Ivy Tech Day brings South Bend-Elkhart alumni and community together to support students' success

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Ivy Tech Day brought South Bend-Elkhart alumni and community members together at Ivy Tech campuses in South Bend and Goshen Tuesday to raise funds for education programs aimed at giving students the best schooling experience.

Mari Lynn Wise, Executive Director of Resource Development at Ivy Tech, said, "So, the students who come and are looking for, coming straight of high school, looking for an affordable education or a pathway to a four-year institute. We also have non-traditional students who are looking to get back and get a degree or a certificate. We have dual credit students as well. And so, our programs such as culinary, auto, also dental hygiene, nursing, these are great programs that are going to support our local economy. We know that four out of five Ivy Tech students, they stay here locally."

Ivy Tech officials say this third annual Ivy Tech Day will help more than 200,000 students across 19 campuses, including 15,000 enrolled at Ivy Tech South Bend-Elkhart, prepare for careers that will impact Indiana.

Ivy Tech is also holding a fundraising gala at Four Winds Casino on May 2.

"So, our gala is May 2 at Four Winds Casino, it is our largest fundraiser of the year. And again, these funds go back to supporting our mission, our students. It goes for scholarships. It goes for wrap around services. We support our programs in different departments," said Wise.