2022 Benefactor Award Recipients
Patricia Toombs
Anderson
Pat is the Vice Chancellor for Student Success at Ivy Tech Anderson and is its most consistent benefactor. In fact, she has given gifts to the Anderson campus for 20 consecutive years. Pat’s dedication to serving the students of Ivy Tech Anderson is what makes her a tremendous leader. The wisdom that she shares with others from her two decades of experience in higher education allows Ivy Tech Anderson to continue to elevate its campus. Pat’s dedication and wisdom motivate others to reach her level. Anderson is honored to recognize Pat for her continued commitment to the Anderson campus through her time, talent and generous spirit.
Ohio County Community Foundation
Lawrenceburg
The Ohio County Community Foundation’s endowment generates a steady annual income that is instrumental in the success of the Ivy Tech Lawrenceburg and Rising Sun High School’s Dual Enrollment partnership. Since the partnership’s inception, the endowment has supported more than 120 high school students earning college credit toward a credential. In addition to its Dual Enrollment support, the Foundation funds an Ivy Tech scholarship awarded through Ivy Tech Foundation and annually awards numerous individual scholarships to Ohio County residents to earn Ivy Tech credentials and certificates.
Lynn Coyne
Bloomington
Lynn established the Ute Coyne Nursing Fund in 2017 in
honor of his wife, a career nurse who served in the Bloomington
healthcare community for more than 40 years. This fund has
been an important safety net for nursing students who have faced
unexpected financial shortfalls that could have interrupted their
education and delayed their careers. Lynn has served as a valued
trustee of the Bloomington campus since 2015. In addition to
his active advocacy of the college in his professional career, he is
the local chair of the Invest IN Ivy Tech campaign. In this role, he
spearheaded an information campaign that took the Ivy Tech story
to service clubs and economic development groups throughout
the eight-county service area. His advocacy has deepened others’
commitment to Ivy Tech and the role it plays in supporting the
economic health of south-central Indiana. In addition, Lynn has
a diverse, robust legacy of leadership and service throughout the
Bloomington community.
Anthony Moravec
Columbus
Tony epitomizes legacy advocacy for Ivy Tech Columbus students. He has been a donor for 31 years, established an endowed scholarship, and most recently has named a new state-of-the-art campus building. He served as a Foundation Board Director from 2009 to 2017 and as a State Trustee starting in 2014. Tony worked on the 2011 Major Gifts Fundraising Campaign. Tony often advocates for the school. As an entrepreneur, he has renovated buildings that have turned into iconic Columbus destinations. Ivy Tech Columbus is what it is today because of Tony Moravec. His scholarships empower students to succeed academically, elevating them, their families and the community.
William Shinn
Evansville
Bill has contributed to Ivy Tech Evansville for three decades. His gifts have supported campaign priorities, scholarships, equipment, and events, and fulfilled the greatest needs. Bill has also made Ivy Tech Foundation part of his estate plans. He joined the Campus Board of Trustees in the late ’90s, when campus trustees networked with legislative representatives, developed policies, and presented proposals to officials. Bill’s advocacy around Ivy Tech having transfer opportunities with four-year partners was critical in Ivy Tech Evansville’s transition to a community college. Bill helped raise resources for the main campus building as it stands today. He currently serves on advisory councils within the School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, Automation and Robotics. He regularly shares his personal testimony of going to school and working in skilled labor — the challenges and ultimate rewards. Bill’s most recent donation has supported high school students who are one or two classes away from earning a certificate or beyond with Ivy Tech.
Merland Beyler
Fort Wayne
Merland Beyler and Janet Geib have collaborated for years on campus and now as retirees of the Ivy Tech Fort Wayne campus. Collectively and individually, they have provided guidance, support, and opportunities for Ivy Tech students. Merland was appointed as one of the first members of the school’s Board of Trustees in 1968. He was also instrumental in starting and sustaining Ivy Tech Fort Wayne. Merland understood the challenges that students face, and his support of Ivy Tech has helped their dreams come true, enhancing the State of Indiana’s economic picture and building
stronger Hoosier families. Merland served Ivy Tech in numerous capacities during his 28-year tenure with the college. His titles included charter appointee to the Regional Board of Trustees representing education, Administrative Assistant to the college, Director of Instruction, Director of Student Affairs, and Manager of Career Services. Merland established the Merland E. Beyler Scholarship and has helped with campaigns and fundraising efforts.
Janet Geib
Fort Wayne
Jan was the second instructor hired when the Fort Wayne Campus opened in 1969. She was Assistant Professor of Secretarial Technology and retired as the Chair Emerita of the Office Administration program. In recognition to her contributions to the college, a road on North Campus was named Geib Drive in her honor. Jan has invested in the vision, ideals, and future of Ivy Tech Fort Wayne. She has given of her time and talents to students who came through our halls in the past, and her gifts will continue to be a legacy throughout the years to come. Her support has helped initiatives such as Titan Athletics, A Reason to Taste, and the Capital Campaign. Jan continues to help impact students’ lives through the Janet L. Geib Scholarship.
