Good Neighbor & Rising Star Recognition Programs

Good Neighbor Award Logo Text Only w_Box - Orange

Good Neighbor Award

The Good Neighbor Recognition program promotes neighborhood involvement and community service. The Good Neighbor Award is an annual recognition, highlighting a resident who has demonstrated exemplary commitment to their neighborhood and the greater Valparaiso community through volunteerism and service.  

Valparaiso is fortunate to have many residents that exemplify the qualities of a Good Neighbor - a person who is kind, helpful and dependable with no expectation of reward or recognition. Acts of kindness often allow others to see the goodness in humanity. The Good Neighbor Award seeks to draw attention and celebrate the Good Neighbors among us.

Examples of volunteerism and service are, but not limited to, organizing a neighborhood event or service project, raising funds or goods to support a local cause, lending a helping hand to a neighbor in need, establishing a new initiative to meet a community need or simply being a reliable advocate and friend.

Eligibility and criteria include: 

  • individual nominees must be Valparaiso residents and must have volunteered in the city within the past year; 
  • individuals and organizations may only contribute one nomination per year; 
  • individuals may not self-nominate for this award; 
  • nominees may not be compensated for the service described within the nominations; and
  • selection committee members and elected officials may not participate as nominators or nominees.  

Members of the community are invited to nominate individuals who demonstrate their volunteerism and commitment to the community by building a brighter future for Valparaiso. Nominees may represent all age groups, interest areas and walks of life. A committee of volunteers will select a recipient to be recognized by Mayor Costas at Valpo Parks' Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.

The 2025 nomination form is coming soon. Nominations are reviewed on an annual basis and remain valid for that year only. You may resubmit your nomination each year for consideration.

Good Neighbor selection committee members include Ellen DeMartinis, Lisa Franko, Kaye Frataccia-Seibert, Lenore Hoffman, Patrick Lyp and Rich Schmidt.

Good Neighbor Award History

View a list of all nominees for the Good Neighbor Award organized by year. 

Good Neighbor Award 2024 DSC_02042024 - Paul Sommer - Paul Sommer is a Valparaiso podiatrist who has lived in Valparaiso for more than 50 years. He has translated his talent for endurance sports into ways to raise funds for philanthropic causes. In 2011, he carried Kyle Polhemus through the Valpo triathlon to raise money for those with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy. Later he completed a long distance open water swim to raise funds for Kyle’s needs and to help begin the Kyle’s Legacy Foundation in Kyle’s name. He has carried children through triathlons, organized efforts for soldiers and families in Ukraine and, most recently, was the top fundraising swimmer in the inaugural two-mile Chicago River Swim to fund research for ALS. 

2023 - Kevin Cornett - Kevin Cornett has lived in Valparaiso for more than 25 years and raised Kevin Cornett Good Neighbor 2023two children in the community. He is a member of the Valpo Parks Board and a dedicated volunteer with Hilltop Neighborhood House, overseeing the building of the Children’s Community Garden, the Hilltop Playground, the Food Pantry and is currently managing the building of the new Soup Kitchen to open in 2024, among other projects. He serves on the board for the Porter County Building Trades Corporation, assisting with the planning and building of a community home to be completed in 2024. He also assists the community by helping his Northview neighbors with yard work and snow removal, and volunteering with Home Team Valpo which helps local residents to make their homes safer, more efficient and more accessible. Learn more.

2022 - Joe Baczynski - Joe Baczynski gives generously of his time and energy to support veterans, seniors,Joe Baczynski 22 children and the Valparaiso community. Joe Baczynski has been an active volunteer in Valparaiso since moving here in 1991. He is a former Marine who served in Vietnam who gives of his time to support veterans, children, seniors and the Valparaiso community in general. He is active in the veteran community, organizing fundraisers and events that support and honor their service. He is a longtime volunteer with the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival and organizes the annual Soapbox Derby. As a member of the Dunes Leathernecks, he organizes an annual golf outing that helps to fill six local food pantries and leads the Toys for Tots drive during the holidays, among other volunteer efforts. Learn more.

