Top KLA White Paper Focuses On Outdoor Activities
April 26, 2017 at 8:28 p.m.
By David [email protected]
For the second year in a row, the winning Kosciusko Leadership Academy Northenor Award went to a white paper project that focuses on outdoor activities.
The 2017 Northenor Award Tuesday night at the KLA graduation celebration went to the white paper “River Roots Canoes and Kayaks, Part II.”
Winning team members are Seth Bingham, the Rev. Michael D. Mueller, Tim Vosberg and Ryan Workman.
Starting with the work of a previous KLA white paper team, the group concentrated on the feasibility of forming a nonprofit organization for river tourism with continuing involvement of local groups and resources.
The 2016 award recipient was “Youth and the Outdoors United,” which looked at how to engage and instill a passion for outdoor recreation and conservation.
Judging the projects were Jean Northenor, KLA co-founder; Suzie Light, Kosciusko County Community Foundation; and Brad Bishop, OrthoWorx. The three criteria considered for the award included sustainability, countywide reach and doability, according to Moderator Allyn Decker.
“The Northenor Award annually grants a $1,000 grant to the white paper team that they believe is the most worthy and has the greatest potential for really actualizing its project. That $1,000 comes from an endowed fund, held by the County Foundation, and it was originally put in place by (KLA co-founder Matt) Dalton,” Decker explained.
He encouraged people to make donations to that award fund. “We believe that this money is part of the reason why our projects have become so successful. With a little bit of kickstart, great things can happen,” Decker said.
Northenor said KLA is in its 36th year, and it was founded by her, Dalton and Doug Grant. She thanked the other two judges who help her with the white paper projects, saying they would give the money to everyone if it was possible.
“The projects this year address a number of important issues in our area, and were well researched and presented, so we consider all the teams winners and urge the cadets to continue providing community leadership for their topic. They were all very important. And I hope you all will follow through with (your projects). But even if all the teams are winners, only one receives the Northenor Award,” she said.
It was a tough decision, but she said she likes to see when a team builds on the work done by candidates in previous years. “That practice has produced great results for our county, and we expect this year’s awarding to do that, too,” she said.
She then announced the Northenor Award for 2017 went to the River Roots project “for the education, wellness, recreation and conservation through a canoe and kayak service on the Tippecanoe River.”
On how the project would have a countywide impact, she said, “I ask you, ‘Is there a county with greater natural resources than ours?’ We, of course, are famous for our lakes, but this project promises to take advantage of an asset that was almost ignored – the Tippecanoe River. The river runs across the entire county and more than 30 miles has recently been cleared through (Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams Director Dr.) Nate Bosch and some of his helpers, opening a way for canoeing and kayaking.”
Northenor said the time is right for the project. She said its opportunity to partner with conservation organizations like the Lilly Center gives it a chance to thrive well into the future.
“We believe the team did a good job of researching of how best the project might be accomplished and laid out a detail plan for its operation. We realize the devil will be in the details, but we are confident the team is well on its way,” she said.
The team then was presented a check for their project.
Two members of the 2016 winning white paper project, Ryan Christner and Bryce Glock, then gave an update on how their project is coming along. The other two members, Erich Hollis and Chris Koldyke, were unable to attend.
Christner said there are a lot of good outdoor organizations in the county that host youth events that teach kids how to fish, hike, etc., but there is a disconnect and a lot of the same kids are only going to one event because they don’t know about the other opportunities. At the same time, parents don’t always know where to go to get their children involved in an outdoor activity they want to be a part of, he said. Youth and the Outdoors United (YOU) “exists for the benefit of youth in our community to engage and instill a passion for outdoor recreation.”
Glock said some of the organizations YOU has already partnered with include Wawasee Ducks Unlimited, Michiana Delta Waterfowl, Pheasants Forever, Mollenhour Conservation Camp, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams and others.
Christner said YOU spent its first year working on details for starting a non-profit organization and establishing 1-2, 2-3 and 5-10-year plans. It’s filed for its limited liability corporation and non-profit status.
Earlier in the meeting, KLA Advisor Nate Conley announced the 2017 Hall of Fame inductees. Two years ago, KLA started a Hall of Fame, with the first recipient being one of the organization’s first cadets, retired judge Duane Huffer. Last year Light and Bishop received it. This year, the inductees were Dr. Steve Grill and Becky Anglin.
Guest speaker at Tuesday’s graduation was Nick Deeter, founder, chairman of the board and CEO of Wishbone Medical Inc. He spoke about his life and career in orthopedics along with leadership, management and being innovative.
As an end to the graduation celebration, KLA had its formal business meeting. The 2017-18 executive committee will be Jeff Fawcett, president; Tom Till, vice president; Alice Hitchcock, secretary/treasurer; Cameron Plew, selection; Jason Zaugg, public communication; Kristi Parker, curriculum; Shelly Fraley, events coordinator; Decker, moderator; and Conley, KLA advisor.