Hamilton County Community Foundation
Hamilton County
Hamilton County Community Foundation, a Central Indiana Community Foundation affiliate, works to build a community where opportunity meets growth for everyone, and philanthropic efforts support not-for-profit organizations doing vital work. Formerly Legacy Fund, Hamilton County Community Foundation has been an ardent supporter of Ivy Tech for nearly 10 years. Most recently, as part of its Inclusive Economic Growth pillar, the organization awarded the Hamilton County campus in Noblesville with over $500,000 in scholarships, equipment, and program funds through partnerships with the Community Leadership Innovation Fund and IU Health. Ivy Tech Hamilton County also boasts the Future of Work Lab sponsored by HCCF.
City of Indianapolis / Indy Achieves
Indianapolis
Indy Achieves, a partnership with Ivy Tech, IUPUI, and the City of Indianapolis, was created in 2018 to provide Marion County residents with education and training opportunities through various funding. Each year the City of Indianapolis invests over $2 million in scholarships and completion grants through Indy Achieves. The Promise Scholarship is available for any new Marion County student attending Ivy Tech Indianapolis. The completion grants support students at risk of stopping out and not continuing their education, as well as for students who have stopped out and want to return to school. Since 2019, there have been approximately 900 awards.
The Hingst Family
Kokomo
The Hingst family has been involved in Ivy Tech’s Kokomo Service Area since its founding in 1968. The family’s patriarch, John Hingst, was a charter member of the board of what has become Ivy Tech Kokomo. They have generously participated in all major fundraisers. The first major donation from the family business, Mid-America Beverage, was a significant gift to the Ivy Tech Kokomo Vision Campaign in 2007. In 2015, Mid-America donated funds to establish the Mid-America Beverage scholarship to support students in the ASAP program. In 2018, they made one of the first and largest donations to Ivy Tech Kokomo’s $3 million campus transformation campaign: making possible “Hingst Hall,” the campus’s community room. First John and then his sons, Bill and Bob Hingst, have used their influence as community leaders to encourage others to support Ivy Tech. Bob’s daughter, Ann Hingst Vyas, and Bill’s son, Jack Hingst, are next-generation leaders of Mid-America Beverage and continue the family’s legacy.
North Central Health Services
Lafayette
On April 25, 2022, North Central Health Services announced a $2 million Community Benefit Partnership grant to Ivy Tech Lafayette to expand its nursing program. The grant will help Ivy Tech accept and graduate more nursing students from the program, thereby impacting the growing need for nurses in area hospitals and healthcare facilities in the nine-county Lafayette-campus service area. Specifically, the grant will enable the Lafayette campus to add more nursing faculty and staff, purchase additional equipment, and expand laboratories and classrooms for nursing students. Stephanie Long, Chief Executive Office of NCHS, has said that Ivy Tech is perfectly positioned to respond to the growing shortage of registered nurses. Support from NCHS will allow Ivy Tech Lafayette to accept more students into the Associate of Science in Nursing program and prepare them to enter the workforce at a critical time.
Peoples Bank
Lake County and Valparaiso
Peoples Bank has been a financial friend of Ivy Tech Lake County/Valparaiso for more than 16 years. The company has been serving Northwest Indiana for over a century and has maintained its commitment to customer service and building lasting relationships. Peoples Bank has supported the Chancellors’ scholarship, Meet the Need for students, and program initiatives, all helping improve the lives of students at both the Lake County and Valparaiso campuses. The community bank is committed to public service and staying on top of and involved in what’s happening locally. There is a need in every community Peoples Bank serves, an understanding that led to the institution’s “Giving Philosophy.” Peoples Bank supports a wide variety of community activities through in-kind contributions and financial support. In 2020, the company provided assistance to 247 community organizations supporting youth activities, housing, health care, education, and the arts — just to name a few.
Grote Industries
Madison
The Grote family has made countless contributions to Ivy Tech Community College and education in Southeastern Indiana. The family has been helping to shape Ivy Tech as the college of choice in their community since 1979 when Walter “Buzz” Grote and William “Bill” Grote of Grote Industries, Inc., established the company’s first scholarship through Ivy Tech Foundation to assist Ivy Tech students in Jefferson County, Indiana, and Trimble County, Kentucky. The family’s personal and corporate commitment to Ivy Tech spans more than 30 years. A significant gift of $50,000 leveraged an additional $50,000 of Lilly Endowment, Inc. grant funds. This lead gift launched the successful capital campaign in Madison that resulted in an 80,000 square foot, $19 million building expansion.
