Graduates of the School of Arts, Sciences and Education were honored at an 11 a.m. ceremony. Graduating students from the School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Applied Science; the School of Business, Logistics & Supply Chain; the School of Information Technology; the School of Health Sciences; and the School of Public Affairs & Social Services were honored at the 1 p.m. ceremony. Graduates of the School of Nursing were honored at a 3 p.m. ceremony. All ceremonies were in Hingst Hall in the Health Professions Center on the Ivy Tech Kokomo Campus.

The ceremonies were live-streamed and recordings will be available at: https://www.ivytech.edu/locations/kokomo/graduation-information/ or on the Ivy Tech Kokomo YouTube channel.

Dr. Ethan Heicher, chancellor of the Ivy Tech Kokomo Service Area, extended his congratulations to the graduates for their many achievements and acknowledged those who supported them.

During the ceremonies, Ivy Tech Kokomo presented an honorary degree to Vicki Byrd of Logansport, a leader in healthcare and economic development in Cass, Howard and Miami counties and a two-term member of the Ivy Tech Kokomo Service Area Board of Trustees. Byrd retired last year after 17 years as vice president of planning and development at Logansport Memorial Hospital.

Three members of the Class of 2025 were selected as student speakers, one for each ceremony. These include Karlie Atkinson of Kokomo, who earned an Associate of Science degree in Psychology; Gabriella Furlow of Kokomo, who earned an Associate of Science degree in Visual Communications; and Millikan Setmeyer of Noblesville, who earned an Associate of Science degree in Nursing.

Those being honored during the commencement ceremonies included Mary Applegate of Peru, program chair and associate professor of Human Services, recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Instruction for full-time faculty; Scott Maple of Kokomo, instructor in Agriculture, recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Instruction for adjunct faculty; and Shane LeFaure of Logansport, a French and Spanish teacher at Logansport High School, recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Dual Credit Instruction.

Joshua Willits of Kokomo, who graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Technology, was honored with the Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence. Elisa Banuelos of Logansport, English Language Learner Support Services coordinator for Logansport Schools who earned a Technical Certificate and Associate of Applied Science Degree in Human Services from Ivy Tech Kokomo in 2018, is being recognized as Ivy Tech Kokomo’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award winner.

Members of Ivy Tech Kokomo Service Area’s graduating class of 2025, from Pulaski County are as follows:

Pulaski County

Francesville

  • Ashlin Nicole Collins
  • Katelyn Cori Renee Large
  • Makiah JoAnn Lewark
  • Evan Nagel

Medaryville

  • Samantha N Irwin
  • Hailey June O'Day
  • Maisie Jo Toosley

Monterey

  • Carter Mason Keller
  • Mershai June Loehmer
  • Klayton Lee Stout
  • Eric Lane Weldon
  • Landen Allen Widner

Royal Center

  • Kirsten Kay Calloway

Star City

  • Ryan Dean Bedwell
  • Christy Dawn Bitterling
  • Lilly Button
  • Allyson Campbell
  • Wyatt Alan Fox
  • Samantha E Herald
  • Kadence Adalynne Hoover
  • SaDonna M Mayer
  • Nathan Joseph Miller
  • Gatlen Charles Olson
  • Carmela M Penicaro
  • Raiden Douglas Riddle

Winamac

  • Jada Leigh Abbott
  • Austin Lee Attinger
  • Robert Earl Bettcher
  • Brent Lee Boardman
  • Austin James Bonnell
  • Elijah Joseph Budka
  • Kasella Ann Caparelli
  • Corrin Kaleigh Combs
  • Kriston Eugene Dennis
  • Tyler R Doughty
  • Nicole Fites
  • Maddie Lynn Foster
  • Mylie Ann Foster
  • Talen Shay Garner
  • Claire Maureen Goodman
  • Riley Cj Gould
  • Dylan Jarett Guilford
  • Jayden Nicole Haluck
  • Sierra Brooke Haschel
  • Brendan Michael Hines
  • Rylan Patrick Holly
  • Kamryn Elizabeth Huddleston
  • Alonzo Huizar
  • Tanner Vance Johansen
  • Ethan Andrew Murphy
  • Makayla Fitz Nicolas
  • Kaelyn Drew O’Connor
  • Jenna Marie Shidler
  • Deven Marshal Smith
  • Natalie Smith
  • Kori Elizabeth Stout
  • Jacob Charles VanVoorst
  • Emily Nicole Weaver
  • Natalee Jo Wilson
  • Cyaira Ryleigh Wolford
  
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Local News Briefs

Winamac Community HS 2025 commencement exercises June 1

Senior photos featured

WINAMAC - Commencement exercises for the Class of 2025 at Winamac Community High School will be at 2 p.m., Sunday June 1, at the high school gymnasium.

