Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Cindy Peterson was honored Friday night with the Hoosier Hero award for service to the American Red Cross.
Peterson, a Wawasee High School teacher and American Red Cross volunteer, received the award in a surprise presentation before the varsity basketball game. She was selected from among more than 30 nominees across the state.
Sue Ganshorn was also honored, as aquatics person of the year for Kosciusko County.
The Hoosier Hero award, given for the first time this year, recognizes one person "that has contributed to the safety and well-being of their community by establishing training, providing training and/or making a significant contribution to the promotion of the Red Cross first aid/CPR and aquatics training."
Becky Notestine of the Kosciusko County Red Cross nominated Peterson because of her "29 years of service and the thousands of people she trained in swimming and CPR." She has logged more than 3,000 volunteer hours, Notestine said.
Before Notestine came to the Red Cross, she said, Peterson kept health and safety programs going. She also credits her with getting the programs into area schools so students could be certified as lifeguards. She also saw to it that elementary families had time in the high school pool for swim lessons, something many families can't afford, Notestine said.
"She's one of those that will do anything to help her students - she guides people to do things they're good at," said Heidi Murphy, a former student of Peterson's.
"She's easy to talk to, always willing to listen to any problems, be it at school or at home. I would trust her with anything."
Growing up as a laker, Peterson said, she spent lots of time in the water. She became a junior lifeguard at age 14 and completed lifeguard training at age 16. After completing her college education, she returned to Wawasee in 1970 to run the swimming program. She said she led the swimming program 14 years before she got burnt out, but she still trains the people who teach lifeguard training.
She said receiving the award is a special honor, and she commended Ganshorn for her 30 years as an instructor.
Peterson is the head of the Wawasee physical education department.
