Looking back on the year at Valpo.Life, it’s truly amazing how many good things are constantly happening in our community. We’ve profiled hundreds of people for Life in the Spotlight articles, heard from our #1StuddentNWI students, and generally been around to find the good news happening in the community.
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Without further ado (and in no particular order!), here are the top 10 feature articles from Valpo.Life in 2019!
Local high school student leads by example, jumps to aid peer from wreckage
Chesterton High School sophomore Ben Seely was out for a bike ride with a group of friends a few weeks ago, when suddenly, he heard the telltale sound of rubber screeching on pavement.
Cancer Survivor Series: Jill Zilz
Jill Zilz, a math teacher at Lake Central High School, never thought that she would call herself a cancer survivor, but finds herself feeling proud to be where she is today. She taught math at Valparaiso High School for 14 years before finding her current spot at Lake Central. She’s been happily married for 15 years to her husband Tim, and is a wonderful mother to her two sons, Logan and Evan.
#1StudentNWI: Fresh perspectives and projects at Washington Township High School
Fall sport athletes worked harder and excelled these past few months at Washington Township High School (WTHS). Players earned prestigious awards and teams advanced farther than ever before in tournaments.
#1StudentNWI: We love you Ms. Brown
During the month of October, students tend to set their minds towards testing or figuring out what they want to be for Halloween. During any other school year, student life at Hebron High School would play out accordingly, but this year is quite different.
Fact: donating blood changes lives, for donors and receivers
Altruism (noun): “the selfless regard for the well-being of others.”
Although it may be expressed differently by different people, altruism is a belief that perfectly describes the actions taken by the less than 10% of Americans who donate blood each year.
Cancer Survivor Series: Joe Blandford
A bell’s ring is a short sound, but resonates through time. It can be symbolic of the end of something, but also the beginning of something else.
A heart-felt reflection on fice years of All About the Girls
I remember holding my note cards with my hands shaking in front of a crowd of 50 people the first year of AATG. By year 5, I was standing in front of 300-plus people with a lot fewer jitters. It’s amazing how things come full circle as we reach the two-month anniversary of the 5th annual All About the Girls event.
#1StudentNWI program serves as launchpad for successful careers
Here at GreatNews.Life, an online news agency that publishes exclusively positive news throughout the Region, we aspire to mold and inspire budding journalists in high school through the #1StudentNWI program. In fact, we’re the only area media agency offering paid internships to students from every high school in Lake, Porter, and La Porte counties. It’s a life-changing experience for many.
Cancer Survivor Series: Phil Zielke
After months of dealing with constant hip pains, fevers and dramatic weight-loss, at 22-years old, Phil Zielke was told he had stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
What you can do to support teachers year-round
With a breath of relief, and maybe even a few tears, many parents watched their kids go back to school last month. School bags were packed full of pencils, erasers, markers, and many other supplies requested by teachers. The supplies sent along with your student will absolutely help your teachers right away to get the school year going, but are there other ways to continue that support throughout the year?