U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visited yesterday Ivy Tech Community College’s Valparaiso campus as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s 2024 Back to School Bus Tour – a week-long road trip featuring stops in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Sec. Cardona toured Ivy Tech Valparaiso with U.S. Representative Frank Mrvan, met with students and participated in a roundtable conversation about the College’s many career and technical education programs, which prepare students for high-skill, in-demand careers in fields such as advanced manufacturing, information technology and health sciences.
“What I saw here today is really top tier. Ivy Tech is a student-centered school. Career technical education, these pathway programs, the work that is being done here at Ivy Tech is great. I firmly believe that if we can leave this in the bucket of education, this is Indiana’s best economic development program. A strong education system is your best economic driver. Schools like this one, accelerate that one,” said Sec. Cardona in roundtable discussion with students.
“It is my honor to welcome U.S. Secretary of Education Cardona to Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso in a discussion to highlight how this institution prepares students of Northwest Indiana with life-long skills for good-paying jobs,” said Rep. Mrvan. “As your Member of Congress, I look forward to continuing to support career and technical education training programs and all of our institutions of higher education that attract such talented people to our region and contribute to our growing economy.”
“Sec. Cardona’s visit to Ivy Tech Valparaiso underscores the critical role that our campus – and the entire Ivy Tech system – plays in shaping the future of education and workforce development in Indiana,” said Aco Sikoski, chancellor, Ivy Tech Valparaiso. “Our students, faculty and staff embody our commitment to providing high-quality, affordable and career-aligned postsecondary education and training that equips all members of our community with the skills and experiences they need to thrive in a rapidly changing economy and world.”
“Ivy Tech is Indiana’s workforce engine, and we were pleased to share with Sec. Cardona the innovative work happening in Valparaiso and across the state to build career-focused education and training that begins in high school and leads to high wage, high demand jobs in current and emerging industries,” said Dr. Sue Ellspermann, president, Ivy Tech Community College. “Community colleges are creating pathways of opportunity for millions of Americans, and we were proud to show Sec. Cardona and federal leaders how we’re delivering Higher Education at the Speed of Life in Valparaiso and across Indiana.”
