Centerville, IN — Cope Environmental Center (CEC) invites the public to celebrate nature in style at The Great Outdoors Celebration on Friday, September 6 at 5:00 p.m. This signature fundraising event will be held outdoors on CEC’s beautiful grounds.

Guests can unwind with drinks and trail-inspired appetizers during the evening’s “Sip & Stroll,” followed by a short welcome program honoring this year’s community award recipients and launching the Needs-Based Auction. Dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m. with scenic views and casual outdoor charm. Wagon rides, lawn games, and a relaxed setting make this a one-of-a-kind experience.

Tickets are $100 per person, with $75 tax-deductible. RSVP by August 20. Attire is casual outdoor wear.

Award winners will be announced at the event, including recipients of the Jim and Helen Cope Sustainability Leadership Award, Francis Parks Award, Business Sustainability Award, and Volunteer of the Year.

All proceeds support Cope’s environmental education programs and sustainability efforts. This event is made possible through the generous support of Advanced Duct Cleaning and Earlham College.

​For more details, to RSVP, or to make a donation, visit https://visitcope.org/events/the-great-outdoors-celebration

Ivy Tech Community College Richmond has officially renamed one of its most important student support spaces as the Paul & Pat Lingle Health Career Center, a move that honors the long-term community philanthropists for their dedication to local education and workforce development. The newly named center reflects Ivy Tech’s deepening commitment to preparing students for careers in healthcare while staying rooted in the local economy.

The Paul & Pat Lingle Health Career Center will act as a bridge between the classroom and meaningful employment or transfer opportunities. Designed to connect current Ivy Tech students with regional healthcare employers and four-year post-secondary partners, the center provides a range of resources, including career exploration tools, job placement support, resume and interview coaching, and information about advanced education pathways.

The renaming comes amid a transformative renovation of Ivy Tech Richmond’s healthcare wing. The investment includes the recent opening of the Debra Edelman Healthcare Education Center, a state-of-the-art simulation facility that gives students immersive, real-world clinical experience. In addition, newly developed lab spaces for the Pharmacy Technician and Paramedic Science programs expand the college’s ability to train students in high-demand fields.

Paul and Pat Lingle, longtime supporters of Ivy Tech and champions of education in Richmond, made a significant gift to support the development and naming of the center. Their generosity continues a legacy of giving that has touched nearly every corner of the campus and community.

“The Lingles’ generous investment helps ensure that our students aren’t just getting a high-quality education - they’re being connected to the career opportunities that will keep them in our region and keep our communities healthy,” said Brandi Jackson, Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Development at Ivy Tech Richmond. “This center is about more than education - it’s about longterm career success.”

The Lingles have long understood the vital connection between education and a strong, sustainable local workforce. Their generous support has enabled Ivy Tech to strengthen student services, build deeper partnerships with local employers, and expand opportunities for individuals to pursue highdemand careers in healthcare and beyond across East Central Indiana.

“I want to thank Paul and Pat Lingle for their incredible support of Ivy Tech and the future of healthcare in our region,” said Chad Bolser, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Richmond. “Thanks to their generosity, Ivy Tech continues to serve as the workforce engine not just for our five-county service area, but across the state of Indiana.”

​With healthcare demand on the rise, the timing of these investments could not be more crucial. Ivy Tech Community College produces more associate-level nurses than any other college in the country, and these upgraded facilities and support centers will only strengthen that impact. 

Ivy Tech Community College Richmond is proud to announce it has received a $50,000 grant from the Wayne County Foundation as part of its 2025 Grant Cycle I awards. The funding will support the purchase of a Lincoln Electric VRTEX 360 Virtual Reality Welding Simulator, enhancing the College’s ability to serve students in its growing welding program.

The state-of-the-art simulator offers students immersive, hands-on learning experience in a safe and costeffective environment. By replicating real-world welding scenarios with lifelike visuals, sound, and tactile feedback, the VRTEX 360 allows learners to build foundational skills before transitioning to live equipment. This investment will help Ivy Tech serve students at all experience levels more effectively and expand its footprint with local high school partners.

“This generous grant from the Wayne County Foundation strengthens Ivy Tech Richmond’s commitment to workforce development and innovation,” said Brandi Jackson, Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Development for the Richmond campus. “The new virtual reality welding equipment will allow us to train more students, prepare them more effectively for in-demand careers, and broaden our partnerships with local high schools and employers.”

“We are excited that a grant from the Wayne County Foundation will provide opportunities for students to learn in-demand skills, preparing them for high paid jobs in the local community,” shared Rebecca Gilliam, Executive Director of the Wayne County Foundation.

​Grants administered through the Foundation’s competitive Grant Cycles are designed to support local projects that enhance community spirit and improve quality of life throughout Wayne County. The purchase of the VRTEX 360 aligns with these goals by advancing education and workforce readiness in the region’s critical industries. 

With Indiana’s new high school diploma requirements set to take effect for the graduating class of 2029, communities across the state are reimagining how to best prepare students for life beyond the classroom. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with all six school districts in Wayne County to create a new, countywide position: Director of Employer Engagement.

The Chamber is proud to announce that Shawntel Baker has been selected to serve as the inaugural Director of Employer Engagement. This new role was intentionally designed to strengthen the local talent pipeline by expanding and aligning work-based learning opportunities for students in grades 9–12. By building strong connections between area businesses and schools, Baker will help ensure that students graduate with real-world experience, setting them up for long-term success in college, careers, and beyond.

Participating school districts include:
• Centerville-Abington Community Schools
• Nettle Creek Schools
• Northeastern Wayne Schools
• Richmond Community Schools
• Seton Catholic Schools
​• Western Wayne Schools