Cadets’ Work Recognized At Annual KLA Banquet

April 26, 2019 at 3:15 a.m.


Award winners at the 38th Kosciusko Leadership Academy Graduation Banquet Thursday were a project looking at the costs of an ice rink in Kosciusko County and one that would help sustain a free sport camp’s future through an additional aide.

The white paper project “Ice Ice Baby Revisited” won the 2019 Northenor Award, presented by KLA co-founder Jean Northenor. It included a prize of $1,356. Team members are Brandon Stewart, Matthew Graham, Matt Goebel and Scott Allison.

“This year’s winner is well-aligned with the key areas of our judging: countywide impact always ... the ability to get the project done is also important and the likelihood that it would be sustainable,” Northenor said when announcing the winner.

One issue facing the region is attracting and retaining enough talent, she said. Kosciusko County’s unemployment rate is 3%. Employers are struggling to find open jobs, let alone “have enough workplace to expand their business.

“Economic development people and those in government generally have started to recognize that a key to growing a population and your workforce is quality of place. ... We want them to come here. We want businesses to have just outstanding possibilities for employees. If they are already here, is this town attractive enough to keep them here? City government is working hard at that, but it takes a lot of work and a lot of money,” she said.

The topic of an ice rink has been the focus of previous KLA white paper projects, but there’s more work to do.

“Every step gets us closer to our community’s goal of adding an ice rink for winter recreation. This is the third year now that I’ve heard of the possibility of an ice rink,” Northenor said.

She then announced “Ice Ice Baby Revisited” won the award.

The primary question the project tried to answer was, “What does it take to run and maintain a rink?”

It was the project team members’ recommendation that an authentic ice rink, much like Headwaters Park ice rink in Fort Wayne, should be built in Kosciusko County. The synthetic rink options technology just isn’t there yet, they said.

The project estimates that the yearly expenses, including warming house, Zamboni maintenance, nonstaffing costs and staffing options would be $156,395. Revenue would be $46,049 in a season.

The Northenor Award is funded through an endowment fund at the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, according to Foundation CEO Suzie Light. Since 2002, KLA has given the award to white paper projects “identified as having the greatest potential to bring realized change to our community,” Light said. It was funded in 2002 through a gift from Matt Dalton, a KLA co-founder, in honor of Northenor. In 13 years, grants totaling $11,000 have been awarded, Light said.

The white paper project “Enhancing Agaitas’ Impact on Kosciusko County” won the 2019 Trustee Award, presented by Light and OrthoWorx Executive Director Brad Bishop. It includes a prize of $500. Team members are Brent Kindle, Daryl Shoemaker and Landon Roberts.

Agaitas was founded in 2012 by lifetime Kosciusko County resident Ryan Burgher. He and others involved with Agaitas had a desire to combine their passion to help children through athletics and their faith, according to the project’s executive summary. Agaitas has expanded over their first six years, growing from their initial soccer camp to an organization providing soccer, baseball and basketball camps impacting over 1,000 Kosciusko County youth.

In presenting the award, Bishop said, “One of the great things about our county is that there are so many nonprofit organizations that do really good work, many on a shoestring. There were several white papers that reflected those groups. These organizations are usually led or completely operated by a person who has a special person or a mission and a few volunteers that share that commitment. We think that is true of the youth organization Agaitas, and we would like to add a little more muscle to their efforts by supporting their desire to add an intern that can help with their programming.”

KLA moderator Dr. Allyn Decker said the group raised $5,000 this year to help fund the Agaitas internship program “over and above what this gift will give.”

More information about Agaitas can be found at www.agaitas.com.

Decker also presented the Hall of Fame award to John Elliott, who was unable to attend as he is in the Carolinas celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary. Elliott was a longtime board member of KLA.

Decker said Elliott “probably was our most engaged, and active and present trustee in that he was at every kickoff and he was at every Project Proud. And I think he made it to every banquet, except this one.”

Guest speaker for the dinner was Jane Wear, former president and CEO of Cardinal Services. She is retired, but spoke about leadership and her experience of moving up the corporate ladder.

2018 award winners gave an update on their projects.

Darren Bickel spoke about the Winona Lake Shoreline project, which won the 2018 Trustee Award. He noted that volunteer planting days are May 14-15 from 9 a.m. to noon and 3 to 7 p.m.

Phil Kuhn updated KLA on “Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate,” which was the 2018 Northenor Award winner.

Award winners at the 38th Kosciusko Leadership Academy Graduation Banquet Thursday were a project looking at the costs of an ice rink in Kosciusko County and one that would help sustain a free sport camp’s future through an additional aide.

The white paper project “Ice Ice Baby Revisited” won the 2019 Northenor Award, presented by KLA co-founder Jean Northenor. It included a prize of $1,356. Team members are Brandon Stewart, Matthew Graham, Matt Goebel and Scott Allison.