John Lightle
Marion
John was a teacher and administrator in Marion Community Schools for many years and is active in the Grant County Retired Teachers Association. He served the Ivy Tech Marion campus for 11 years. He now works as Executive Director of the Grant County Visitors Bureau. He believes that if you gain something from an organization, you should give back to it. He worked his way up to become President of the National Business Education Association and was General Secretary of the International Society for Business Education. He volunteers with the Association for Career & Trade Education, is a member of Temple Congregational United Church of Christ, and serves on the Marion Senior Center Board. John is a 40-year Kiwanian and is Lieutenant Governor for the Wabash Valley and the Indiana district representative to the Children’s Fund. John completed nine years on the board of the Minnetrista Museum & Gardens. Currently, he is serving on the board of the newly formed Orchestra Indiana.
Magna Powertrain
Muncie
Magna Powertrain in Muncie has been instrumental in helping Ivy Tech Muncie form WorkMatters, a program to bring education and jobs to often-underestimated populations of our community. In April 2021, Stephen Brand, plant manager for Magna, came to Ivy Tech with an idea for industry partners, higher education, community partners, and government officials to work together to discuss labor participation, upskilling, recruiting, new technologies, and more. As a result, Magna has been a pivotal partner in the development of recruitment tools, a justice-involved initiative, job fair opportunities, billboard campaigns, and the creation of the Ivy Temps program to employ Ivy Tech students while they are working. Magna has pledged three forklifts so that Ivy Tech can offer a forklift certification program, which helps satisfy a need for employers within the region. Magna’s innovation, generosity, and community impact set an example for how industry and higher education can work together to create a better workplace culture, community, and skilled workforce.
Gerald Gerard
Richmond
In December 2019, Gerry finalized a major gift agreement to the Ivy Tech Foundation for the Richmond campus. Recognizing the importance of educating the workforce and his commitment to the families and communities of western Wayne County, Gerry created two Gerard Family Scholarships to benefit students and graduates of Lincoln High School in Cambridge City. Gerry’s cash contributions to date have been $61,500, with annual support of major gift contributions to go toward the Gerard Family Scholarships. Additionally, Gerry has pledged a $500,000 planned gift. His first gift was promoted as a match challenge to support scholarships for those residing in western Wayne County. He has leveraged his personal connection with the superintendent of Western Wayne Schools, which has led to increased enrollment of early college classes with Ivy Tech. Gerry recently provided a major gift to the local high school to assist in establishing a school-based, student-led, grass-roots business.
Baptist Health
Sellersburg
Baptist Health Systems pledged $2.5 million to support the renovation of Ivy Tech Sellersburg’s Pfau Hall. Funds will be used to create the Baptist Health Life Science Suite. The gift also provides naming rights, creating the Baptist Health School of Health Sciences on the Sellersburg campus. Baptist Health Systems plays an active role on advisory committees for both the School of Nursing and the School of Health Sciences. The healthcare organization’s gift has encouraged momentum and excitement as the lead corporate gift for Ivy Tech Sellersburg’s capital campaign. Baptist Health Systems has encouraged and motivated staff, faculty, and donors in the community to engage with this important project.
Beacon Health System
South Bend-Elkhart
Beacon Health System has supported Ivy Tech South Bend-Elkhart financially since 2003, and for much longer as a learning site for healthcare students. The area’s largest healthcare provider, Beacon includes seven sites and has helped train thousands of Ivy Tech nursing, CNA and phlebotomy students. In 2022, Beacon partnered with Ivy Tech South Bend-Elkhart to create the Beacon Scholars program and to name the Beacon Health System School of Nursing at Ivy Tech Community College South Bend-Elkhart. The Beacon Scholar program addresses the nursing shortage and is designed to attract, educate, and train nurses who will remain in our local communities. Beacon is also supporting master’s-level nurses to increase the size of the nursing faculty so more students can be admitted. Because of this creative partnership, the nursing program is poised to grow more than 60% over the course of the next five years. Beacon’s support of Ivy Tech from 2022 to 2027 is projected to be more than $9 million.
John Adkins
Terre Haute
John made his first gift to the Ivy Tech Foundation in 1991 through payroll deduction as an employee. Since then, he has given each year, making him the longest consecutive donor to Ivy Tech Terre Haute, with 31 years of giving. After retiring in 2014, John created the John R. Adkins Campus Beautification Endowment,
providing funding for campus maintenance and grounds. Over the years, he has given to the school’s evolving needs. John is one
of our best lifetime donors to the Terre Haute campus. John served on the original committee that created the Scholarship Scramble. He continues to serve as an advisor for the event and supports it with a team each year. Since retirement, John has served as an advocate for the Foundation to other retirees, inviting campus leadership to meet and speak with other retirees regarding giving back to Ivy Tech.
