Life in the Spotlight

Kristy Hahn is a dedicated leader at Family Advocates, a nonprofit in La Porte committed to supporting vulnerable families and youth. As the community outreach & volunteer services coordinator, Hahn oversees critical programs like Court Appointed...

Dr. Clint Shireman of Shireman Veterinary Services is a dedicated professional committed to food animal medicine.  With experience in both hands-on care and community education, he plays a vital role in supporting animals. Shireman's veterinary...

When Kris Halfacre stepped into the role of president of the Michigan City High School Athletic Booster Club, it wasn't just a position—it was a mission to restore a sense of pride and community that had begun to wane. In 2014 when her oldest...

Mario Rosa, a dedicated social service professional for over 30 years, serves as the Family and Community Engagement Coordinator for Family and Community Engagement Services (F.A.C.E.S). He has spent over 30 years making a memorable impact on the...

Amanda Jozaitis has always known she wanted to pursue a full-time career in the arts. As a young girl, Jozaitis was often asked by classmates, “Can you draw a picture for me?” and she was known by her peers as the best artist in school. Through...

Jess Buetow is a young man who recently graduated from Michigan City High School (MCHS), where he maintained a commitment to service and thrived academically. Despite growing up far from Michigan City, moving from his hometown of Saginaw, Michigan to...

Life often takes us down unexpected paths. This is true for Brynn Kleist, who began a journey to become a forensic scientist but ended up becoming an educator for at-risk and non-traditional students. Growing up in La Porte, Kleist spent her freshman...

In life, the unexpected twists along our journey can lead to surprisingly fulfilling destinations we may have never have envisioned. Though she had aspirations for a career in healthcare during college, Amanda Lower’s path led her to a passion for...

Pete Xidias has spent most of his life in the Michigan City community. In the early 1970s, the Xidias family immigrated to Indiana from Greece, where they opened Apex Auto Care in 1983. The family has stayed committed to the community, running a shop...

Matthew Zawacki, the youth assistance program coordinator for La Porte Community School Corporation’s Virtual Learning Academy, has long known that he wanted to help people. Through various job experiences and inspiration from his mother, he has...