2021 - Susie Hord - Susie Hord has a heart for families, children, her College Hill neighborhood and the elderly. Susie Hord with Good Neighbor AwardShe quietly makes a difference for so many. Susie Hord has been serving the Valparaiso community since she arrived to attend Valparaiso University in 1972, and then chose to make Valparaiso her home. She served as director of the pre-school at Immanuel Lutheran for more than 25 years and recently helped the school to achieve well deserved accreditation. She is currently active with Immanuel’s comfort team, taking Caleb, the comfort dog, to visit local nursing homes and schools. Susie also volunteers with the College Hill Neighborhood Association, Valparaiso Family YMCA, Valpo Schools Backpacks and Snacks program, First Things First Porter County and Indiana Promise. Learn more.

Bob Westfall 20202020 - Bob Westfall - Bob Westfall is an excellent example of the giving and community-minded people who make a difference in Valparaiso.  Bob Westfall began volunteering at age seven when he joined the Cub Scouts on Chicago’s south side. He has been sharing his time and talents in Valparaiso since he and his wife, Pam, moved to the city in 1990. He has been active with Christmas in April, Rebuilding Together, both ValPlayso builds, Kiwanis and Hilltop House. Throughout the years, he has been instrumental in installing more than 50 wheelchair ramps throughout the community, allowing people to safely access their homes and add options for safe travel.  The Westfalls have raised two sons in Valparaiso, Thomas and Michael, before Westfall retired from NIPSCO.  Learn more.

Rising Star Award presented by the Mayor's Youth CouncilRisingStarGraphic

The Rising Star Recognition program celebrates the abundance of responsible, intelligent and hardworking youth that contribute to the success of Valparaiso every day. Volunteer work inside and outside of the classroom are valuable to this program, as well as empathy, charity and leadership. Nominations are open to the public, only excluding self-nominations. 

The Rising Star Recognition program has been established by the Valparaiso Mayor’s Youth Council.  The program was created by youth to recognize outstanding youth leadership and involvement. Representatives from the Mayor's Youth Council will select a recipient. 

Nominees must be 10-18 years old.  Nominees must reside in the Valparaiso area (not only Valparaiso Community Schools students, but private and homeschooling students as well). The review committee will be looking for students that exemplify the following values:

  • Benevolence (empathy, kindness, positive attitude): The nominee is known as a positive person.  They create happiness among peers, have a positive outlook on life, include everyone, are a good listener, and feel for others.  Examples of benevolence would include being a helping hand to anyone in need, including individuals they are not friends with at recess, or sitting with a new student at lunch.
  • Leadership: The nominee is a natural leader and takes charge in situations while remaining respectful.  They have problem-solving skills and are able to actively listen to those around them. 
  • Perseverance (determination and initiative):  In all aspects of life, the nominee completes what they start and they want to become more involved.  They are determined to reach their goals through hard work, and they display resilience and a strong work ethic.  Examples of perseverance would include asking to participate in volunteer activities and choosing to sign up for different clubs/activities to become more involved.

The 2025 Rising Star selection committee members include Bryston Pemberton, Camden Rasmussen, Grace Griffith, Jersey Hinten, Maddie Ehrhardt and Zoe Jackson.  Committee members are not eligible for the award.

Submit your nomination by November 9, 2025. 

Rising Star Award History

View a list of all 2024 Rising Star nominees.

Rising Stars Ryan and Evan Quackenbush2024 - Evan & Ryan Quackenbush - Evan and Ryan are both freshmen – Evan at Valparaiso High School and Ryan at Culver Military Academy. The twins were very engaged in raising funds for Flounder & Friends, Valparaiso’s new skatepark. They met with a development professional, made face-to-face presentations and secured a funding match to make the park a reality. They also utilized their musical skills and played mini concerts at Valpo Velvet Ice Cream almost every week of the summer, raising more than $5,000 for the project.  Learn more.