Nicole and Ricky Santana were born and raised in Michigan City and have never left the city they love the most. They attended Michigan City High School, and that's when their love story began. Or, if you’re their parents, you can say it started sooner.
“What I love about the community is that I've been at work or wherever in the community and always see someone I know,” Ricky Santana said. “It's just being able to know everybody and be friendly. It's simply that we're homegrown.”
Ricky and Nicole Santana’s parents were friends, but what makes this more interesting is the fact that the Santanas were born in the same hospital only a few hours apart. They were not only high school sweethearts; the two also have photos of themselves together in the nursery. This closeness and love for each other is still true today, as not only do they have a family together, but they get the joy of working together to help their La Porte County community.
“We were both born and raised here in Michigan City, and our kids go to school here,” Nicole Santana said. “That is a huge part of why it's so important to us; not only are we alumni but our kiddos still attend here.”
Ricky Santana just celebrated his 25th year working with the school in maintenance – he started right after he graduated from high school in 1998. After the school subcontracted to Sodexo, Ricky Santana is now the facilities maintenance supervisor, where he makes sure the school is taken care of inside and out. He also helps set up for the events the school has throughout the year. Fifteen years into his career, he told his wife, Nicole Santana, that she should apply to an open job the school had, and she has been there since. Nicole Santana started as an entry-level secretary and worked up the ranks. After getting her bachelor’s degree, she is now the director of children’s nutrition.
“He got me to apply, so that's where my story began,” Nicole Santana said. “I fell in love with what we do and what we provide; Our goal is to always provide nutritious food for the students.”
Even though they work in different departments for the school, they enjoy when their jobs coincide and they get to help their community together. Just like many, Michigan City has its economic needs, and one of the many projects they get to put on together is the yearly back-to-school event where the school partners with United Way of La Porte County to help get the kids what they need to start the year off strong.
“It's such a huge event; I think we serve 1,800 people free meals while they come to get the backpacks and supplies for school,” Nicole Santana said. “All the local partnerships are there, but Ricky's such a huge part in that program, from the complete set up to the backpacks being delivered.”
“I don't want to say we just volunteer at work, but we do work past hours doing extra stuff like that, too,” Ricky Sanatna added.
Ricky and Nicole Santana give back to their community all year round. Nicole Santana knows there is an economic deficit and the back to school rally helps, but she wanted to extend her help outside the school year.
“Those meals during the school year might be their only meal they get for the day, and that’s only through the school week,” Nicole Santana said. “We get to extend that service into the summer months, and we've reached so many people that way.”
The two feel honored to contribute to their community and look for new ways to improve it, not just in the school system but Michigan City as a whole.
“We're homegrown. We went to school here, our kids are going to school here, and we want to be around to make it better for all the future generations and help out where we can,” Nicole Santana said.
Outside of working, Nicole and Ricky Santana frequent school events for their daughter in middle school, as their other two have since graduated. If they’re not working or at school, they love to take walks, especially at the dog park. They also enjoy going to the movies and when they can, and they love to travel.