PNW Innovators Draw Attention with Summit and Upcoming Health Initiatives

Inaugural SPARK Summit Held at Purdue University Northwest

The Society of Innovators at Purdue University Northwest hosted the first SPARK Summit, welcoming 150 high school students from six Northwest Indiana schools. Held at PNW’s Westville campus, the event aimed to foster creativity, innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurial thinking.

The summit offered keynote presentations, interactive workshops, and conversations centered on problem-solving, confidence, collaboration, and future-ready skills. Nationally recognized speakers such as INDYCAR driver Charlie Kimball and branding strategist Olivia West guided sessions on overcoming obstacles, building personal brands, creative collaboration, and developing an innovative mindset.

Guest speakers also included Matthew Jones, Faith N. Spencer, Emmani Ellis, and Jason Williams.

For more information, visit pnw.edu/soi.

NWIBRT Announces 2026 Leadership

The Northwest Indiana Business RoundTable (NWIBRT) has shared its 2026 Executive Committee appointments. The committee represents varied industries committed to enhancing safety, workforce development, and operational excellence in the area’s construction and industrial sectors.

• Chair: Robert Joseph, ArcelorMittal USA Research
• Vice Chair: Jacob Lenson, Purdue University Northwest
• Treasurer: Adam Fauth, NIPSCO
• Secretary: Dewey Pearman, Construction Advancement Foundation
• Executive Director: Andrea Pearman

The Board of Directors includes representatives from various organizations such as Steel Cities Steels, Franciscan Health, and Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., among others.

HealthLinc Expands with New Newton County Office

HealthLinc will celebrate the opening of its Newton County office on June 5. The event, open to the public, will feature no-cost health screenings, opportunities to meet care providers, giveaways, free food, and family-friendly activities.

Located at 102 E. State St., Morocco, HealthLinc Newton improves access to affordable health care services in the area. As a federally qualified health center, they offer care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

Contact Jodie Wexelberg at [email protected] for more details.

Suicide Prevention Courses Announced

Franciscan Health will collaborate with Sounds of Sarah and the Lake County Health Department to offer free suicide prevention courses this summer. The courses, built on the QPR Institute’s curriculum, aim to decrease suicidal behaviors through innovative and practical training.

Sessions are scheduled for June 17 and August 4, from 10 a.m. to noon at Sounds of Sarah, located at 2057 W. Glen Park Ave. in Griffith. Registration is necessary, and participants can sign up at fran.care/qpr.

Annual PNW Big Sell Winners Recognized

Purdue University Northwest held the 2026 PNW Big Sell, honoring three entrepreneurs with seed funding during the annual pitch competition. Aimed at supporting emerging business ventures, finalists were selected from video submissions to present live pitches.

• First Place ($10,000): GlucoCare by Simrah Khan
• Second Place ($3,000): Low Angle by Kenneth Webster
• Third Place ($1,000): The ANT Tool by Aaron Farrer

Further information about PNW’s entrepreneurship opportunities is available at pnw.edu/entrepreneurship.

Community Baby Shower Event Planned

Franciscan Health is organizing a community baby shower for pregnant women, titled Tea and Tiny Kicks Community Baby Shower. The event will offer educational sessions, gifts, and resources aiming to promote a healthy pregnancy using the free Count the Kicks app.

The event will be at the Gary Public Library and Cultural Center, 220 W. 5th Ave. in Gary, on June 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Expectant mothers and a guest may attend for free with required registration. Sign up at registration link.