Gary native Joshua Phillips has always been fascinated by computers and their power and potential. “I didn’t know what I wanted to go to college for until my senior year of high school,” Phillips said. “I was planning on...
Laurie Mullet, a Northwest Indiana native, is one of those amazing women who truly feels fortunate when helping others in the community. Mullet held the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Pines Village Retirement Communities, Inc. in...
Although Christine Colle has always had a deep love for the arts as a talented ceramic artist and previous art instructor, she never planned to teach the subject herself. “I never considered teaching art when I began college. My...
Ann Kessler, a professor of theatre and Chair of the Theatre Department at Valparaiso University, has always had a love for the arts from a very young age. “I started out as a dancer and that’s what got me into theatre. I always loved working...
United Way of Porter County has been providing support and the building blocks for a better quality of life for the Northwest Indiana community for more than 60 years. This year, one of their most loved events, the Annual...
Finding your passion and turning it into a career is a dream of many. Dr. John Kelly, Jr. has been lucky to do just that. His interest in health care was sparked when he would go on medical rounds with his father, Dr. Kelly Sr. In those...
To Jake Spottiswood, a social studies teacher at Portage High School (PHS), nothing is more important than family. “I was the first one out of my immediate family to go to college and it was all because of the backing and support from my family,”...
Dr. Nicolae Tarfulea, a Professor of Mathematics at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is genuinely curious and always excited to learn. Tarfulea was born and raised in Romania. “I went to high school in Novaci, Romania. Back then, I dreamt of being...
On the corner of Morgan Blvd. and Lincolnway in downtown Valparaiso sits a one-of-a-kind ice cream parlor, Pat’s Ice Cream Parlor. The owner of Pat’s is as sweet as the confection she sells. Patricia Berning of Glen Park grew up surrounded...
Kristen Wring, a kindergarten teacher from Portage, has always been a supporter of education. “I love education. I loved school from when I was a student in elementary all the way to college. I’ve always loved learning and finding new, exciting...
