Photo by: Ivy Tech Community College
Alderman has three goals for the future of Ivy Tech’s HVAC program, and Lowe’s grant can help him reach all three. 1. Create more employer partnerships. “I want to connect the community to our HVAC program,” Alderman said.
Photo by: Ivy Tech Community College
2. Gain additional staff and faculty to adequately
support the incoming students. At the time of this reporting, the HVAC program had over 150 students en- rolled.
3. Improve HVAC’s graduation rates by encouraging students to seek FAFSA help, grants, and scholarships.
“The thing is, at least one or two students per term will get to a certain point where they can’t afford to finish. And they tell me it’s not because the price is unreasonable, but because they just can’t afford it,” Alderman shared. “And I hate to see it because it never fails that those students are the best in the class. It’s a lot more painful to watch when you see a person not go through with an opportunity they’re good at because of mon- ey.” Nick Maddox is an HVAC apprentice through his employer, Eli Lilly & Co. He was pleasantly surprised by how beneficial he found the program. “I’ve accelerated my career progression as far as learning something new – something I would never have thought I would have been into – and doing it every day on the job,” Maddox, who will earn his technical certificate in HVAC in spring 2024, said. (shown far left in bottom photo) Maddox (and his employer Eli Lilly) is also a prime example of Alderman’s goal to create more employer part- nerships with the HVAC program. “I’m learning so much, between my mentors and going to the school, that I feel within a few years, I honest- ly could be a subject matter expert,” he continued. “It’s so cool to see that you can go to school with some initial interest, get through the classes, earn your certificates, and land a good-paying job, or a higher-paying job, once you’re out of school.”
36 | Ivy Indy
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