For the second year in a row, the winning Kosciusko Leadership Academy Northenor Award went to a white paper project that focuses on outdoor activities.
The 2017 Northenor Award Tuesday night at the KLA graduation celebration went to the white paper “River Roots Canoes and Kayaks, Part II.”
Winning team members are Seth Bingham, the Rev. Michael D. Mueller, Tim Vosberg and Ryan Workman.
Starting with the work of a previous KLA white paper team, the group concentrated on the feasibility of forming a nonprofit organization for river tourism with continuing involvement of local groups and resources.
The 2016 award recipient was “Youth and the Outdoors United,” which looked at how to engage and instill a passion for outdoor recreation and conservation.
Judging the projects were Jean Northenor, KLA co-founder; Suzie Light, Kosciusko County Community Foundation; and Brad Bishop, OrthoWorx. The three criteria considered for the award included sustainability, countywide reach and doability, according to Moderator Allyn Decker.
“The Northenor Award annually grants a $1,000 grant to the white paper team that they believe is the most worthy and has the greatest potential for really actualizing its project. That $1,000 comes from an endowed fund, held by the County Foundation, and it was originally put in place by (KLA co-founder Matt) Dalton,” Decker explained.
He encouraged people to make donations to that award fund. “We believe that this money is part of the reason why our projects have become so successful. With a little bit of kickstart, great things can happen,” Decker said.
Northenor said KLA is in its 36th year, and it was founded by her, Dalton and Doug Grant. She thanked the other two judges who help her with the white paper projects, saying they would give the money to everyone if it was possible.
“The projects this year address a number of important issues in our area, and were well researched and presented, so we consider all the teams winners and urge the cadets to continue providing community leadership for their topic. They were all very important. And I hope you all will follow through with (your projects). But even if all the teams are winners, only one receives the Northenor Award,” she said.
It was a tough decision, but she said she likes to see when a team builds on the work done by candidates in previous years. “That practice has produced great results for our county, and we expect this year’s awarding to do that, too,” she said.
She then announced the Northenor Award for 2017 went to the River Roots project “for the education, wellness, recreation and conservation through a canoe and kayak service on the Tippecanoe River.”
On how the project would have a countywide impact, she said, “I ask you, ‘Is there a county with greater natural resources than ours?’ We, of course, are famous for our lakes, but this project promises to take advantage of an asset that was almost ignored – the Tippecanoe River. The river runs across the entire county and more than 30 miles has recently been cleared through (Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams Director Dr.) Nate Bosch and some of his helpers, opening a way for canoeing and kayaking.”
Northenor said the time is right for the project. She said its opportunity to partner with conservation organizations like the Lilly Center gives it a chance to thrive well into the future.
“We believe the team did a good job of researching of how best the project might be accomplished and laid out a detail plan for its operation. We realize the devil will be in the details, but we are confident the team is well on its way,” she said.
The team then was presented a check for their project.
Two members of the 2016 winning white paper project, Ryan Christner and Bryce Glock, then gave an update on how their project is coming along. The other two members, Erich Hollis and Chris Koldyke, were unable to attend.
Christner said there are a lot of good outdoor organizations in the county that host youth events that teach kids how to fish, hike, etc., but there is a disconnect and a lot of the same kids are only going to one event because they don’t know about the other opportunities. At the same time, parents don’t always know where to go to get their children involved in an outdoor activity they want to be a part of, he said. Youth and the Outdoors United (YOU) “exists for the benefit of youth in our community to engage and instill a passion for outdoor recreation.”
Glock said some of the organizations YOU has already partnered with include Wawasee Ducks Unlimited, Michiana Delta Waterfowl, Pheasants Forever, Mollenhour Conservation Camp, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams and others.
Christner said YOU spent its first year working on details for starting a non-profit organization and establishing 1-2, 2-3 and 5-10-year plans. It’s filed for its limited liability corporation and non-profit status.
Earlier in the meeting, KLA Advisor Nate Conley announced the 2017 Hall of Fame inductees. Two years ago, KLA started a Hall of Fame, with the first recipient being one of the organization’s first cadets, retired judge Duane Huffer. Last year Light and Bishop received it. This year, the inductees were Dr. Steve Grill and Becky Anglin.
Guest speaker at Tuesday’s graduation was Nick Deeter, founder, chairman of the board and CEO of Wishbone Medical Inc. He spoke about his life and career in orthopedics along with leadership, management and being innovative.
As an end to the graduation celebration, KLA had its formal business meeting. The 2017-18 executive committee will be Jeff Fawcett, president; Tom Till, vice president; Alice Hitchcock, secretary/treasurer; Cameron Plew, selection; Jason Zaugg, public communication; Kristi Parker, curriculum; Shelly Fraley, events coordinator; Decker, moderator; and Conley, KLA advisor.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092