Trooper retires after 38 years
Master Trooper Russell T. Hayes has retired from the Indiana State Police after more than 38 years.
A Gary native, Hayes is a graduate of West Side High School, according to a release. After high school, he became an EMT and spent four years with the Gary Fire Department before being selected to attend the 45th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy, graduating in December 1987.
He was assigned to the Lowell District and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2009. With the ISP, Hayes has served as a Field Training Officer, background investigator, recruiting liaison to the ISP Recruiting Division, member of the Honor Guard, and member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon. He also spent nine years as a gaming investigator assigned to the Indiana Gaming Commission, the release said.
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West Side liaison named wins leadership award
The Gary Community School Corp. recently recognized Jessica Fullilove, Family and Community Engagement Liaison at West Side Leadership Academy, as the recipient of the 2026 FACE Impact Leader Award for her dedication to strengthening relationships between families, schools and community partners.
The award is funded through the district’s partnership with IN*SOURCE was created to recognize the work of FACE liaisons, who serve as the direct connection between the Gary schools and families, a release said. Fullilove will receive an all-expense-paid trip to attend the National Assembly for Family Engagement in Education in San Diego.
PNW earns national research university designation
Purdue University Northwest researchers have earned more than $70 million in research and development funds since 2021, an achievement that has helped the university earn the Research Colleges and Universities designation from the American Council for Education and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
PNW is the only university or college located in Northwest Indiana to earn this designation, a release said. ACE and the Carnegie Foundation’s Research and Colleges University designation was introduced in 2025 to recognize higher education institutions that do not primarily grant research doctoral degrees and have notable research expenditures annually totaling $2.5 million or greater.
To learn more about PNW’s research outcomes, opportunities and partnerships, visit pnw.edu/research.
Food Service Director named food pathway fellow
Portage Township Schools Food Service Director Dawn Kelley has been selected as a 2026 Healthy School Food Pathway Fellow through the Chef Ann Foundation.
Kelley is one of just 23 school food professionals nationwide chosen for the program, now in its fourth year, according to a release. The Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship is designed to empower experienced school nutrition leaders to create healthier, more sustainable K-12 meal programs centered around scratch cooking and equitable food access. Under Kelly’s leadership, the district has expanded access to fresh fruits and vegetables, increased scratch-made offerings, and successfully implemented a Free Meals for All program to ensure every student has access to nutritious meals each day, a release said.
This year’s Fellowship cohort represents school districts across 10 states, collectively supporting nearly 1,000 schools and more than 567,000 students.
PNW prof named U.S. Fulbright Specialist
Purdue University Northwest faculty member and Spanish professor José Castro-Urioste has been named a U.S. Fulbright Specialist. The appointment recognizes academic excellence and fosters international collaboration through short-term exchange programs, a release said.
A scholar of Latin American literature and an accomplished playwright, Castro-Urisote is currently reviewing potential opportunities that align his academic interests with the goals of host institutions.
The U.S. Fulbright Specialist Program is a three-year appointment consisting of project-based exchanges that typically last between two and six weeks. During his time in the program, Castro-Urioste will have the opportunity to complete multiple assignments worldwide, the release said.
Franciscan starting caregiver speaker series
Franciscan Health is starting a free speaker series to assist with the challenges associated with caring for an aging parent, spouse or loved one.
The series of supportive conversations is designed to provide caregivers with the information they need to enhance their loved one’s quality of life while managing the emotions that can accompany the
role, a release said.
All sessions in the new speaker series will take place from 3-5 p.m. beginning May 14 at Franciscan Senior Health & Wellness, 2150 Gettler St., Suite 305, Dyer. The May 14 session will focus on aging at home instead of a nursing home.
The second session is scheduled for Aug. 20 and will focus on helping and navigating a cancer diagnosis as a caregiver and learning about Medicare enrollment options, while the Oct. 8 session will cover advanced planning, including discussions on elder law, long-term care, hospice, and advanced-care directives. All sessions are free, but registration is required. To register, call 219-864-2630.