MCAS Receives NIPSCO "Luminary" Award
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) has announced the recipients of the company’s third annual Luminary Awards – 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. Recipients have demonstrated outstanding commitment in five key areas: Education, Environmental Stewardship, Economic Development, Emergency Response and Community Leadership. The 2014 recipients are:
- Education Award – Michigan City Area Schools
- Environmental Stewardship Award – South Shore Clean Cities
- Economic Development Award – John Davies, Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana
- Emergency Response Award – The City of Kokomo’s Emergency Response Team
- Community Leadership Award – Mayor Jon Costas, City of Valparaiso, Ind.
“We are proud to recognize these inspiring leaders and their contributions throughout our region and the state,” said NIPSCO CEO Jim Stanley. “This year’s recipients are a driving force behind the positive changes taking place each day, and we are fortunate to have them within our communities.”
Winners were announced in conjunction with a community reception held on September 25th.
Michigan City Area Schools was recognized for exceptional efforts in preparing students for future careers. The school corporation’s K-6 Lake Hills Elementary Magnet STEM School was selected as just one of 44 schools nationally to pilot the newest STEM curriculum, Project Lead the Way. MCAS has also maximized opportunities for vocational educational by partnering with organizations such as The Regional Council of Carpenters, the Economic Development Corporation of Michigan City and Ivy Tech to offer students a new Construction Technology program to prepare them for Apprenticeship positions.
NIPSCO also highlighted the creation of an Energy Academy, which is a joint venture with NIPSCO and the A. K. Smith Area Career Center to prepare students for high demand jobs in the electronics, energy and the utility industry – the only initiative of its kind in Indiana.