COLUMBUS, Ind. –Yasmin Vargas, a 2025 graduate of Ivy Tech Community College Columbus and Jennings County High School alumnus, is the recipient of the College’s 2025 Hari Mirchandani Community Service Award.
Established by Hari Mirchandani, Ivy Tech Columbus’s first full-time faculty member, and his family, this award is presented annually to a student demonstrating a love of community and selfless dedication to serving others.
Vargas, of Scipio, has been a dedicated student whose commitment to service was evident in both her campus involvement and community engagement. She graduated this year with an associate’s degree in business administration.
At Ivy Tech, Vargas took on leadership roles, including President of Phi Theta Kappa and Secretary of the Student Government Association. She has mentored peers as a Student Success Intern and
supported basic needs by volunteering at The Hub food pantry. Vargas also contributed to projects like the Beloved Bags initiative and “Your Story Is Powerful!”, a storytelling event that encouraged connection and shared experience among students and community members.
Outside of Ivy Tech, she volunteers in her church’s children’s ministry, participates in the Disney College Program, supports peers from diverse backgrounds, and regularly helps with local service efforts through organizations like Love Chapel.
