Independence Community College celebrated its new partnership with SparkWheel Wednesday evening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the ICC campus.

The event marked the beginning of a new chapter in student support at ICC, bringing together College employees, community members and partners to celebrate the additional resources and individualized support now available to students through the collaboration.

Through the partnership, a dedicated SparkWheel Student Support Coordinator is located on ICC’s campus during the 2026–27 academic year. The coordinator will work directly with students to identify needs, connect them with campus and community resources and help address challenges that may impact their ability to remain enrolled and achieve their educational goals.

“This ribbon cutting represents much more than the beginning of a new partnership — it represents another resource our students can turn to when they need support,” said David Adams, Vice President for Student Affairs & Operations. “Our students bring different experiences, responsibilities and challenges with them to college, and we want them to know they don’t have to navigate those challenges alone. Having SparkWheel here on our campus strengthens our ability to meet students where they are and connect them with the support they need to keep moving forward.”

SparkWheel is a Kansas-based nonprofit organization that partners with educational institutions to provide integrated student support services focused on student well-being, engagement and success. The organization’s model recognizes that challenges outside the classroom can have a direct impact on a student’s ability to succeed academically.

At ICC, SparkWheel will work alongside existing College resources and community partners to provide a more coordinated network of support for students. The partnership will include ongoing assessment of student needs, connections to available resources and the development of strategies aimed at strengthening student engagement, retention and overall success.

The collaboration builds upon ICC’s ongoing commitment to supporting the whole student and removing barriers that can stand between students and their educational goals.

The ribbon cutting was held Wednesday, Sept. 2, in ICC’s Academic Building.