Life in the Spotlight

Teachers, neighbors, coworkers, family members, mentors, friends, coaches. Whoever the people in your life may be, they can always use a bit of encouragement and recognition for the difference they are making in others and in their community. We were...

Portage High School teacher and Portage native Cynthia Kovach brings a joyous passion to her craft and realizes her potential in shaping the future of her students.  Earning her bachelor’s degree at Indiana University and then attending...

Phillip “Phil” Dietrich is a third-grade teacher for Portage Township Corporation, saved and set free with a wife and three kids and a passion for music. “I grew up in Hammond and have been a resident of Chesterton for the past 16...

Jewel Hernandez is a teacher of applied skills at Portage Township School Corporation, a mother of three, and a pet owner. “I am 33 years old. I have three beautiful children, Andrew 11, Henry 6, Judie 3, and three cats, Lola, Lumi, and Luna. I...

A Northwest Indiana native, a mother, and a leader, Jessica McRobert spends her time giving back to the community through the gift of youth sports. As the first-ever female President of Portage Jr. Miss Softball (PJM), McRobert has excelled at...

“I grew up, born and raised here,” Portage native Alyssa Tampier said. “I went to elementary school here, middle school, and high school. During my college experience, I stayed local.” Tampier has always been a “Portage kid” at heart....

From a young age, Dessa Kelley always knew she wanted to be a teacher. While others would be outside playing, Kelley would have her textbooks in her hand, picturing herself as a teacher. Not only was Kelley drawn to being an educator, but she was...

Despite enduring extreme adversity and poverty early on in her life, Cecilia Ballard’s faith in God has kept her pushing through every new battle that she encounters. Growing up near the north side of Chicago, Ballard and her family lived...

According to Fegely Middle School teacher Carrie Kietzman, teaching middle school math seems like her life calling. However, it took a while for this Hobart native to learn that.   Although “teacher” would always come up on Kietzman’s high...

Charlotte Hernandez is a lifelong Portage resident who continues to give back to the Portage community as a 6th grade reading teacher at Fegely Middle School. Graduating in 2005 from Portage High School, Hernandez originally started a career path as...