SOUTH BEND ─ Fifteen students from Ivy Tech Community College’s North Central region, which includes South Bend, Warsaw and Elkhart County, were among those honored recently through the Ivy Tech Student Leadership Academy.

A total of 160 students from across the state were recognized at a ceremony Dec. 9 at the Conrad Hotel in Indianapolis.

The Ivy Tech Student Leadership Academy is a leadership development program designed specifically for Ivy Tech students. SLA provides students with an opportunity to further develop their leadership and professional development skills, while learning more about the history and traditions of the college.  This statewide program has a standard structure and curriculum that is offered to students through the region in which they are enrolled.

“The Student Leadership Academy is a unique program in the sense that select students from across the state receive a shared leadership experience,” said Uzoma Obidike, director of Student Life, Development and Leadership. “Every SLA student brings value to the program and they all learn from each other. The academy continues to receive more applications each year, which shows that Ivy Tech students are invested in their leadership development.”

Students were chosen through a competitive application process, with more than 600 students applying. Students from each region were chosen to participate in the co-curricular program, which lasts either five or 10 weeks, depending on the region. The students were honored at a luncheon, where they were addressed by Ivy Tech President Dr. Sue Ellspermann. In addition, Sam Centellas, the executive director of La Casa de Amistad from South Bend, provided the keynote address.

Area students honored at the event were: Hadil Alammouri, Yoko Bilancio, Radharani Buenrostro Magallon, Nicole Bustos, Darian Flores, Cristina Goss, Jesus Huizar Hernandez, Cheyenne Illes, Fernando Jimenez, Paola Lizardi, Martin Musya, Susan Nobles, Lisa Quick, Jill Stewart and Teri Worsham.

Each SLA graduate received a specially designed medallion that they will be permitted to wear during commencement.  In addition, they will receive a scholarship for a three-credit-hour course that can be used during the spring semester.

The goals of the program are to:

• Develop students’ leadership skills;
• Develop students’ professional development skills;
• Develop future student and alumni leaders;
• Enhance retention of students from fall to spring semester; and
• Increase participants’ pride in the college.