Ivy Tech Community College hosted the Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy’s January session which focused on education in the county.
Allen Decker, vice chancellor of Ivy Tech, welcomed the students and spoke to them about how Ivy Tech is the most affordable college in the state of Indiana, and about how the students can utilize opportunities such as dual credit courses and dual enrollment courses now, to get ahead academically and financially for when they enter college.
Dual credit courses are classes taught at area high schools for courses where the teachers are accredited through Ivy Tech to teach the course. These are free to the students like other high school classes, but the students grade in these classes goes directly to their college transcript.
Dual enrollment classes are another opportunity for students in the area. These courses are taught at Ivy Tech for a nominal cost to the student, can be taken while the students are in high school and go directly to their college transcripts.
Tom Till, director of advanced manufacturing at Ivy Tech, spoke to the students about his educational journey and about the opportunities that Ivy Tech has for students to participate in Advanced Technical Programs.
These programs allow students to learn to operate and understand the advanced technology that is prevalent in our local industry. Tom also told the students about Indiana’s Next Level Jobs program which allows any high school graduate without a post-secondary degree to earn a one-year technical degree paid for by Indiana.
Mark Pohl, associate vice president of enrollment at Grace College, brought two Grace students, Katie Parks and Gabby Thayer, to speak to the students. Pohl talked to the students about the value of college overall, and the unique opportunities that Grace offers its students.
These include financial aid to support their students, and unique course and dual degree designs which allow students there to complete their degree in a more efficient way. Parks and Thayer did a panel for the students to answer their questions about what student life at Grace is like and shared about their experience in selecting a college to attend.
KYLA will next meet Wednesday at the Kosciusko YMCA where they will discuss agribusiness in the county.
For more information on KYLA, visit www.KosciuskoYouthLeadership.org and KYLA on Facebook.
