NIPSCO announced the recipients of the company’s annual 2022 Luminary Awards – an annual program recognizing leaders and organizations for their outstanding commitment to strengthening local communities.
The Luminary Awards were created in 2012 in celebration of the utility’s 100-year anniversary to honor individuals or organizations that have displayed leadership in the areas of: Community Leadership, Economic Development, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Public Safety and Local Government Excellence. The 2022 recipients are:
• Community Leadership – Dave Ryan, Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce
• Economic Development – Heather Ennis, NWI Forum
• Education – Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo Campus
• Environmental Stewardship – The Watershed Foundation
• Public Safety- American Red Cross
• Local Government Excellence – City of LaPorte
Also, for the first time NIPSCO also designated a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient at this year’s event. The winner selected for this special honor is Don Babcock, NIPSCO’s retired Director of Economic Development, a long-time advocate and force contributing greatly to driving growth throughout the region. Don currently serves as Director of Economic Development and Community Relations at Purdue Northwest.
“The utility service NIPSCO provides critically impacts the lives of so many in our communities,” said Rick Calinski, NIPSCO Director of Public Affairs and Economic Development. “Our communities are enriched by the work so many do to ensure continued growth, vitality and success across northern Indiana. We’re so pleased to have this opportunity to recognize the efforts of organizations and leaders who make the communities we serve a better place to live and work.”
On behalf of each award recipient, NIPSCO made a $1,000 contribution to each award winner’s charity of choice.
“We are ecstatic for our city to be honored with such an incredible distinction," said City of La Porte Mayor, Tom Dermody. "Not only is this a testament to the work of our entire city team, but also to the flourishing sense of pride and community that our residents have displayed over the last several years. This is their award, and we truly are blessed to serve such an amazing community. We are grateful to NIPSCO for this recognition, and will continue this momentum as we become a community to be reckoned with – both in the Region and across the state.”
For more information on other ways NIPSCO serves its communities, visit NIPSCO.com/GivingBack.