Diplomas will be presented to 81 seniors.

Yakym district staff to hold local mobile office hours June 2 in Winamac

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) has announced that his staff will hold mobile office hours in Pulaski County Monday, June 2, in Winamac.

Yakym’s mobile office will visit throughout Indiana's Second District in June to assist constituents with casework questions.

Circus comes to town June 17

WINAMAC - The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus is coming to Winamac Tuesday, June 17, at the Winamac Town Park for two shows, the first starting at 5:30 p.m., and the second beginning at 7 p.m. Each show lasts about an hour and a half.

The event is sponsored by the Winamac Kiwanis Club.

4-H Fair Parade June 30

The 2025 Pulaski County 4-H & Community Fair Parade, with the theme "Grow it, Show it, Play it at 4-H," will step off at 6 p.m., Monday, June 30, in downtown Winamac.

The parade is organized by the Winamac Kiwanis Club in partnership with the Pulaski County Fair Association. The parade grand marshal will be 2025 Halleck Award winners Don and Lynn Darda. 

U.S. 421 to be resurfaced south of Medaryville

PULASKI COUNTY - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor E&B Paving LLC will begin a resurfacing project for U.S. 421 between the two junctions of SR 14 on or after Tuesday, May 27.

During resurfacing activities, the road will be reduced to one lane with flaggers directing traffic in the area where work is occurring. This project will be ongoing through early August.

  

Indiana News

Yakym surprises 'Hoosier Heroes' with Congressional records

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 27) –Congressman Rudy Yakym honored two local first responders Tuesday recognizing their “exceptional service and commitment to their communities.”

Pulaski County Deputy Christopher Parish and Culver Community Police Chief Ryleigh Carr received entries into the Congressional Record.

Young, colleagues address shortage of mental health providers in schools

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 27) – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) reintroduced the Mental Health Excellence in Schools Act to address the shortage of mental health providers in schools by boosting the pipeline of graduate students trained to become school psychologists, counselors, and social workers.

“Access to mental health resources improves the safety, well-being, and academic success of Hoosier students,” said Sen. Young. “Our bill will both support the school-based mental health workforce and address the critical need for these professionals.”

Pulaski County unemployment rate drops to 2.4% in April

Pulaski County's unemployment rate dropped to 2.4 percent in April, down from 3.1 percent in March, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported Thursday, (May 22). The rate was 3.1 percent a year ago.

The county had 6,777 employed persons in a labor force of 6,943 in April. In March those numbers were 6,753 of 6,967. A year ago the numbers were 6,388 of 6.591.

61 Pulaski County students earn Ivy Tech degrees, certificates

KOKOMO (May 9) - Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo Service Area, which includes campuses and instructional sites in Kokomo, Loganspor and Peru, celebrated the Class of 2025 with three commencement ceremonies Friday, May 9.

The events, divided by schools, honored 1,128 students who are expected to have completed work on 1,432 degrees and certificates by the end of the Fall 2024 and Spring and Summer 2025 terms.

  

Post News

Human Services celebrates 50 years

Pulaski County Human Services (PCHS) continued the celebration of its golden anniversary Wednesday (May 28) at its annual Senior Citizen Health and Resource Fair in Star City.

PCHS is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to low-income, disabled, and elderly households, as well as general public-transportation and referral services in Pulaski County.

Alliance Bank Junior Board welcomes new members

The Alliance Bank Junior Board of Directors welcomed nine new members for the 2025-26 school year during their annual celebration Sunday, May 4.

Students are selected for the board through an application process. Each of the participating schools are typically represented by two students from both their junior and senior classes.

West Central HS awards diplomas to 41 seniors

Senior photos featured

FRANCESVILLE - The 58th annual commencement exercises at West Central High School were held Sunday (May 25), in the school gymnasium. Diplomas were awarded to 41 seniors.

The program opened with a baccalaureate service at 2 p.m., sponsored by the West Central Ministerial Association, followed by the commencement ceremonies. 

West Central names 2025 valedictorian, salutatorian

West Central High School has named its top academic seniors in the Class of 2025. They are Valedictorian Aletheia Peter and Salutatorian Jalie Glasford.

West Central will hold commencement exercises Sunday, May 25, at the school gymnasium.

West Central HS holds 2025 senior awards program

FRANCESVILLE - West Central High School held its annual Senior Awards program Monday evening (May 12). Seniors were recognized for various academic and athletic awards, honor roll, and scholarships.

Graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2025 will be at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 25, at the school gymnasium.