President’s Awards Dinner
Ivy Tech Community College recently honored Catherine Anne Swinney of Greensburg with the
Gerald I. Lamkin Award for Excellence in Instruction. The award is presented annually to one Ivy
Tech adjunct faculty member in the state who best typifies excellence in instruction and epitomizes
the mission of Ivy Tech.
Swinney was also one of 35 individuals across the state selected to receive the College’s 2021
President’s Awards, the highest honor for Ivy Tech faculty and adjunct faculty. Each President’s
Award recipient is recognized on his/her home campus. Nominations are accepted from students,
faculty, and staff and a selection committee reviews these nominations and selects the President’s
Award recipient. Each President’s Award recipient can then submit a portfolio for consideration for
the Lamkin Award.
The College honored each of the winners on Nov. 10 for their exemplary work with students and
the College community during the past year. A Selection Committee made up of alumni, past
winners, State Trustees, faculty representatives, and college administration selected the honorees
based on nominations from students, fellow faculty members, and Ivy Tech staff.
The prestigious Lamkin award is named for Gerald I. Lamkin, who served as Ivy Tech president from
1983-2007, overseeing the growth of the College from a vocational school to the state’s community
college.
“Our faculty members make all the difference in the lives of our students,” said Ivy Tech President
Sue Ellspermann. “They challenge students to think critically, prepare students for successful
careers in the communities in which they live, and encourage them to be fully engaged in their
communities. We congratulate them for their work and honor them for being the inspiration in the
lives of so many.”
Danielle Robinson, Dean of the Ivy Tech Columbus School of Nursing, recommended Swinney for
the award for her professional experience, positive interaction with students, encouragement, and
preparing her students to succeed in their education and careers.
“Anne is a strong instructor who treats every student with kindness and encourages them to
critically think,” Robinson said in recommending Swinney. “She teaches students to ‘think like a
nurse,’ from day one. She holds high expectations for herself and her students. Students grow
tremendously under Anne’s instruction.”
Now in its 41 st year, the President’s Awards Program recognizes faculty and adjunct faculty
members from Ivy Tech locations throughout the state.
“I believe that every student can be successful, it is just a matter of finding their passion, the niche
that is meant for them,” Swinney said. “I encourage students each day to acknowledge their
boundaries — their frustrations, barriers — and then focus on the goal. I believe that it is important
for our students to know that someone is firmly in their corner cheering them on, believing in them,
and encouraging them to be brave and put in the hard work each and every day.”