Life in the Spotlight

In Portage, Indiana, there’s a saying: Portage Proud. Sarah Wilkins, a school counselor at Portage High School (PHS), embodies that.  “I love the sense of pride that we have here. I feel like it’s been there since I was little and whether...

As one of the busiest and most popular locations in Portage, the Starbucks on US-6 requires the steady hand of a manager who understands both the business and the human elements of the industry. Thomas Kinsey is adept in both, and after almost 15...

Born and raised in Portage, Jacob Cohen has been through many life experiences that ultimately led him to pursue education and impact the lives of young students. After graduating from Portage High School in 2001, Cohen began pursuing his college...

Middle School teachers play a key role in a student’s education, helping them transition from the more free-form styling of elementary education into the rigors of high school. Jessica Bouma of Willowcreek Middle School is one of those teachers,...

Life often has a funny way of moving in circles. This was the case for Bridget Nadolski, a nearly lifelong Portage resident with a fulfilling teaching career. Though born in California, Nadolski’s moved with her family to the...

The people who were once Alexandria Howard’s teachers and mentors are now her coworkers. The Portage High School grad turned teacher is three years into the job and loves it every day. “It is still weird to hear them call me by my first name,”...

Mike Sopko has education on his mind pretty much all the time. It certainly helps that his wife is also in education so there is never a lack of conversation for it. Sopko, principal at Kyle Elementary School in Portage, said he’s glad his life...

Working your hardest to serve and support your community can take commitment and patience. Ferdinand Alvarez knows this all too well. As a Portage City Council At-Large member, Alvarez has dedicated his time and efforts into making his beloved city a...

Janice Flatz has a motto: if there is something to be done, she would always be happy to help. “Everyone is capable of helping and everyone is good at something. I think everyone should volunteer and do whatever they can for others,” she said....

Marianne Juscik-Minier of Portage has long embraced her creativity, which stems from a lineage of creatives and artistic roots. “My family is extremely creative, and I tinkered in different creative avenues all my life,” Juscik-Minier said. “My...