Hamilton County Campus recognizes Emma Ping & JoJo’s Jumpstart Foundation for their commitment to Ivy Tech
Ivy Tech Foundation has honored 37 Distinguished Alumni and Benefactors from across Indiana, recognizing high-achieving graduates and generous donors and supporters who help to elevate Ivy Tech Community College’s mission. Those recognized represent each of the College’s 19 campuses and include both people and organizations that have made Ivy Tech stronger.
Emma Ping and JoJo’s Jumpstart Foundation, selected by the Hamilton County Campus, were named Distinguished Alumni and Benefactor of the year, respectively, for their work in the community.
Ping, a 2024 graduate of Ivy Tech Hamilton County’s inaugural nursing class, has been named Distinguished Alumna of the Year. She serves as a labor and delivery nurse with Community Health Network and is the founder of Selah’s Grace Ministries, a nonprofit supporting families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. She also leads the Ivy Tech Hamilton County Alumni Network and remains actively involved with the College as a volunteer and guest speaker.
JoJo’s Jumpstart Foundation has been named Benefactor of the Year. Established in memory of entrepreneur Jordan Kontor, the foundation provides scholarships and support to help young people pursue higher education, trade school, or entrepreneurship. After launching the Jordan Kontor Memorial Scholarship in 2024 with a $2,500 gift, the foundation has increased its support to $10,000 for 2025, reflecting its growing impact on students at Ivy Tech Hamilton County.
Selected through a highly competitive process, each recipient across Indiana has made a lasting impact on their community and on Ivy Tech by demonstrating outstanding professional, philanthropic, or volunteer accomplishments. Those selected were recognized on Sept. 26 at a celebration in downtown Indianapolis.
Pollio
“It truly is an honor for Ivy Tech to be associated with so many alumni, friends, and organizations that underscore the value of our mission,” Ivy Tech President Dr. Marty Pollio said. “Our honorees are making Indiana communities stronger through their leadership, skillsets, and generosity. We are proud to recognize these incredible recipients.”
Kartz
Ivy Tech Hamilton County Chancellor Dr. Rachel Kartz added: “Emma Ping and JoJo’s Jumpstart Foundation have made numerous contributions that have made our community and our College stronger. I could not be prouder of them, and I look forward to our collective work moving forward that makes Hamilton County even better.”
More than four out of five Ivy Tech graduates stay in Indiana to pursue their careers, and Ivy Tech contributes nearly $4 billion annually to the state’s economy. Today, 86 percent of people who graduate from Ivy Tech do so without the burden of student debt.
For more information or to view a full list of the Distinguished Alumni honorees, visit ivytech.edu/alumniawards.