Life in the Spotlight

For nearly a decade, Kirstin Bailey has been a familiar face at Uptown Social, working her way up from cleaning staff to assistant manager. Her journey is one of dedication, growth, and a deep love for the historic venue she now helps run. Whether...

What’s recently happened? The Greater South Shore Conference (GSSC) Swim Meet was held on Saturday, January 11. This is one of the two most important swim meets of the season, the other being Sectionals. Both Wheeler High School (WHS) swim teams,...

Mark Tarner was born in Warsaw, Indiana, but moved to South Bend when he was little. When he was younger, he had a paper route. He attended Clay High School and then went on to earn a master’s at Eastern Illinois University, which is where he also...

Diana Smoot has been a dedicated real estate professional in Northwest Indiana for over 30 years. She is the Managing Broker at McColly Real Estate’s Highway 6, Willowcreek, and Lake Station offices.   Beyond her leadership and sales...

The Olympic Karate School in Hobart has emerged victorious, taking home a first-place win at the State championship competition held on December 14, 2024, at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. For John “Sensi John” Nemtuda, the...

Sinéad Aherne is a massage therapist working at Mamabear Massage in Valparaiso. She’s been employed there for a little over a month. No stranger to the inherent art in her profession, she’s worked in roles similar to the one she’s in now for...

For 25 years, Dee Dee Gerber has been a dedicated educator within the School City of Mishawaka. As an English teacher and instructional coach at Mishawaka High School, she brings a deep passion for literature and writing that traces back to her own...

Portage native Tina Vaclavik has found her passion for helping others through her work in nursing. Currently working at Methodist Hospital’s Gary location, Vaclavik has spent almost three decades in the field and absolutely loves what she does each...

Brendan Kerrick and his childhood friend Anthony Cioe have turned their shared passion for filmmaking into an internet sensation. Both marketing students at Purdue University Northwest, they have conjured shrieks and squeals from nearly two million...

Dr. Kim Scipes of Purdue University Northwest has lived a life defined by transformation, advocacy, and commitment to social justice. From his humble beginnings to his influential career as a global labor scholar, educator, and activist, Scipes has...