Top 10 feature articles on Valpo.Life in 2020

Top 10 feature articles on Valpo.Life in 2020

Here at GreatNews.Life, we are lucky to have the honor of highlighting the incredible individuals who make Valparaiso and Porter County a great place to be, even during 2020. Whether it was young journalists writing about their school as a #1StudentNWI intern, inspiring community members sharing their cancer survival stories, or our weekly 10 Fun Things to Do, there is so much that we get to learn and publish every year.

In no particular order, here are the top 10 feature articles from Valpo.Life in 2020:

Pitfalls of Pride (how to be humble and not let the title get to your head)

On my desk, at the corporate office for the health system I work for as well as in my office at home, I have a small scrap of paper taped down. All it says is ‘pride,’ with a circle around it and a line through it. 

#1StudentNWI: Washington Township’s student “mascot,” Mock Trial Team, and strong community

Mrs. Linda Armstrong is a beloved part of the Washington Township High School (WTHS) community. A parent and grandparent to people highly involved in school activities, she is dedicated to all of the students and faculty. Armstrong has been the secretary at the elementary school for years now, yet still recognizes students that are now in high school by name and stops to talk to them. Her hard work keeps the elementary organized and running smoothly. 

#1StudentNWI: The Porter County Career and Technical Center begins school year with various hands-on learning opportunities

The Porter County Career and Technical Center has had a great start to the 2020-21 school year! The health science occupations class volunteered at the Valpo Parks 2020 Popcorn Panic 5K race and helped the runners enjoy a fun and safe race.

GreatNews.Life launches new female-focused podcast based on successful All About the Girls event

Six years ago, one woman’s dream to inspire other women came to life in the form of a now highly anticipated annual event called All About the Girls (AATG). The brainchild of host Jenny Craig-Brown, Executive Team Leader for GreatNews.Life, AATG has united women of the Region in a quest for empowerment through real stories, from real women, heard in real-time.

Cancer Survivor Series: Nancy Babich

Nancy Babich just doesn’t have time for the negativity. She never has. Don’t get her wrong – being diagnosed with breast cancer wasn’t easy, and the bad thoughts certainly crept in at times. But she wasn’t having any of it, and the 10-year survivor is here to share that inspiration with others.

Cancer Survivor Series: Kelley Weisenbacher

Once she got it back, Kelley Weisenbacher decided to use her voice to compel people to actively attend to their physical health through regular checkups with a doctor. After being diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2017, Weisenbacher realized how crucial it is for people to check on their bodies even when they look and feel healthy.

Running in the Region with Kellyn: little things, big impact

For as long as I’ve been a runner, I have been preached to time and time again about “the little things,” the intangibles that play into a runner’s performance yet are too often overlooked. With this in mind, I wanted to give the runners of the Region some insight on small training practices that make a big difference in the long run. From my running brain to yours, here are ten “little things” to take your training to the next level.

A #1StudentNWI: social worker supports students through COVID-19

Jenna Sickinger is a social worker at Valpo. Sickinger has been a social worker since 2009. “The cliche answer [to why she wanted to become a social worker] would be to ‘change the world’ which isn’t wrong," Sickinger said. "I believe that every single person matters and sometimes our most vulnerable or at-risk populations need someone to listen and help them have their own voice.”

Red Robin shift supervisor turns local hero in matter of seconds

Alex Lesnik is just a regular guy - a 22 year old shift supervisor at Red Robin in Valparaiso, in fact. But he’s now also being called a local hero. Learn why!

#1StudentNWI: An overview of Hilltop Neighborhood House in Valparaiso

Hilltop Neighborhood House is an important organization in Valparaiso. Commonly referred to as simply Hilltop House, they offer many opportunities in the area of childcare for the community. It has been open since 1995 and has grown over the years.