SELLERSBURG – Ivy Tech Community College Southern Indiana will hold its 40th commencement ceremony on Friday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. The event will take place at Northside Christian Church located on Charlestown Road in New Albany. So far in 2011, more than 500 students have applied to graduate from the college. This is the largest graduating class in the history of Ivy Tech Southern Indiana.

This year, Ivy Tech College Vice President Jeffrey Terp is expected to confer degrees.

“Graduation is always a terrific event in the life of our campus,” says Chancellor Dr. Rita Hudson Shourds. “This year we will enjoy the pleasure of seeing all of these faithful students go out into the world.”

Awards will also be presented at graduation.

Ivy Tech’s Friend of the College Award will be presented to the Jim O’Neal family. Ivy Tech’s enrollment topped 5,500 for the first time this spring semester. The O’Neal family has a large lot across Interstate 65 that was very generously offered for Ivy Tech’s use free of charge. Faculty and staff parked in the lot owned by the O’Neals. Ivy Tech rented a shuttle bus to take them back and forth from campus for the first few weeks of classes during the fall and spring semesters. “What we appreciate about the O’Neals is their ability to see the future of Southern Indiana, and to understand the positive impact Ivy Tech will have on the community, and to want to participate in that,” Dr. Shourds said.

A second Friend of the College award will be presented to Michael Dalby. Michael Dalby was the president and CEO of One Southern Indiana. He came to the area to lead the Chamber of Commerce for Clark and Floyd counties when it first rebranded as One Southern Indiana, and helped shape its goals and mission. During his tenure, Michael’s work led to 47 existing company expansions and leading economic development projects that added more than 5,000 new jobs to our community. In particular, he supported Ivy Tech, serving on our Regional Board of Trustees and helping connect the college with businesses and other organizations. He is now president and CEO of the Columbus Chamber, where he leads initiatives to support businesses in the eight-county Columbus Region.

For more information about Ivy Tech’s graduation, call the college at (812) 246-3301.

About Ivy Tech
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 200,000 students enrolled annually.  Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana.  It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana.  It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.