INDIANAPOLIS – Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, Indiana Office of Tourism Development and Kosciusko County Nominating Committee announced the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay is now accepting torchbearer nominations from the public. Torchbearer nominations recognize Indiana residents who demonstrate public service, excellence in their profession or acts of heroism or volunteer service to their neighborhood, community, region or state. “Being selected as an Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay torchbearer is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Hoosiers,” Ellspermann said in the announcement. “We look forward to honoring Indiana’s history while also optimistically looking forward to the future during this momentous event for Indiana.” The nomination form is available at www.indiana2016.org/torchrelay/nomination-forms Paper applications can be returned to Kosciusko County Government Torch Relay, 100 W. Center St., Room 121, Warsaw, IN 46580. The nomination period ends Dec. 31. Once all nomination forms are collected, a nomination committee in each county will select torchbearers. “Hoosiers from all walks of life will be torchbearers during the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay,” said Noelle Szydlyk, state director of the relay. “This will be a unifying and inspirational event during our bicentennial year.” Developed by IOTD, the relay is patterned after the Olympic Torch Relay and is designed to connect Hoosiers across the state and nation with their home state during the bicentennial year, according to the announcement. The Torch is scheduled to enter Kosciusko County on Ind. 15 on Sept. 29, 2016. Further details will be provided as planning continues. Nominees must be a current or former resident of Indiana or be nominated in honor of a current or former resident. Hoosiers may be nominated posthumously and a substitute torchbearer can be submitted to carry the torch on behalf of the nominee. Nominees must be at least 10 years of age (torchbearers that are minors will need to meet other youth torchbearer requirements). A nominee must possess the physical adaptive ability to carry the torch a minimum of a quarter mile. Accommodations will be made for those torchbearers with disabilities. The complete list of torchbearer criteria may be found on the online nomination page. The Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay will start Sept. 9, 2016, in Corydon, Indiana’s first state capital, and culminate with a celebration Oct. 15, 2016, on the grounds of the statehouse in Indianapolis. The torch relay will touch each of Indiana’s 92 counties during the 2,300-mile journey across the state. Volunteer county coordinators are organizing torch relay activities in their own counties. Additional volunteers will be needed to assist with the preparation and execution of relay-related activities, the announcement states. Hoosiers interested in volunteering can sign up at the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay website.
