Andrade presents Circle of Corydon award to 11 community leaders
On Aug. 11, Northwest Indiana was hit by a record-breaking storm that left thousands of people displaced or without power. In recognition of their work during the disaster relief efforts in Munster, Griffith and Highland, State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster) will present the Circle of Corydon Award to 11 upstanding members of the community.
The Circle of Corydon Award was established by the governor in 2017 to recognize Hoosiers who have made remarkable contributions to the betterment of Indiana and its people, demonstrating through their lives and service the qualities exemplified by the state’s greatest citizens. It is one of the highest honors the State of Indiana awards to its citizens. It is the only award issued and signed jointly by members of both the executive and legislative branches.
The recipients of the award, along with the locations and dates of the presentations, are listed below:
Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
Munster Town Council Meeting
Stephen Scheckel – Munster Police Chief
Mark Hajduk – Munster Fire Chief
Davis Strbjak – Munster Deputy Fire Chief
Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m.
Highland Town Council Meeting
Glenn Schlesser – Highland Fire Chief
George Georgeff – Highland Town Council President
Oct. 6 at 7:00 p.m.
Griffith Town Council Meeting
Al Tharp – Griffith Police Chief
Roy Schoon – Griffith Fire Chief
Oct. 6 at 8:30 a.m.
Legacy Foundation Board Meeting
Kelly Anoe – President and CEO of the Legacy Foundation
Community Members Being Honored Privately
Kevin Raczkowski – Small Business Owner
Bob Collins – Community Member
Paul Goddard – Community Member
Rep. Andrade released the following statement:
"Last month, our community was rocked by a derecho and tornado that left many people without basic necessities. The courage, resiliency and patience shown by our community in the wake of this disaster were truly inspiring. I am so proud of and thankful for how everyone responded. All of the first responders, linemen and public works employees deserve a huge thank you for their hard work. I am also extremely thankful for the workers who traveled hundreds of miles to assist our community in our time of need. Our disaster response could not have been successful if it wasn’t for these dedicated men and women. They worked tirelessly to get our power restored and our streets cleared of debris.
"I am honored to present the Circle of Corydon to 11 people in our community who truly went above and beyond. Their partnership was absolutely critical to our recovery mission. I appreciate the governor agreeing to honor their efforts.
"To the recipients: You were there day after day as we worked to help our district and our neighbors begin to recover. These acts of kindness are what make a community strong. They remind us that when times are difficult, we don’t have to face things alone. We have neighbors who will show up, roll up their sleeves and stand beside us when we need them most."