Students awarded medical staff scholarships
Two LaPorte County high school seniors with future healthcare career goals each recently received Franciscan Health Michigan City Medical Staff Memorial Scholarships, according to a release.
Tri-Township High School senior Caloe Peretti, 17, of Wanatah, and Michigan City High School senior Naomi Williams, 18, of Michigan City, were both selected by the Franciscan Health Michigan City Medical Staff Scholarship Committee as the 2025 scholarship recipients.
Williams will attend the University of Indianapolis this fall to study biology, with the goal of becoming an emergency medical technician. Peretti will attend St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame this fall to study nursing.
The scholarships are needs-based and place an emphasis on students who are the first in their families to attend college, the release said.
Rotary announces networking event
Rotary Means Business Northwest Indiana is bringing Rotary clubs from Merrillville, Schererville, Hammond and Valparaiso together for a June 6 Launch Networking Event, a release said. The event, open to the public, will take place from 4:30–7 p.m. at the Purdue Technology Center, 9800 Connecticut Drive, Crown Point.
The event is designed to connect and empower business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders from across the Region, while also introducing the mission and advocacy work of Rotary Clubs throughout Northwest Indiana, the release said.
For information, email jskibbie@jrsmarcom.com.
Valparaiso Family YMCA adds board members
The Valparaiso Family YMCA recently welcomed five new members to its Board of Directors, according to a release.
Those elected include Anna Kenney, Rachel Zulich Wallace, Pastor Jared Kendall, Mike Telesky and Meagan Koutsopanagos.
The individuals bring a wealth of experience, insight, and passion to support the Y’s mission of strengthening the spirit, mind, and body of every individual in our community, the release said.
The new board members will serve alongside a team of returning directors and officers who continue to champion initiatives that expand outreach, deepen impact, and uphold the Y’s core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
For more information about the Valparaiso Family YMCA’s leadership or how to get involved, visit www.valpoymca.org.
VU students win in game design competition
Two Valparaiso University students have won top honors in an international role-playing game writing competition, according to a release.
Nolan Brezina took first place with his Dungeon Crawl Classics-compatible Adventure, “Creeping Dread,” and Bryanna Bass was awarded third place for “The Sirens of Huntby Gulf.”
Both adventures were assignments written for the English 280: Writing Roleplaying Games course led by Martin Buinicki, professor of English.
The contest was organized by Philippe Lépinard, of the Université Paris-Est Créteil, and included participants from France, Spain, and the United States. Judges included the French translator of Dungeon Crawl Classics, Emmanuel Bouteille, and Michael Curtis, director of DCC Product Development for Goodman Games, the release said.
The class is part of the university’s minor in Game Narrative and Design.
Franciscan’s WorkingWell celebrates 20th anniversary
Franciscan Health WorkingWell, a program that offers occupational health services to businesses and industry, is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Franciscan first introduced WorkingWell in June 2005 as a regional initiative. Since then, the program has grown to encompass 18 WorkingWell offices in Northwest Indiana, central Indiana, western Indiana and the south Chicago suburbs, a release said.
Among the numerous services offered by Franciscan WorkingWell are physicals, drug and alcohol screening, vaccinations and immunizations, injury treatment, injury prevention programs and fitness for duty evaluations.
For more information, visit FranciscanHealth.org/WorkingWell.