“This year’s winner is well-aligned with the key areas of our judging: countywide impact always ... the ability to get the project done is also important and the likelihood that it would be sustainable,” Northenor said when announcing the winner.

One issue facing the region is attracting and retaining enough talent, she said. Kosciusko County’s unemployment rate is 3%. Employers are struggling to find open jobs, let alone “have enough workplace to expand their business.

“Economic development people and those in government generally have started to recognize that a key to growing a population and your workforce is quality of place. ... We want them to come here. We want businesses to have just outstanding possibilities for employees. If they are already here, is this town attractive enough to keep them here? City government is working hard at that, but it takes a lot of work and a lot of money,” she said.

The topic of an ice rink has been the focus of previous KLA white paper projects, but there’s more work to do.

“Every step gets us closer to our community’s goal of adding an ice rink for winter recreation. This is the third year now that I’ve heard of the possibility of an ice rink,” Northenor said.

She then announced “Ice Ice Baby Revisited” won the award.

The primary question the project tried to answer was, “What does it take to run and maintain a rink?”

It was the project team members’ recommendation that an authentic ice rink, much like Headwaters Park ice rink in Fort Wayne, should be built in Kosciusko County. The synthetic rink options technology just isn’t there yet, they said.

The project estimates that the yearly expenses, including warming house, Zamboni maintenance, nonstaffing costs and staffing options would be $156,395. Revenue would be $46,049 in a season.

The Northenor Award is funded through an endowment fund at the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, according to Foundation CEO Suzie Light. Since 2002, KLA has given the award to white paper projects “identified as having the greatest potential to bring realized change to our community,” Light said. It was funded in 2002 through a gift from Matt Dalton, a KLA co-founder, in honor of Northenor. In 13 years, grants totaling $11,000 have been awarded, Light said.

The white paper project “Enhancing Agaitas’ Impact on Kosciusko County” won the 2019 Trustee Award, presented by Light and OrthoWorx Executive Director Brad Bishop. It includes a prize of $500. Team members are Brent Kindle, Daryl Shoemaker and Landon Roberts.

Agaitas was founded in 2012 by lifetime Kosciusko County resident Ryan Burgher. He and others involved with Agaitas had a desire to combine their passion to help children through athletics and their faith, according to the project’s executive summary. Agaitas has expanded over their first six years, growing from their initial soccer camp to an organization providing soccer, baseball and basketball camps impacting over 1,000 Kosciusko County youth.

In presenting the award, Bishop said, “One of the great things about our county is that there are so many nonprofit organizations that do really good work, many on a shoestring. There were several white papers that reflected those groups. These organizations are usually led or completely operated by a person who has a special person or a mission and a few volunteers that share that commitment. We think that is true of the youth organization Agaitas, and we would like to add a little more muscle to their efforts by supporting their desire to add an intern that can help with their programming.”

KLA moderator Dr. Allyn Decker said the group raised $5,000 this year to help fund the Agaitas internship program “over and above what this gift will give.”

More information about Agaitas can be found at www.agaitas.com.

Decker also presented the Hall of Fame award to John Elliott, who was unable to attend as he is in the Carolinas celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary. Elliott was a longtime board member of KLA.

Decker said Elliott “probably was our most engaged, and active and present trustee in that he was at every kickoff and he was at every Project Proud. And I think he made it to every banquet, except this one.”

Guest speaker for the dinner was Jane Wear, former president and CEO of Cardinal Services. She is retired, but spoke about leadership and her experience of moving up the corporate ladder.

2018 award winners gave an update on their projects.

Darren Bickel spoke about the Winona Lake Shoreline project, which won the 2018 Trustee Award. He noted that volunteer planting days are May 14-15 from 9 a.m. to noon and 3 to 7 p.m.

Phil Kuhn updated KLA on “Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate,” which was the 2018 Northenor Award winner.

Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


2024-25 Preview: Senior-Laden Lancers Leading The Way
The dust has settled on a magical season for Grace’s men’s basketball team.

Senior1Care Extends High-Quality Senior Care To Kosciusko County
Senior1Care, a leading home care agency in Indiana, announced its expansion into Kosciusko County, broadening access to its personalized senior care services in the region.

Winona Town Council Approves Town Manager Job Description
WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Town Council approved the job description for a new town manager and to advertise the position.

Etna Green Family Hosting German Exchange Student
ETNA GREEN – Irem Reichhardt is one of over 1,615 exchange students that have attended more than 288 public high schools in Indiana through Student Ambassador Exchange (SAE) over the past 10 years.

Beverly D. Van Westen
Beverly D. Van Westen, 73, Warsaw, died Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, at Warsaw Meadows Care Center.