Generosity and selflessness run rampant in the region, and we're happy to let it. This year has seen so many great people, businesses, and groups doing great things; for no reason other than to help their communities flourish.
There were a lot to choose from, but we were able to find the Top 10 Community articles that we and our readers loved. Want to experience multiple feel-good moments? Read on to see the Top 10 ValpoLife Community Articles of 2015.
It you have a good story to share, send an email to share@valpolife.com and we’ll be on it!
2015 Northwest Indiana Graduation Station
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Of all the events we see throughout the year, graduations and commencements are the ones that most embody our good news mission. To see all the hard work put in and out of the classroom by students, parents, teachers, coaches, families and friends culminate in one event, with everyone across the school celebrating the same thing, it's just awesome.
We will have literally thousands of photos from the Class of 2015, just like we did last year, and we couldn't be happier to share these shots of all of these thousands of Northwest Indiana's best and brightest students.
Super Student Battles the Odds and Surprises Peers at Morgan Township High School Graduation
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Morgan Township students and parents were greeted with an amazing surprise on Saturday, as Joshua Wittmer, whose Hodgkin's Lymphoma relapsed just 17 short days ago, walked across the stage to receive his diploma.
Josh was put on chemo therapy and stem cell recovery, and the treatment has worked wonders so far for him.
VU Men’s Soccer Team Shoots to Raise $40,000 at 4th Annual St. Baldrick’s Event
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On Saturday, the Valparaiso University Athletic Recreation Center was packed full of various groups participating in the 4th Annual St. Baldrick’s event at the university. Over 100 people volunteered to shave their heads to support the fight against childhood cancer. With the help of donations and fundraisers, the Men’s soccer team aimed to raise over $40,000 to give to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
Participants of all ages took their turn in getting their heads shaved by individuals from Vanis Cares to show their support. Valparaiso University took on a speed challenge to break the record of most heads shaved within 30 minutes and 10 barbers. They ended up completing 80 people to show their support for the foundation and bring more attention to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
Culver's Cutest Couple: Polly Ann and Dennis Wallace
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To the romantics out there, I have a story for you. To the skeptics out there, I also have a story for you.
On August 28, 2015 Polly Ann and Dennis Wallace of Valparaiso celebrated their 70 year anniversary. The couple had a special party ready for them at Culver’s of Valparaiso, a business they have frequented weekly since it opened in 2001 and where Dennis states, “We’re treated like family.”
Lakeshore PAWS Moves to Newer, Larger Location
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Lakeshore PAWS has announced its next big step in bringing themselves closer to the community by announcing their newest location of their main building in Valparaiso.
Located on 4611 Evans street, this large blue building will be the future home to dozens of dogs seeking forever homes and plenty of space to help and assist dogs from the community.
Wells' Journey to Remission Leads to Wishing Wells Cancer Foundation
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Jessica K. Wells’ life changed in a major way on April 19th, 2014. That’s the day she was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer. When she sat down with Ideas in Motion Media about a year ago, she had been through her first couple rounds of chemo, was really new to it and the results weren’t looking great. Over time, however, Wells’ perseverance paid off and the journey she’s been on since her diagnosis has encouraged her to start the Wishing Wells Cancer Foundation.
“After six rounds of chemo I got the news that the cancer had shrunk enough to have surgery,” Wells said. “So on September 25th, I had surgery to remove all the cancer from my body. After I had recovered from the surgery, I did six more rounds of post-op chemo and January 15th is the day that I was technically in remission from cancer. On February 10th, I had reversal surgery. After that operation I had to take some time, about five weeks, to recover and soon after that I was as healthy as can be. I just had scans on June 15th, my first set of scans, and everything came back clear of cancer.”
Life Savers are Celebrated at Porter Regional Hospital
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National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week runs from May 17 to May 23. Those who save lives on a daily basis really should get more than a week of recognition, seeing as how they are on the job 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in all environments, and in the weird weather that Northwest Indiana has to offer. Not every situation that these people are involved in turn out well. The training, the effort, and the timing aren’t always enough and an EMS worker’s day just becomes that much harder. But most times, things work out and a mother, father, child, or friend can take another breath and live another day thanks to the actions of the EMS and brave bystanders who step up to help.
Once in a while, things go so well that text book examples look shaky in comparison. The links were strong in what the American Heart Association calls the Chain of Survival, a five-step process for treatment for those who become victims of cardiac arrest, for Chris Moore. On February 13, 2015, Moore went into cardiac arrest while at work. Co-workers quickly jumped into action, calling 911 and administering CPR. The Washington Township Fire Department as well as the Porter Coutny Sheriff's Department were on the scene, rotating people to continue CPR so no one would tire while trying to help Moore. The two EMS responders were David Ferris, a paramedic, and Adam Jaskowiak, an EMT. They were grateful and impressed by the work that everyone was doing to help Moore.
School, Community, Come Together to Honor Student Lost Too Soon
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We are all familiar with the cliché phrase that your life can change in the blink of an eye. For some, those words may never hold a significant meaning in their life. For those who knew Mario Arroyo, those ten words may be replaying in their heads for quite some time.
Mario E. Arroyo Jr. passed away last Sunday night after a car accident on U.S. 231. He was one of four passengers, the rest of which survived.
Valpo Shows its Support of the Valpo PD K9s at the Guardians of the Night 5K
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Valparaiso Police Department's K-9 division hosted their annual Guardians of the Night 5K and Dog Walk on another sunny Friday evening. The run and walk, both included people of all ages.
Breaking records again this year, the event brought out more than 600 runners and walkers, said Todd Kobitz - K-9 police officer and event organizer.
2015 Calvary Church of Valparaiso Celebrated Father's Day in the Park
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The congregation of Calvary Church of Valparaiso held a special service in Central Park Plaza to celebrate Father’s Day. The fathers of the community were honored with this yearly service where the whole church came together in worship.
This event has been going on for three years now and has become somewhat of a tradition for the ever growing church.