MUNCIE, Ind.– On Saturday, May 21, 2022 Lakeia Hargraves walked across the stage at Ivy Tech Community College Muncie-Henry County with her Associate of Nursing (ASN) degree and as the Outstanding Student for the School of Nursing. She is the first member of the single moms initiative, Ivy Parents Achieve Success with Support (I.PASS) to graduate from the campus.
Hargraves is a single mother to daughter Makayla. As a single mother, she was selected to join the Muncie-Henry County campus’ I.PASS initiative by Alisa Wells, Executive Director of Community Engagement. As the first member of I.PASS to graduate, Hargraves has set a precedence for other single mothers. I.PASS is designed to provide single parents with the support their need to continue their education regardless of their situation. The program provides single parents with access to community support programs and supports parents as they navigate the college experience.
“Single moms have incredible strengths as problem solvers, multitaskers, relationship builders and resilient go-getters. They are individuals whose skills often go unrecognized in education and the workforce. Understanding their experiences and bringing them directly into the decision-making processes will lay the foundation for change that supports them and many other learners in creating the futures they want for themselves and their families,” Wells said.
Originally from San Francisco, Hargraves moved to Muncie to be with family. One year after moving to Muncie she lost her father to a sudden heart attack during a family reunion. The loss of her father reignited her desire to become a nurse and she applied to the nursing program at the Ivy Tech Community College Muncie-Henry County campus, a limited enrollment program, and was accepted.
In addition to attending Ivy Tech’s nursing program, Hargraves is serving in the United States Air Force Reserve as an Airman 1st Class. She is stationed at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH. After graduation, Hargraves plans to move to Dallas, Texas and continue in the United States Air Force Reserves; training as a Senior Airman and as part of the Aerospace Medical Unit – a six-month program. After completing the program, Hargraves and her fiancée, Tony Web, plan to marry in February of 2023.
Continuing her education, Hargraves plans to go to Western Governor’s University (WGU) to pursue her bachelor’s degree in nursing. This is a requirement for her to continue with the United States Air Force onto officer’s training. All of her plans are directed toward becoming a nursing instructor.
“I love the Ivy Tech community. The interest they show in their students how they offer free textbooks and frozen tuition, as well as the support they give through programs like IvyCares, it all works together and makes success possible,” Hargraves said.
To learn more about the Single Moms Initiative, email Ivy Tech Community College Muncie-Henry County at askmuncie@ivytech.edu.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns to the needs of the community. The College provides seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a Bachelor’s degree.
