A Portage Life in the Spotlight highlights people around our community who go the extra mile to make Portage a better place to live.
If you know of someone who is going above and beyond, someone who is truly doing great work in the community, in a school, in a church, on a team, or in an organization, send us an email at share@portagelife.com and we'll add them to our continually growing list of people to highlight in our community.
Chuck Moseley - State Representative
Kevin Gale - City Point Church
Dan Reisen - GracePoint Church
Haley Cnarich - PHS Student
Joy Lundstrom - Superintendent of the Portage Township Department of Park and Recreation
Karen Walton - PHS Band Mom
Tracy Bermingham - PHS Student
Tep Junyanid - PHS Student
Ron Ranta - Unit Director at the South Haven Boys & Girls Club
Bruce Lindner - executive director at Porter County Aging and Community Services
Chris Aungst - Chief Executive Officer, of the Portage YMCA
Courtney Joseph - PHS student
Joe Stempien - head football, weightlifting and track coach at Fegely Middle School
Theresa Evans - second grade teacher at Kyle Elementary School
Debbie Clem - McCool, Blake, and James Schrock cemeteries
Natalie Kolosci - Portage’s Civic Dance Center
Jim Wheeler - Willowcreek Middle School
Marsha Moore - Portage Christian Church
Tyler Goodman - PHS
Hunter Martinko - PHS
Paige Pizer - PHS
Brandon Miller - Portage Resale Shop
Meaira Bennett - PHS
Kenyota Rollins - PHS
Jim Fitzer - PEDCO
Jeff Reeder - Reeder’s Auto Service Center
Cory McKim - Portage Youth Basketball President
Rachel Major - Miss Teen Indiana
Hannah Medina - PHS Student
Dawn Price - Portage Township YMCA
Jennifer Wszolek Chandler - Nativity of Our Savior School
Michelle Duca - Kibble Kitchen Pet Pantry
Ross Bunchek -Portage Township YMCA
Shaunna Finley - Principal of New Vistas High School in Portage
Lori Wilkie -Financial Analyst and Event & Volunteer Coordinator for the City of Portage
Victoria Oberc - South Haven Elementary, Portage Parks, Portage Home Depot & Indiana University
Kevin Morgan - Portage 16 IMAX General Manager
Aaron Schmick - Portage Junior Miss President
Alana Camper Ingersoll - Portage Chamber of Commerce
Haley Hodges- IHSAA Mental Attitude Award Winner, Softball State Champion, PHS Class of 2013
Jeremy Gorden- Portage YMCA Assistant Wellness Coordinator
Bob Dixon- PHS Assistant Baseball Coach, Battling Cancer
Matt Bliss - Portage High School Class of 2014
Sandy Corso - Portage High School Health Teacher
John Johnston - Portage High School MCJROTC Senior Marine Instructor
Andrew Corona- Nativity of Our Savior Parish Pastor
Heather Zengler - Portage High School Class of 2013
Denise Stewart - recovering cancer patient
Sue Lynch - Portage City Council President
Kevin Giese - PHS Theatre Director
Heather Castle - PHS Science Teacher
Mackenzie Barcelli - PHS Class of 2013, Gymnastics All-Around State Champion 2013
Nick Jordan- Portage High School Legend Yearbook Editor-in-Chief
Rick Snodgrass- Portage High School Boys Basketball Coach
Amanda Haupt - Portage High School Class of 2014
John Peterson- Midwest Family Federal Credit Union
Eric Mesarch - Portage High School Outstanding Young Man Class of 2013
Mark Monks - Portage Police Officer
Pam Passera - Portage Parks Department Recreation Director
A.J. Monroe - Portage Director of Public Works
Fallon Pugh - PHS Class of 2013
Cathy Nye - PHS History Teacher , National Honor Society Adviser, Quiz Bowl Adviser, Academic Team Adviser
Bonnie Naperala - St. Mary's Medical Center lab phlebotomist
Lorrie Cohen - PHS Library Media Clerk
Jenny Orsburn- Portage Parks & Recreation Superintendent
John Arredondo- PHS Social Studies Teacher, Assistant Boys Cross Country Coach, Assistant Girls Track and Field Coach
