As Ivy Tech Indianapolis undergoes a transformative $38 million campus reconstruction, students like Dawson Leyes are at the heart of this historic effort. A Building Construction Management (BCOM) student set to earn his associate degree this fall, Leyes is gaining hands-on experience through an internship with Pepper Construction—one of the partners spearheading the Ivy Tech Indy Reimagined Capital Project.
My path to Ivy Tech wasn’t linear. Instead of going to college right after high school graduation in 2019, I took an alternative route and joined the United States Air Force. Nothing was stopping me from starting my higher education whilst being on active duty, but I simply did not know what direction I wanted to take my life in at that time. It wasn’t until post-separation in 2023, where I felt compelled to look into my options. I knew earning a degree would give me the tools to chase my goals with purpose – not just hope for the best in my twenties.
At 37 years old, she has overcome incarceration, built a business from the ground up, and is now pursuing her passion for culinary arts and hospitality administration at Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis. Her journey is one of resilience and the unwavering belief that education can transform lives—no matter where you start.