Joel Troxel was only 16 years old when he first enrolled at Ivy Tech Community College Valparaiso. His journey at Ivy Tech began his sophomore year of high school when he decided to pursue dual credit at Ivy Tech. Joel is now a Certified Public Accountant, runs a successful consulting business, and is an Ivy Tech Distinguished Alumni.

“I was able to complete my associate degree concurrently with my high school diploma,” he said. “Ivy Tech was convenient, affordable, and a solid stepping stone.”

During his time at Ivy Tech, Joel was Student Body President, a peer tutor and member of Phi Theta Kappa. After receiving his associate’s degree in accounting, Joel transitioned to Valparaiso University, where he continued to volunteer, was the President of the Accounting Society and served as an assistant to the Dean. Joel received his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2006 and graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Joel founded a consulting firm, JET Consulting Services, LLC, which provides business consulting, financial services, and technology planning to clients throughout the United States. He is also active in his community where he is a member of the Indiana CPA Society Innovation Task Force, an active member of his church, Treasurer for the LaCrosse Volunteer Fire Department, and a member of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce. He remains connected to Ivy Tech through his assistance with fundraising for events like his local campus’ capital campaign and his continued support of the Ivy Tech Foundation.

Joel says his current career is a fulfillment of the dream of serving small business owners that he had when he began at Ivy Tech. He hopes future students pursue an education at Ivy Tech and utilize it as a pathway to fulfilling and dynamic careers.

“I have advised and urged many young people that the value you receive at Ivy Tech is incredible,” he said. “Focus on developing yourself to serve in the calling you’ve been given, and opportunities will open up.”

He believes Ivy Tech was able to give him a unique education, where he was able to interact with other students of all ages. This environment allowed him to become “a more questioning and engaged learner.”

Joel credits his pathway to success to his “effective and efficient education at Ivy Tech.” Overall, Joel is deeply grateful for his time at Ivy Tech and is a fantastic example of how Ivy Tech can help students achieve their educational dreams.

“It was a valuable education and opened the door to a host of opportunities,” he said. “I was 16 when I enrolled in Ivy Tech. Two years later, I graduated with a good education, a growth perspective, and experience that has helped me reach my goals.”

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Ivy Tech Community College is proud to celebrate Joel’s success and achievements with the Distinguished Alumni Award. This annual award honors alumni for their commitment to the College and to their communities. The awardees are leaders in their professions who make significant contributions benefiting their community, state, or college.

The alumni recognized with this award represent the very best of what an Ivy Tech education makes possible. Alumni, faculty, staff, and friends are all encouraged to submit nominations online.

Donna Riley graduated from Ivy Tech Community College Sellersburg in 2008 at the age of 55, with an associate degree in Office Administration. Donna is passionate about sharing her Ivy Tech story and letting people know that “I got the college degree that I always wanted. Ivy Tech made that possible!”

After working in the insurance field for 30 years, Donna transitioned to a second career in the non-profit sector, as the Executive Director for Leadership Southern Indiana (LSI) where she served her local community until 2012.

“The office of the nonprofit I was working for was on an Ivy Tech campus. Getting to know the people at Ivy Tech inspired me to transfer,” she said. “There was a major difference that I saw with the care, the faculty, the cost, all of it.”

Throughout her career, Donna has received recognition for her leadership and service in the community.  Highlights for her include receiving the Servant Leader Award from LSI in 2014, attaining the Distinguished Toastmaster Award from Toastmasters International in 2011, and serving on the Women’s Foundation of Southern Indiana (WFSI) board. While serving as President of the WFSI, she helped implement the International Impact 100 program in Clark, Floyd, and Harrison counties. This program awarded a $50,000 grant in 2017 and a $100,000 grant in 2018 to non-profit organizations that serve women and children in the community. The WFSI board also provides scholarships to local colleges, including one to Ivy Tech Sellersburg.

Now retired, Donna remains active in her community and continues to be an advocate of Ivy Tech. She is a proud recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award and plans to continue spreading the word about Ivy Tech as the Sellersburg campus’ self-proclaimed biggest cheerleader.

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Ivy Tech Community College is proud to celebrate Donna’s success and achievements with the Distinguished Alumni Award. This annual award honors alumni for their commitment to the College and to their communities. The awardees are leaders in their professions who make significant contributions benefiting their community, state, or college.

