Serving their community
Thumbs up to the students at St. Ambrose Catholic School in Seymour for recently completing several projects on a community service day. Students of the Seymour school, which has a tradition of serving the community, helped out that day by singing to residents at Lutheran Community Home; cleaning at Girls of Jackson County; volunteering at Anchor House Family Assistance Center and Pantry; and organizing items at the Jackson County Clothing Center. Some also delivered aluminum can tabs to the Ronald McDonald House in Indianapolis.
Top coach
Thumbs up to Seymour High School boys basketball head coach Kirk Manns, who recently was named one of six Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Coaches of the Year as voted upon by their peers. Manns won the District 3 Coach of the Year award after leading the Owls to a 15-7 season that included a runner-up finish in the Hoosier Hills Conference. It was the Owls’ first winning season in 15 years.
Feeding a need
Thumbs up to the congregation of Brownstown Christian Church and other volunteer who recently packed 12,000 meals for Ukrainian refugees.
Furthering a mission
Thumbs up to those recognized during The Arc of Jackson County’s open house March 31 at the nonprofit organization’s new office in Seymour. The list includes Blake Hackman, who won the Teacher of the Year Award; Lisa Whitson, who received the Anne Baxter Award for Service; Kristye Lewis, who was honored with the Community Service Award; and Cracker Barrel, which received the Employer of the Year Award. Hackman is a teacher at Brownstown Central High School, Whitson is a direct support provider for Help at Home, Lewis and her family operate Little King Ranch Miniature Therapy Horses and Cracker Barrel hires people with disabilities and provides them meaningful employment opportunities.
Sharing a passion
Thumbs up to Brownstown Central High School graduate Katie Rohlfing for advancing to the national Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival that will run virtually from April 10 to 23. The 21-year-old University of Indianapolis student won the allied design category of the Region III competition to advance to the national competition and also was the winner of the Don Childs’ Award for Cross Discipline Collaboration from the Spacecraft Institute of Las Vegas.
Building a legacy
Thumbs up to former Crothersville resident Bob Malcomb, who recently was named an outstanding graduate in agricultural and biological engineering by Purdue University. The resident of the Hardy Lake area, who will receive the award April 21, was recognized for traveling to foreign countries to design and build pole barn hospitals, churches and orphanages. During a dozen visits to Ukraine prior to the Russian invasion Feb. 24, Malcomb, who is a member of the Purdue Club of Jackson County, spent many hours helping build 29 pole barn structures during a dozen or so visits over the years to the now war-torn country.