News Releases

Head Start Program Leader Honored With Owens Community Partnership Award

FINDLAY – Ivy Maria, Director of Child Development for Hancock, Hardin, Wyandot and Putnam Community Action Commission has been chosen to receive the 2006 Community Partnership Award for outstanding dedication and service to the Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus.

The Community Partnership Award was established in 2004 to honor individuals or organizations that have supported the College directly or indirectly by giving of their time, skills and energy to assist Owens in its mission of providing access to a quality, affordable education, which meets the needs of students and business and industry throughout the surrounding communities. Honorees are recognized for contributions both on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses.

Maria was selected as the 2006 Community Partnership Award recipient as a result of her efforts in supporting the Findlay-area Campus’ Early Learning Center. Two years ago, Maria and the Community Action Commission chose to align their educational philosophy with the Findlay-area Campus’ Early Learning Center and enable the College to provide early childhood education for 10 children involved with the organization. As a result of their commitment, which served as a springboard to the once enrollment challenged program, the Owens Early Learning Center has since quadrupled in size and now serves a total of 40 children in its new state-of-the-art facility.

The Findlay-area Campus’ new Early Learning Center features two classrooms specifically intended to encourage learning and nurturing. Each room consists of a learning center that features computers, math and science, blocks and construction, creative art, woodworking, reading and writing.

“Ivy Maria is an outstanding leader who is dedicated to the children of the surrounding communities,” said Judy Ennis, Owens Executive Dean of the Findlay-area Campus. “It is a privilege to collaborate with individuals such as Ivy because she shares Owens Community College’s mission and is committed to making a difference in the lives of others by engaging them in the learning process through education.”

Ennis added, “Her contributions and support will have a positive and lasting impact on the Findlay-area Campus Early Learning Center for many years to come.”

Maria has devoted over 15 years of her life to supporting and advocating for the Head Start program. She has served as the Director of Child Development for Hancock, Hardin, Wyandot and Putnam Community Action Commission and the Head Start program for the past three years. While with the Community Action Commission, Maria is responsible for the various Head Start oversight related to early childhood education and family services social support programs within Hancock, Hardin, Wyandot and Putnam counties. The overall mission of the Head Start program is to provide child-focused programs that will foster educational growth and development in young children from low-income families.

Her community involvement includes currently serving on the College’s Early Childhood Education Advisory Committee. She has previously held membership positions with the Hancock County Coordinating Council and the Business and Professional Women organization. A resident of Rawson, Maria earned her bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Science from Wayne State University.

Owens’ Findlay-area Campus has been providing quality child care to the Hancock County region since 1993. The program was created with the overall mission of offering excellence in child care services by providing the latest in innovative teaching and learning methods. Child care services on the Findlay-area Campus are available to children ages 2 Ω to 5 of Owens employees and students, as well as community residents.

Owens Community College is one of the fastest-growing higher educational institutions in Ohio. On the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, Owens serves more than 45,000 credit and non-credit students. Owens is committed to providing small classes, personal attention and unmatched affordability. Owens Community College offers baccalaureate transfer degrees in the Arts and Sciences and over 150 technical program areas in Agriculture, Business, Health Sciences, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Skilled Trades, and Engineering and Transportation Technologies. Owens students also can earn the first two years of a bachelor’s degree with a smooth transfer to any area four-year college or university.