The alumni recognized with this award represent the very best of what an Ivy Tech education makes possible. Alumni, faculty, staff, and friends are all encouraged to submit nominations online.

Jennifer Defrees is no stranger to overcoming adversity. The Ivy Tech Community College Elkhart alumna and Distinguished Alumni Award recipient overcame many hardships before even beginning her journey in higher education. In her speech at the Ivy Impact Gala, she shared her Ivy Tech story.

“When I was 12 years old my father left me and my disabled mother,” she said. “By the age of 14, my mother and I were living in a homeless shelter in Goshen.”

After a few months in the shelter, she says they “bounced around from trailers and apartments for four years,” until Jennifer’s mother was placed in a nursing home. “After graduating [high school] in 2004, I enrolled at a local four-year college, but the need to simply survive became a top priority, so my dream of pursuing higher education was put on hold.”

Jennifer says those around her doubted that she would return to college, but deep down she knew they were wrong. After jumping from job to job, Jennifer found one she cared about at a nursing home. As she grew within the company, she felt it was time to go back to finally get the education she desired.

“In 2008, I enrolled at Ivy Tech in Elkhart County. It was a perfect fit for me as I needed to work full-time while taking evening classes toward my degree.”

By 2012 Jennifer completed her associate degree in accounting and four years later completed her bachelor’s degree at Indiana Tech. She currently works for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Elkhart County, the same place where she interned while studying at Ivy Tech.

“My teacher at Ivy Tech encouraged me to contact the Boys and Girls Clubs of Elkhart County. Fast forward six years later and I am STILL working at the Boys and Girls Club!”

Today, Jennifer remains connected to Ivy Tech through her membership in Circle of Ivy, the Ivy Tech Foundation’s women’s philanthropy circle that raises funds to support Ivy Tech students. Jennifer’s success story and her dedication to serving youth in her community have earned her recognition as an Ivy Tech Distinguished Alumna.

Her advice for those considering enrolling at Ivy Tech is simple:

“Just do it. It’s a great way to get a career with an associate degree and then to go on to get your bachelor’s. You’re not going to be able to find anywhere as affordable and accommodating as Ivy Tech.”

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Ivy Tech Community College is proud to celebrate Jennifer’s success and achievements with the Distinguished Alumni Award. This annual award honors alumni for their commitment to the College and to their communities. The awardees are leaders in their professions who make significant contributions benefiting their community, state, or college.

The alumni recognized with this award represent the very best of what an Ivy Tech education makes possible. Alumni, faculty, staff, and friends are all encouraged to submit nominations online.

Blake Hartman credits his career in welding to his experience at Ivy Tech Community College Terre Haute. The 1973 alumnus and co-owner/founder of Big Inch Fabricators and Construction, Blake was offered his first welding inspection job for a pipeline company before graduation. He worked at that job for 25 years, becoming the Manager of Construction over five states.

“Eventually I started a pipeline construction company, Big Inch Fabricators and Construction. I worked with my education from Ivy Tech every day for 45 Years, until I retired in March 2018.”

His professional success, commitment to his community, and his dedication to Ivy Tech have earned him the Ivy Tech Distinguished Alumni Award, which he accepted in December 2018.

Blake remains involved with Ivy Tech through his endowment with the Parke County Community Foundation, which will fund three welding scholarships for Parke County graduates. He also supports and funds the Ivy Tech Rockville location through his board seat at the Rockville Parke County Learning Center. He believes that Ivy Tech provides students with a “top-quality education” and gives them the tools to pinpoint which direction they want to go with their careers.

“It’s a good place to go, work hard, and get good grades. That’s what helped me get the job in the field I was going to school for. Pick a profession that you want to go into and steadily go in that direction.”

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Ivy Tech Community College is proud to celebrate Blake’s success and achievements with the Distinguished Alumni Award. This annual award honors alumni for their commitment to the College and to their communities. The awardees are leaders in their professions who make significant contributions benefiting their community, state, or college.

The alumni recognized with this award represent the very best of what an Ivy Tech education makes possible. Alumni, faculty, staff, and friends are all encouraged to submit nominations online.