be awarded posthumously to Keith K. Klein, Ivy Tech advocate, faculty, and friend who passed away earlier this year. Klein’s legacy of service and student successs will be carried forward by Ivy Tech Bloomington in numerous ways, including this posthumous award.
 
The 2021 Distinguished Alumnus, Greg May, Ed.D., will also be recognized in the virtual ceremony. May is an Ivy Tech Bloomington Class of 2005 graduate and serves as administrative director of adult and family services at Centerstone, a Bloomington provider of counseling and addictions services.

Ivy Tech Bloomington is graduating 100 Early College high school graduates that have earned credentials through dual credit and enrollment opportunities. Early College graduates have earned a certificate, an Associate of General Studies degree, or Indiana College Core (formerly Statewide Transfer General Education Core - STGEC), which enables high school graduates to go on to a state college or university with the entire core of 30 credit hours completed. Early College graduates are from Bloomfield High School, Bloomington North High School, Eastern Greene High School, Edgewood High School, Hoosier Hills Career Center, Loogootee High School, Lost River Career Center, North Lawrence Career Center, Paoli High School, Springs Valley High School, Martinsville High School, Owen Valley High School, and West Washington High School.

Ivy Tech Bloomington is also conferring 55 associate degrees and certificates to 39 Achieve Your Degree™ (AYD) graduates. AYD is a tuition-deferral program in which Ivy Tech and employers collaborate to offer working adults the opportunity to earn community college credentials with no upfront cost to students. Locally, Ivy Tech has agreements with 19 employers, and the college works with more than 160 companies statewide. Employers represent a variety of industries, including technology, medical, financial, and manufacturing.

Associate Accelerated Program (ASAP) graduates have earned 31 associate degrees and certificates, among 25 graduates. ASAP offers students ages 21 and under the opportunity to earn an associate degree in as little as 11 months. Ivy Tech Bloomington offers ASAP degrees in liberal arts, education, business administration, informatics, and psychology.

Ivy Tech Bloomington offers a new associate degree track, IvyAccelerate and will award 3 credentials to 2 graduates.

The number of students graduating with honors is 326 (up 31 graduates over last year), with 87 graduating summa cum laude for maintaining a 4.0 grade point average.

Ivy Tech Bloomington will confer credentials to 18 military veterans, and is graduating international students representing the countries of China, Dominica, India, Republic of Korea, Mali, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam.

Approximately 79 Associate of Science in Nursing degrees and 58 Practical Nursing certificates will be awarded. 

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Posthumous Honorary Associate Degree Recipient

The students attending Ivy Tech’s Bloomington campus knew no greater friend or advocate than Keith Klein. His passion lay with their success, both in and out of the classroom. He respected the diversity of experience and circumstances many work through to attend college. He valued their perspective and the unique work ethic they brought to class every day. He was a trusted mentor who challenged them to be the best they could be, because he believed in them.
 
Keith began his career with Ivy Tech Bloomington in January 2003 directing our foundation office. He soon followed his heart to the classroom where he would spend the next 17 years, several of them as chair of our Speech and Communications department. Even after “retiring,” he continued as an adjunct faculty member. Never one to miss an opportunity to tell the Ivy Tech story, he used his journalistic skills to share insights about the student experience with radio listeners each week on station WGCL, where he served as news director.
 
Keith’s life was defined by service. He was a member of the Monroe County Community School Corporation board of directors for 12 years, including a tenure as its president. He was a Rotarian, a proud member of the International Order of DeMolay, and he spent many years as a high school athletics official. He was a go-to master of ceremonies for numerous community events, and he holds a special place in our hearts as the announcer of graduates’ names during our commencement ceremonies. Here at Ivy Tech, he made a difference in our lives and, more importantly, in the lives of our students.

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2021 Distinguished Alumnus

​Greg May, Ed.D., serves as administrative director of adult and family services at Centerstone, a Bloomington provider of counseling and addictions services. In this role he is responsible for overseeing cross-functional grant teams, including criminal justice initiatives and business practice alignment for a twenty-county service area.
 
With more than 15 years of experience based in substance use treatment and recovery, May has made a lasting impact on our community and achieved significant professional accomplishments.
 
In addition to facilitating individual and group therapy treatment for Centerstone clients, May has served as a member of its Trauma Informed Care committee. He also co-led the Forensic Peer Curriculum Workgroup, which resulted in a training program that is utilized throughout the State of Indiana.
 
He is a past chair of the Monroe County Opioid Commission and on the board of Monroe County CARES. Dr. May also serves as the treatment liaison for Monroe County’s four problem-solving courts: drug, re-entry, mental health, and veteran.
 
May earned his Associate of General Studies degree in 2005 from Ivy Tech Bloomington. He continued his education to earn a bachelor’s degree in human resources management, and advanced degrees in organizational management, leadership, and social work.
 
Most recently, May was featured in an article in the Bloomington Herald-Times about his work at the city’s Stride Center, which serves people in crisis. He is a member of Ivy Tech Bloomington’s Alumni Council and enjoys returning to the college where he serves as a guest lecturer in human services classes

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