Throughout the year, we sat down with cancer survivors, military veterans, community change-makers, enthusiastic high schoolers, and more. The residents of Northwest Indiana make the most powerful impact on the community, and being able to sit down and listen to their stories puts that power on full display.
It’s special moments like these that we are particularly proud to share on the GreatNews.Life sites, including Life in the Spotlight, Survivor Series, Veteran Spotlight, Leadership Life, City in the Spotlight, Student Voices, and more.
In no particular order, here are the top 10 feature articles on NWI.Life to recap the good news in 2025!
Crown Point High School (CPHS) welcomed its exciting new addition – The Bulldog Bistro. This cafe was officially open for business on December 3, 2024. The menu includes a wide variety of sugar-free teas, coffees, chips, ice cream, and even slushies.
This bistro is a place for CPHS students to grab a refreshing drink before school and during lunch. Since its opening, the bistro has received amazing business with many students excited to try the new drinks. Open for a little while now and students are already making it a go-to spot.
The Chesterton High School (CHS) Girls’ Swim and Dive team competed in the Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) Championships on January 18.
The teams traveled to Valparaiso to compete in the event, and both the swim and dive teams had successful days. Not only did individual competitors have a great day, but the CHS Girls’ Swim and Dive team as a whole earned its 26th consecutive title as DAC Champions.
As students closed in toward the DJ booth, cheer team members read off the name of the 2024-2025 school year’s Munster High School (MHS) Turnabout King – Senior Colh Igue – at the dance on Jan. 25. Cheers rang out and friends and peers lifted Igue onto their shoulders as “Feel So Close” by Calvin Harris played in the background.
“I was happy when they announced it,” Igue said.
Having grown up in Hammond on the Robertsdale side near the Amtrak station and within walking distance of the Lake Michigan shoreline, Sherri Ziller developed a deep-rooted passion for economic development and community service.
“Having those two assets literally out my front door—it’s something you don’t realize the value of until you travel or move away. Then you understand that Northwest Indiana is in a unique position, and our number one asset is actually geography,” Ziller said. “That’s what makes us unique. Now, in my current role, I get to play to our geographical advantages.”
Editor’s note: We celebrate the impact Coach Seibert has had on the Crown Point Community and Regional basketball. Congratulations on an amazing, legacy-leaving run.
After much reflection and consideration, I have decided to resign from my position as Head Varsity Girls Basketball Coach at Crown Point High School. This decision does not come easily, as coaching has been an incredibly meaningful and fulfilling part of my life for the past 23 years.
Sara Flores is a courageous cancer survivor who has faced her diagnosis with remarkable strength and resilience. She has leaned on her faith, family, and community for support throughout her journey. Her story is about hope, determination, and inspiring perseverance in adversity.
“My biggest goal through all of this has been to make sure my pain turns into purpose, that it wasn’t all for nothing,” Flores said. “I want to support other women on their journeys, to help them feel seen, appreciated, and—most importantly—not alone. I want them to know that there is hope for the future.”
Veteran Troy Turner established Right at Home Northwest Indiana, an in-home care service in Merrillville that offers support and assistance for the elderly, infirmed, and ill—including specialized care such as bathing, grooming, mobility support, medication reminders, companionship, advocacy support, and more for veterans in need.
A veteran himself, Troy Turner has a very specific connection to these clients. He’s been able to apply his background in the Navy to anticipate the needs of the veterans Right at Home Northwest Indiana serves.
Students across Hammond came together to make a difference for local pets through Build with the Beast, a community event hosted by Team Hammond 71 Robotics. The project began with a clothes drive where donations were collected from Hammond Central High School, Morton High School, the Area Career Center (ACC), and the Hammond Academy of Science and Technology (HAST). Students donated old T-shirts and jeans, which were later transformed into braided dog toys for local shelters.
Homecoming was a night to remember. The Bishop Noll Institute (BNI) Warriors kicked off the festivities for the week on September 15 with Bikers versus Surfers. The other spirit days were Anything But a Backpack Day, Country versus Country Club, and ending the week with Warrior Wear, a day for everyone to wear blue and gold. The football team beat Calumet Christian School 34-14.
The Lake Central School Corporation Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (LCSC SEPAC) hosted its annual Resource Fair on October 14 with various organizations for parents and students to connect and utilize. The event was open to the public and anyone was welcome to attend and check out the resources around Northwest Indiana.
“Our Resource Fair features a wide variety of exhibitors offering programs and services that support individuals from early childhood through adulthood. Exhibitors include therapeutic service providers, mental health agencies, health-waiver programs, recreational and extracurricular organizations, as well as college and transition services. With the collaboration with Lake Central School District, we wanted to connect families with all the wonderful resources available for individuals with special needs,” Humuria Mohiuddin, LCSC SEPAC Leadership Committee member, said.
