The Indiana Department of Correction’s (IDOC) Ivy Tech Correctional Education Program recently held their first Ivy & Iron Awards luncheon. The awards were given to the best in class in correctional education across Indiana. A highlight from early in the celebration was the gift of a bench made by New Castle Correctional Facility’s (NCCF) building trades class to Sue Ellspermann. Ellspermann is in her final year as President of Ivy Tech Community College and was the keynote speaker for the event.
NCCF won two awards at the luncheon. Gin Jarnagin and Debbie Davis both won awards, representing our facility well for adult basic education and vocational programs. Both Gin and Debbie are instructors with Ivy Tech Community College and administered the Ivy Tech Correctional Education Program at NCCF. The facility itself was nominated as site of the year, John Heppner for IDOC site manager of the year, and Amy Bell, NCCF Clerk, for administrative assistant of the year. NCCF was well represented as a facility achieving organizational excellence in the recent academic year.
Gin Jarnagin won the Beacon Award. This award is presented to an adult basic education (ABE) instructor who illuminates the path to knowledge. There were seven other instructors from other facilities nominated for this award. Jarnagin has assisted many of the students through the program. Many of these students started with low level functioning and proceeded through the system all the way to high school graduation (HSE). This award is presented for professionalism, technique, and ability to inspire students. Jarnagin has produced very positive results in our program and this is well deserved.
Debbie Davis won the Compass award at the luncheon. This award is presented to an instructor for being the heart of their school. Many of our career and technical education (CTE) instructors rely on the support, guidance, and advice of Ms. Davis. She has served many years at NCCF. Four other instructors for other facilities were also nominated for this award. Davis has been helpful with her culinary class over the years, lending a hand when catering or other needs are presented within the facility. These events provide valuable opportunities for her students.
At the close of the 2024 to 2025 school year, NCCF had met or exceeded nearly all the goals set by Ivy Tech and IDOC. The school is on track to exceed 100 high school graduates (HSE) and has launched a new Logistics IET program. At the present time, NCCF is the largest program in the state of Indiana by enrollment and completion numbers and is performing extremely well. It has been a very good year at NCCF!
