Top 10 feature articles on NWI.Life in 2021

Top 10 feature articles on NWI.Life in 2021
By: Abby Babcock, Aubrey Thomson, Chelsea Lott, Lauren Grasham, Peyton Mahlmann, Ryan Costello, Tommy Elwood, Tyler Prendergast Last Updated: December 28, 2021

The features section on NWI.Life is one of the most popular, giving you insight into some of the most incredible happenings in the area, including #1StudentNWI articles, Life in the Spotlights, Survivor Series, Leadership Life, City in the Spotlights, Great News Weekly shows, and 10 Fun Things To Do. We’ve learned a lot from the students, community members, survivors, and more who trust us to share their stories, and 2021 would not have been the same without them all.

In no particular order, here are the top 10 feature articles from NWI.Life in 2021: 

Cancer Survivor Series: Rick Gosser

In 2019, Rick Gosser received a diagnosis that changed his entire perspective on life.

Gosser decided to visit the doctor that year when he noticed a mark that just wouldn’t heal. 

Leadership Life Series: Dan Kozlowski

As Regional Director of Big Shoulders Fund, Dan Kozlowski knows the importance of serving the Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland community. He grew up in Cedar Lake, attended catholic elementary and middle schools as well as Hanover Central High School, and received his Bachelor’s in business and accounting from Valparaiso University.

#1StudentNWI: Crown Point seniors cherish celebrations before the turning of their tassels

With the days until graduation dwindling down to single digits, the Crown Point High School (CPHS) senior class has enjoyed several celebrations that brought back a sense of normalcy amidst the uncertainty the pandemic brought. This included the school-sanctioned Friday Night Lights (FNL) event and a parent-hosted prom. 

Survivor Series: Craig Buzea

Craig Buzea did not know what he was feeling one day following a playoff football game he coached at Homewood-Flossmoor High School in 2019. While he was unsure of what was going on, he knew it was serious and had been going on for a couple of weeks. After the game, he asked his wife, Barb, to take him to the ER.

#1StudentNWI: Crown Point parents and community adopt members of the senior class

Last year due to COVID-19, parents of high school seniors across the Region created “Adopt a Senior” to give their kids some sense of normalcy during the lockdown. To participate in this program, parents gifted each senior something special. Considering the circumstances, this served as an exciting last hurrah before the students switched their tassels over. 

AATG Part 6 recap: a look into each speech that captured #MyStrength

On September 16, GreatNews.Life Executive Director Jenny Craig-Brown hosted the event of the year: All About the Girls Part 6! 

Held at Urschel Pavilion in Downtown Valparaiso, Craig-Brown invited six women to speak on the encouraging theme of #MyStrength. Each presenter connected the theme to their own lives through stories of perseverance, hope, and female empowerment.

#1StudentNWI: spreading good for seniors and the community with Highland High School Teacher Jodi Olah

The COVID-19 pandemic has been rough on everyone and students are no exception. Unfortunately, seniors have appeared to be the most impacted due to the normal last year events and traditions they are missing out on.

#1StudentNWI: East Chicago Central High School’s new “Makerspace”

Recently, East Chicago Central High School’s administration created a brand-new learning space for teachers and students. The new area, which was named as “Makerspace,” is packed with exciting new technology open to all of the school's students and teachers.

Tragic loss prompts reflection, offers lessons

This week my family and my Oak Partners family were devastated by unimaginable tragedy when Joe Starkey, my brother-in-law and business Partner, died suddenly while on a family vacation. Joe was 41 years old.

Cancer Survivor Series: Jodi Dawson

While the natural response to a cancer diagnosis usually consists of shock or panic, Jodi Dawson was not surprised. When Dawson found a lump on the side of her throat, she knew something was wrong. She said she had a few weeks to come to terms with it before officially receiving her thyroid cancer diagnosis in October 2015.