On March 15, Porter County students envisioned their future at the Porter County Expo Center.

Since 1998, the Valpo Chamber has partnered with Porter County Middle Schools to provide over 1,000 8th grade students with an amazing educational experience called "Envision the Future."

In this simulation game, students project themselves to age 28, research and identify their career interests through their class curriculum, consider family size (marital status and number of children), and receive a mock checkbook with the monthly income entered for their specific career. 

Students visited stations, manned by business volunteers, at which they pay their monthly bills. At each station, students had to make decisions concerning the standard of living they will assume.

The program focuses on the monthly costs associated with rent/mortgage, utilities, taxes, insurance, childcare, and other living expenses such as food and clothing. The program also includes military information in the way of earnings and allowances if the student chooses the military as their future option. 

The program also includes unexpected events such as unemployment, medical bills, and divorce. Students who go through these unexpected events must also visit an assistance station to seek counseling for legal, financial, counseling, or employment education issues.

The 2011 Envision the Future is a Chamber Coalition project between the Valparaiso, Kouts, and Hebron Chambers. Special thanks to Presenting Sponsor: Porter Health System;
Contributing Sponsors: Centier Bank, Frontier Communications, Teachers Credit Union; and In-kind Donors: MacLennan & Bain Insurance, Porter County Fair & Expo Center, REGIONAL federal credit union, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the many volunteers for their support of the 2011 Envision the Future program.

INSIGHTS PROGRAM GUESTS ANNOUNCED 

Barb Young

Barb Young, president of the Porter County Community Foundation, will be the first of three regional leaders featured by the Valpo Chamber Insights: Candid Conversations with Successful Leaders Program in 2011. This Insights program is scheduled for Wednesday, June 1 at the Valparaiso Country Club. The program will begin at 4:30 p.m. and reservations will be accepted soon.

Young has excelled in three separate careers in Valparaiso as an attorney, developer, and foundation president. Young has also contributed numerous community and civic leadership posts during her career.

The Insights program invites Regional Community Leaders to share their personal stories in an informal setting giving them an opportunity to talk about their career paths and mentors who have helped shape their careers. 

Gus Olympidis, founder and CEO of Family Express Corporation, will be the second speaker in the Insight series in early fall.  Olympidis opened his first store in 1975 and has built a business model that has seen the growth of Family Express to 52 stores that employ 500 people.  Olympidis is not only recognized for his business success but also for his commitment to the community and quality of life.

The third Speaker in the Insights series will be Jonathan Nalli, president and CEO of Porter Health System, the largest employer in Valparaiso. Nalli joined Porter nearly four years ago when Community Health System purchased Porter Hospital.  Nalli will speak in the late fall.