he Northwest Indiana Partners for Clean Air (PCA) honored high school senior scholarship recipients and regional air quality leaders at the organization’s annual scholarship and awards luncheon held at the Hammond Marina on Thursday.
"The Partners for Clean Air scholarship recipients represent some of the strongest applicants the scholarship program has received to date,” said Malorie Medellin, PCA coordinator and Senior Environmental Manager for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. “We are inspired by their accomplishments and their commitment to environmental stewardship. They are the next generation of environmental leaders."
The PCA received a record number of applications for its high school scholarship program with very competitive submissions. The PCA Scholarship Committee selected four scholarship winners, the most recipients of any year to date. Each winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship, totaling $10,000. Scholarship recipients represent all three Northwest Indiana counties eligible for the program: Lake, Porter and La Porte. Since 2020, Partners for Clean Air has awarded $42,500 to 17 local students to help support their post-secondary educational efforts. This year's scholarship winners are:
- Paige Hein, Washington Township High School. Paige plans to study environmental studies at the University of San Francisco.
- Brooke Lakin, Michigan City High School. Brooke plans to study wildlife at Purdue University.
- Cavin McNulty, Munster High School. Cavin plans to study environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- Kaitlin Shideler, Valparaiso High School. Kaitlin plans to study exercise science at Indiana University.
In addition to the scholarship winners, six recipients received awards for voluntary actions to improve air quality in 2024. The Partners for Clean Air Steering Committee selected winners from nominations submitted earlier this year:
K&C Trucking Co. received the Business Award for replacing a heavy-duty diesel truck with a clean diesel model and for its anti-idling policies. K&C Trucking Co., Inc. primarily operates short-haul combination routes for finished steel, iron ore and scrap metal between the Port of Indiana, Burns Harbor and Northwest Indiana steel mills.
Homewood Disposal Services and Metro Ports each received the Industrial Award. Homewood Disposal Services received the award for transitioning their truck fleet to compressed natural gas and replacing five 2009 diesel refuse trucks with 2025 low NOx certified trucks.
Homewood Disposal Services provides residential, commercial, industrial, special hauling, sweeping and recycling to thousands of residential and 12,500 commercial customers in 80 communities.
Metro Ports was awarded for replacing two pieces of bulk goods handling equipment with Tier 4 final engines and electric-powered equipment. Metro Ports is located in the Burns Harbor terminal and provides stevedoring operations for its customers with multiple transportation options to meet their logistical needs.
Porter County Parks & Recreation and La Porte County each received the Municipal Award. Porter County Parks & Recreation received the award for their reforestation, conservation and restoration efforts as well as their waste diversion, sustainability and anti-idling policies.
La Porte County was awarded for their "Go Green" campaign, purchasing four electric vehicles and installing a charging station for county departments.
Trailblazers Bike Barn of Hobart received the Mark Siminski Bicycle Award for their bike services, hosting informational seminars on bicycle safety and rules of the road and organizing group rides for the community.
Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Clint Woods provided an agency update during his keynote address.
"The achievements of Partners for Clean Air scholarship winners and award recipients demonstrate the positive impact community initiatives, proactive voluntary environmental progress and innovative business practices on the lives of Hoosiers. To our scholarship recipients: your passion bodes well for the future of environmental stewardship and we look forward to the wonderful things you will accomplish for Indiana’s air, land and water quality. On behalf of IDEM, I congratulate all of you for your vision, your hard work, and your dedication to making Indiana a better place to live, work, and do business."
The Partners for Clean Air Luncheon and Award Ceremony was sponsored by Partners for Clean Air Platinum Members (Drive Clean Indiana, GAF, Gary SouthShore RailCats, Adams Radio Group and British Petroleum); Gold Members (Northwestern Regional Planning Commission, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., Metro Recycling, NiSource, Cheneco and Porter County Parks & Recreation); Silver Members (Hammond Port Authority, Keramida, Inc. and Linde); and Bronze Members (Lochmueller Group, Inc., Porter County Health Department, Union Township Trustee's Office, and Dunes Learning Center).
Scholarship and Award Recipients:
Northwest Indiana Partners for Clean Air presented awards to air quality leaders at its annual luncheon at the Clipper Room Banquet Facility at the Hammond Marina. Pictured are (front row, from left) Brooke Lakin, Michigan City High School; Kaitlin Shideler, Valparaiso High School; Jake McEvoy, Porter County Parks & Recreation; Leanne Balkema, K&C Trucking Co., Inc.; Malorie Medellin, IDEM & PCA Coordinator. (Back row, from left) Scott Nelson, Cheneco & PCA Chairperson; Andrew Kenealy, Metro Ports; Peter Clevering, Homewood Disposal; Jeremy Sobecki, La Porte County; Bryan Waisanen, Porter County Parks & Recreation; Scott Balkema, K&C Trucking Co., Inc.; IDEM Commissioner Clint Woods.