Life in the Spotlight

Stacie Schuster was ready for a career change when her cousin, Renee Blosky, approached her about taking over Lifestyles, a unique gift store in Valparaiso’s historic downtown. After 27 years of working in the School City of Hammond, Schuster...

Byron Faulstich moved his family from Plymouth to Valparaiso for a number of reasons, but the teaching and coaching positions at Wheeler High School simplified the decision. A Plymouth native, Faulstich received an associate’s degree from Marian...

Donna Shane knew that she wanted to be an early elementary educator from when she was a young girl attending St. Mary’s Catholic Community School in Crown Point. “I had some profound teachers at St. Mary’s who have really shaped my attitude...

Deborah “Deb” Butterfield’s family are Cherokee Indians, with a great grandparent having traveled on the Trail of Tears before settling in Oklahoma. Butterfield’s parents moved from Oklahoma to Indiana for work, and they began their lives in...

Dena Whaling, born and raised in Valparaiso, has spent a large majority of her life giving back to the community in one way or another. Alongside her Valparaiso High School sweetheart, Matt, she has become a pillar of light and hope for friends and...

Rick Clements is what some may call a jack-of-all-trades. Student. Professor. Dad. Author. Speaker.  Clements grew up in Indianapolis, graduating from Perry Meridian High School before attending Indiana University, where he received a...

Connecting with children isn’t rocket science to Jonathan Owens, the program coordinator at the Valparaiso Boys and Girls Club of Greater Northwest Indiana. Owens' perfect formula involves humor, empathy and educating our youth. Created on the...

Father Roque Meraz may be the next TikTok star we never saw coming. The associate pastor at St. Paul Catholic Church uses art, like the humorous religion-based videos on his Instagram, and joy to spread a message of love to the community. Faith and...

Catherine Cole's journey into teaching began with a leap into the unknown. After graduating from Michigan State University, she secured her first job as a second-grade teacher in the small town of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, and settled into married life...

When two women with a love for baking happened to discuss their passion during a work shift at Starbucks, the pop-up bakery The Baking Beans was born. Loren Huff and Breanna Webb opened their local baking business just two months after that...