Chariot Automotive Group and Ivy Tech celebrate first Business graduates

A milestone in workforce-based education was celebrated recently with a special graduation and recognition ceremony honoring Ivy Tech students at Academy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram near Tipton, Indiana.

This ceremony marked the graduation of the first official Chariot cohort in Business Administration, a collaborative initiative between Chariot Automotive Group and Ivy Tech Community College designed to bring higher education directly into the workplace. The program concept, based on the apprenticeship model, began more than three years ago and has grown into a meaningful pathway for employees to advance their education while continuing their careers.

The following students were recognized for earning a Technical Certificate in Business Administration:

• Jasmine Brounson
• Joseph Ealy
• James Hansen
• Thomas Jackson
• Spencer Jeffers
• Kolton Sandefur

In addition, several students were honored for continuing their academic pursuits beyond the technical certificate level:

• William Myers – Technical certificate and associate degree in Business Administration. Now pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Indiana University Kokomo.
• Alainey VanNoy — Technical certificate. Now pursuing an associate degree in Business Administration at Ivy Tech.
• Heather Wickersham — Technical certificate. Now pursuing an associate degree in Accounting at Ivy Tech.

In congratulating the employees, Rex Gingerich, president and CEO of Chariot Automotive Group, noted that balancing the demands of work and school in a program like this is no small feat. “This achievement reflects dedication, resilience, and a strong commitment to personal and professional growth,” Gingerich said. “These students have not only reached an important academic milestone but have also laid a strong foundation for future opportunities.”

Dr. Laura Hapner, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs for Ivy Tech’s Kokomo Service Area, encouraged the graduates to continue to build on their accomplishments, noting the technical certificate is more than halfway to an associate degree. The Ivy Tech program includes “stackable” credentials; each credential builds on the previous one, allowing students to advance from certificate to technical certificate to associate degree (which can be transferred to a four-year school as the first two years toward a bachelor’s degree) while continuing their careers.

Along with gaining business, accounting and leadership skills, students are able to immediately put what they’re learning in the classroom to work in their jobs. Cited as a testament to the value of the program and the apprenticeship model, three of the recent graduates have already been promoted within the Chariot organization.

Tara Kaser, dean of Ivy Tech Kokomo’s School of Business, said, “This celebration served as both a recognition of academic success and a reflection on the power of partnerships that expand access to higher education, strengthen the workforce, and invest in employee growth. Ivy Tech is proud to partner with Chariot Automotive in offering programs like this.”

Recruitment is under way for the next cohort of Business Administration students who will begin study in the fall. Anyone interested in learning more about this opportunity to build skills and earn college credit while continuing to work full-time should contact Melanie Thurston-Hafer, apprenticeship program manager for Ivy Tech’s Kokomo Service Area, at mthurstonhafer@ivytech.edu or Crista Kendall, chair of Business, at ckendall24@ivytech.edu.