Evansville, Ind..- Ivy Tech Community College Southwest’s Advanced Automation and Robotics Technology program recently received the prestigious Indiana Career and Technical Education Award for Excellence.
The Indiana Career and Technical Education Award for Excellence identifies and recognizes students, programs, guidance/personnel services and active partnerships that contribute to high quality career and technical education in Indiana. Award nominations are solicited across the state of Indiana and nominations are screened and selected by committees of career and technical educators and private sector representatives.
Ivy Tech Southwest’s advanced automation and robotics technology program has grown over 50 percent in the last three years. Students in the program are exposed to real work aspects of the industry as well as service learning projects, which aids in quick placement in industry-related fields following graduation.
Program Chair Donna Zimmerman has been with Ivy Tech for 12 years, and has served as chair for the past five. Through Zimmerman’s leadership, students have worked the past semester designing a lift mechanism that will allow a wheelchair user in the Automotive Technology program to stand to work on cars. Students have also adapted common toys to perform needed functions for individuals with disabilities.
