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The Herald-Times

Posted: Monday, December 22, 2014

It’s been a year of changes for Ivy Tech Bloomington.

This year started with Chancellor John Whikehart leaving to fill his new role as deputy mayor, and the Ivy Tech State Board of Trustees voting to combine the administrative offices of the Bloomington and Evansville campuses.

However, by April the board went back on that decision and said Bloomington could stay a stand-alone campus to focus on expanding the Connie and Steve Ferguson Academic Building and hiring a chancellor. Quickly after, Jennie Vaughan was named chancellor.

Groundbreaking for the building expansion happened in May. The official fundraiser for the last $4 million needed for the project began in September with the “Here We Grow Again!” campaign. And by November, the campus had $2.7 million of that goal.

Here’s a look back at Ivy Tech’s 2014 in quotes:

Lee Marchant, Ivy Tech trustee,  on finding a new leader for the Bloomington campus:

“We are going to find someone who can be the face of the community…It will have to be someone who looks like and acts like John.”

Keith Klein, chairman of the communication department at Ivy Tech Bloomington, on student Jessical Troxel who lost her left arm and mangled her right hand in a 2008 car accident:

“She’s amazing…Every paper she turned in was a work of art, beautifully written with perfect spelling and grammar…When you see what this young woman is doing with her life, you want to grab a megaphone and shout to every young person, ‘See what you could do if you tried as hard as she’s trying!’”

Connie Ferguson, chairwoman of the Bloomington Regional Board of Trustees on Jennie Vaughan as Bloomington campus chancellor:

“She’s one of the team…We knew where her heart was.”

Shay Morton, Ivy Tech Bloomington 2014 graduate, on completing her degree:

“I’m still in awe. … I’m nervous and excited, and I’m also looking forward to what’s ahead.”

Jennie Vaughan, Ivy Tech Bloomington Chancellor, at the groundbreaking for building expansion:

“Our spirits and the future of the Bloomington regional campus are brighter than ever.”

Steven Hunt, a sophomore, on returning for the fall semester:

“It feels better. There’s a better atmosphere…It feels fresh.”

Carl Cook, CEO of Cook Group,  as he presented a $1 million check for the capital campaign:

“Everybody reaches a point in their life where they need a place to go…Ivy Tech is a place for them to go so they can get somewhere else in their lives.”

Lee Marchant, Ivy Tech trustee, on the nursing building dedicated in his honor:

“In the wildest stretch of my imagination, and certainly of my parents’ … I had no this was going to happen…What you (nursing students) are to me is in incredible inspiration…and what we are doing here today is for you.”