WINONA LAKE — On Tuesday, Grace College and the Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) co-hosted the state budget committee on Grace College’s campus.
The day included a presentation from Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, a Grace College update from Executive Vice President Dr. Drew Flamm and a tour of campus and The Village at Winona Lake. The evening concluded with a dinner reception where the group was joined by representatives from regional ICI institutions and local community leaders, according to a news release from Grace College.
“We are thankful for the work ICI does to advocate for private, higher education institutions in Indiana and arranging meetings such as this,” said Flamm. “It was our honor to welcome the state budget committee to Grace and introduce them to many of our local partners.”
Ryan Mishler, member of the Indiana State Senate and current state budget committee chair, organized the event. For Mishler, who attended seven consecutive Lancer Basketball Camps as a child, returning to Grace College was nostalgic, the release stated.
“It was great to bring the state budget committee to Grace College this year,” said Mishler. “Grace College means a lot to me, and I have many precious memories here. Lancer Camp was always about more than improving my basketball skills, it was about developing character and building long-lasting friendships. This place has had a significant impact on my life.”
As co-hosts of the event, several ICI representatives were in attendance including Jodie Ferise, vice president and general counsel, and Dr. David Wantz, president and CEO.
“It was a joy to represent the 29 independent colleges in Indiana to the state budget committee,” said Wantz. “Grace College is a great example of the way that all of our schools serve their communities, bolster their economies and develop students of competence. It was my pleasure to share about the success of our schools at the event.”
During the Grace College update and tour, the committee met a number of individuals who work to connect Grace programs and facilities to the community, including Alex Hall, associate director of the Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams; Rob Parker, president & CEO of the Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce; and Chad Briscoe, athletic director at Grace.
“It’s important that we educate on the role Grace plays in the local community,” said Flamm. “Many people don’t realize that Grace facilities regularly host community events and field trips, much less, that we contribute more than $84 million annually to our local economy. Our local and regional collaborations are crucial for accomplishing our mission of developing graduates of character, competence and service.”
To learn more about Grace College, visit www.grace.edu.
