FRANKFORT — The partnership that brought Ivy Tech Community College to Frankfort has received the Indiana Career and Technical Education Partnership Award for Excellence. The Awards for Excellence program is sponsored by the Indiana Department of Education. Award recipients were recognized at a public ceremony March 6 at the Indiana Government Center in Indianapolis.

The partnership involves Ivy Tech Community College, the Frankfort Mayor and City Council, the Clinton County Economic Advancement Foundation, the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce, the Clinton County Commissioners and Clinton County Council.

“The three-way partnership between the City of Frankfort, Clinton County and Ivy Tech, along with the many generous community members who contributed financially to the initiative, demonstrates our collective belief that education is at the heart of our community’s future success,” Frankfort Mayor Chris McBarnes said.

Ivy Tech’s Frankfort site opened August 2013 in downtown Frankfort. Located at 252 East Clinton Street in Kaspar Hall (former Frankfort Times building), the new campus features classrooms, computer labs, science labs, testing area, and student lounge. Classes in accounting, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, business, computing, communications, design technology, criminal justice, liberal arts, health sciences, math, paralegal, and foreign languages are offered.

“Ivy Tech is committed to making higher education both accessible and affordable for Indiana residents. State funding is not available, so the establishment of a new Ivy Tech location within a community is not possible without the full support of the entire community,” Ivy Tech Chancellor Dr. David Bathe said.

“Our residents’ education is furthered, our local workforce is strengthened, economic development opportunities are expanded and the quality of life in our community and surrounding area is greatly enhanced. Our campus stands as a shining example of what can happen when public and private entities join forces for the benefit and long-term improvement of an entire community and region,” McBarnes said.

Initiated in 1984, the Indiana Career and Technical Education Awards for Excellence program is designed to identify and recognize career and technical education students, programs, active partnerships that contribute to high quality career and technical education, guidance/career services displaying excellence in Indiana, and outstanding contributors to careers in technical education in Indiana.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students 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 communities. In addition, its courses and programs transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.