Entries by Jenn Wigginton

Celebrating Student Voices: 2026 IAACE Essay Contest Winners

Celebrating Student Voices: 2026 IAACE Essay Contest Winners Adult education is about more than credentials—it is about second chances, renewed confidence, and the courage to keep going. Each year, the IAACE Essay Contest gives adult learners across Indiana the opportunity to share their stories in their own words. The 2026 top essays remind us exactly […]

Adult Education Day: A Celebration of Learning, Partnership, and Purpose

Each year, Adult Education Day at the Indiana Statehouse gives us something truly special: the opportunity to come together as a community to educate, celebrate, and advocate for adult education across our state. This day matters—not just for what we do, but for what it represents. Adult education in Indiana changes lives every single day. […]

Embrace the 2025 Word?

From Connect to Flourish… and Beyond Flourish was my word for 2025. Defined as “to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment,” it felt like the perfect next step after my 2024 word, Connect. Looking back, I can see that this year’s flourishing looked […]

Warm Wishes and Year-End Reflections

Warm Wishes and Year-End Reflections December 24 is here! This season brings with it a special kind of magic — twinkling lights, full hearts, and a moment to slow down before the new year begins. It’s a time for celebration, gratitude, and reflection, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to pause and share a few […]

Calling All Creators: The IAACE 2026 Conference Logo Contest Is Here

Something magical is brewing, and we want you to help bring it to life. IAACE is excited to announce the 2026 Conference Logo Design Contest, inviting members, adult learners, educators, and supporters across Indiana to help shape the visual identity of our next conference. This conference year’s theme sets the stage for wonder, connection, and […]

Adult Learners Can Attend COABE 2026 for FREE — Thanks to IAACE Membership!

If your program isn’t already taking advantage of this, now is the time! When an adult learner becomes a member of the Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education (IAACE) for free, they automatically receive a complimentary COABE membership—and that membership unlocks something extraordinary… Adult Learners Can Attend COABE 2026 in Indianapolis for FREE. This […]

COABE 2026 in Indy

🏁 2026 Registration Is Now Open! Start your engines—COABE 2026 is officially headed to Indianapolis, and registration is NOW OPEN! We’re gearing up for an unforgettable experience April 12–15, 2026, right in the heart of downtown Indy at the JW Marriott and connected convention spaces. Pre-Conference: April 12 Conference: April 13–15 This year’s theme, The […]

Gratitude in Every Direction: A Thanksgiving Message from IAACE

As we gather in this season of gratitude, I’ve been reflecting on the many blessings in my life—big and small, obvious and overlooked—and I’m reminded that thankfulness is less about what we have and more about what we recognize. The same is true for our work in adult education. I am grateful for the people […]

Nominate Your Business Partners for Recognition!

The submission form for the IAACE Business Partner Recognition is now open!Visit iaace.com/business-and-industry-partnership to submit your nomination today for them to be recognized at Adult Education Day — January 28, 2026! This recognition honors the businesses that exceed expectations in supporting adult education and workforce development in Indiana. These are the employers who understand that education is […]

Gratitude, Coffee, and Connection

There’s something about this season that makes me reach for an extra cup of coffee — not because I need the caffeine (okay, maybe a little), but because it feels like the perfect companion for reflection. November has a way of slowing us down just enough to look around and say, “Wow, look at all […]