Tiffany Woloszyn - PHS Senior, National Honor Society President
Michael Lemond- Former PHS Teacher & Coach, Exchange Club Treasurer, St. Peter Lutheran Church Financial Secretary
Lil Falk - 2nd Grade Teacher at Crisman Elementary School
Rachel Stewart- PHS Class of 2013 Distinguished Young Woman
Eileen Hyatt - Portage Dog Park Facebook Page, Hyatt Photography
Tim Engel - Holy Cross Lutheran Church Pastor
Linda Mendez - Portage Township YMCA Fitness Coordinator
Mark Harsha- Portage High School Teacher and Coach
Max Harsha - Portage High School Sophomore Class President, PortageLife.com Coverage Team Member
Caren Swickard- Portage High School Principal
Will Fortenberry- Social Studies Teacher and Assistant Boys Soccer Coach at Portage High School
Emily Evans- Portage High School Student Body President, Class of 2013
Scott Hufford- Principal at Crisman Elementary
Todd Strom- Assistant Athletic Director at Portage High School
Mary Tracy- Assistant Superintendent of Portage Township Schools
Shannon Burhans- Owner of The eState
Ashley Severs- Second Grade Teacher at Crisman Elementary, Head Girls Soccer Coach at PHS
Debra Dudek- Director of Title and Special Student Services for Portage Township Schools
Mitch Barloga- Director of Non-Motorized Transportation at Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission
Dave Kasarda- Executive Director of Portage Township YMCA
Nicki Monahan- Portage High School Class of 2013
Lexi Elisha- Class of 2011 Portage High School Graduate, Recording Artist
Ted Uzelac- Portage City Councilman
Larry Tharp- Owner of Coach's Cut, PHS Teacher
Jennifer Smolnicky- Owner of Portage Jazzercise Center
Brendan Clancy- Portage Township Trustee
Phil Misecko- Prinicpal at Fegely Middle School
Kelly Bermes- Athletic Director at Portage High School
Kacie McGuire- Portage High School Class of 2012 Distinguished Young Woman
Greg Coleman- School Resource Officer for Portage Township Schools
Austin Edwards- Portage High School Class of 2012
Kyle Johnson- Pop Warner Football Player, Student at Fegely Middle School
Andrew Halaschak- Former Principal of Portage High School West
Thomas Fieffer- Chief of the Portage Fire Department
Rachel Santos- Portage High School Class of 2012
Kirsten DeMass- Portage High School Class of 2012
Collin Czilli- Portage High School Senior Class President, Class of 2013
Brandon Vickrey- Portage High School Class of 2013, Pow Wow Editor-in-Chief, PortageLife.com Coverage Team Coordinator
Tori Bliss- Portage High School Class of 2011, Current LSU track and field athlete
Diane Highlands- Owner of the Portage Dairy Queen
Marko Pekovic- Portage High School Outstanding Young Man Class of 2012
Mike Candiano- School Resource Officer
Michael DePasquale- Assistant Principal, Director of Night School at Portage High School
Michelle Stewart- Principal at Willowcreek Middle School
Ric Frataccia- Superintendent of the Portage Township Schools
Terry Hufford- Executive Director of the Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce
Andy Maletta- President of Portage Youth Basketball, Official on Portage Township Advisory Board
Grant Monahan- President of the Portage High School Booster Club
Mike Martinez- Founder of Hannah's Hope
Michael Berta- Retired Superintendent of the Portage Township Schools
Diana Rivera- Athletic Secretary at Portage High School
James Brasseur- Portage High School Class of 2012
Troy Williams- Former School Resource Officer at PHS, Current Chief of Police
Melissa Deavers-Lowie- English and Journalism Teacher and Publications Advisor at Portage High School
Tim Kunstek and Prince the Compassionate Canine- Home School Advisor at Portage High School
Robert Parker- World History, US History and Western Civilization Teacher at Portage High School