SYRACUSE - Chautauqua-Wawasee strives to be a beacon of tradition and community spirit, offering a unique blend of programs based on the four Chautauqua pillars.
This season was our most ambitious yet with more than 20 programs. In addition to a successful year of programs, we doubled our volunteer base which is critical for our organization.
Here is a recap of the year:
• Purdue Varsity Glee Club provided an energetic repertoire of music performing at the Wawasee High School.
• Our Earth Day program highlighted the monarch butterfly.
• Local celebrity Shanna Zolman Mahaley, Indiana’s 2002 Miss Basketball returned to overflowing audiences sharing her faith and life story.
• Wawasee Fine Arts Festival featured an increase in children’s participation for onsite art activities.
• Northern Indiana Plein Air Art Association conducted a successful “paint out” and workshop for beginners.
• Taps Across the Water at Dusk is our Memorial Day tribute was heard across Lakes Syracuse, Wawasee, Papakeechie and Webster.
• New this year was the Pawasee Dog Parade with many dressed-up owners and pets!
• Ben Franklin was this year’s Patriotic Speaker. Re-enactor Barry Stevens delighted the crowd with his multi-faceted Franklin impersonations.
• Our “Famous Hoosiers” program featured legendary basketball coach John Wooden. Dr. Richard Gunderman, author of Hoosier Beacons, provided an inspiring presentation of Wooden’s career and life lessons.
• The Survival of the Myaamia People program featured historian Dr. Cam Shriver who shared the fight of the Myaamia nation’s removal from their Indiana homelands.
• Our Digging Through History programs featured two previous year presenters: Trevor Tipton and Notre Dame Professor Dr. Mark Schurr.
• Old Fashioned Christmas continued to grow with more free fun and tradition as the annual kick-off to the Christmas Season.
Plans for 2025 are all set. It promises to be our best year yet! Follow us on Facebook or website www.CHQW.org to stay in touch.