Northern Indiana is full of people working hard every day to make their communities a better place. Since 2011, GreatNews.Life has been putting the spotlight on the people spreading this positivity in the Region with our Life in the Spotlight series. New articles are published every Wednesday, so be sure to check back often to learn more about the stories of great people doing great things in Northern Indiana.
A firm believer in the mantra ‘everything happens for a reason,’ Portage native and Porter Regional Hospital radiographer Gina Giese-Hurst lives life with an inspiring faith. “Years ago, I was called into work shortly after my father passed...
They say a little faith can go a long way, and that philosophy has paid off for Sharon Santiago. Santiago has been lucky to call Portage her home for her entire life and doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon. There are many reasons she has wanted to...
With the passion that 7th grade mathematics teacher Jeffrey Smenyak radiates for his students, it’s hard to believe that education wasn’t always his career of choice. Smenyak was originally to major in in Actuarial Science at Butler University,...
Working to uphold the law can be hard work. But for someone as diligent and dedicated as Charlie Mathewson, it’s worth it. As a railroad police officer, he performs all of the typical duties of an officer of the law, while also educating the...
To many of the students at Central Elementary School in Portage, Nicole Slack is a bit of a Santa Claus. Of course, in reality, the students see her as the School Advisor who leads them in daily “Mindful Moments.” And occasionally she comes into...
Editor’s note: Miles Mavrovic is pictured on the right. It takes a huge team to keep a school district as big as Portage Township Schools running smoothly. Teachers, administrators, and of course, the students, all have big roles to play. Some,...
If you didn’t know Jason Hostetler when he was growing up it might be hard to imagine him as a quiet, timid person. But that’s just what he was until he entered high school. “Two of my high school English teachers, Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Green,...
The face of a school tends to be its teachers, but there’s a whole crew of talented and passionate individuals that help keep the classrooms running. Nathan Ramian, Web Coordinator for Portage Township Schools, is one of those people. Ramian is a...
There is at least one citizen of Portage, Indiana who thinks about the future differently. Ethyl Ruehman has dedicated her life to making sure the future includes two things: care of the planet, and a voice for our youth who will ultimately usher in...
“I am a student of life, and I look forward to new challenges daily.” This is what Sue Soler had to say about working in education. Soler, the Principal of Central Elementary School in Portage, has been in the education...