“Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity.”– Lou Holtz
If this past year has taught us anything, it is that we are resilient and courageous and hopeFULL. We may have had to put life on hold for a minute, add extra safety measures to protect our friends and neighbors, be more mindful of our surroundings and life in general. But each day we learn just how strong we are, as individuals and as a community.
In 2020, the South Bend Alumni Association Board of Trustees made the difficult decision to postpone the South Bend Community Hall of Fame Dinner due to the ongoing global pandemic. The new class of inductees and honorees had been selected but their safety and that of all the attendees was of the utmost importance, so the gala was put on hold.
Fast forward to today, and we are excited because there are just six weeks until the 34th Annual South Bend Community Hall of Fame Dinner! It is being held on Tuesday, September 21st at the Century Center in South Bend. Invitations have gone out and planning is in its final stages. Registration is open. Tickets can be purchased by visiting https://bit.ly/SBAAHOF2021.
This year, seven individuals will be honored on Tuesday, September 21st at Century Center.
Hall of Fame Inductees:
Candace Butler
Candace Butler has endured herself over the years to the many patrons of Fine Arts within our community. As a veteran vocal music teacher within South Bend Community School Corporation, she has introduced her students to the arts at 14 different schools at all grade levels.
Leaving the classroom in 2004, Candace served as supervisor to the Clay High School Magnet Program and then became the Fine Arts Facilitator for the entire school district in 2010. Throughout her entire professional career, Candace has involved herself with local theatre. She helped establish the “Two Bit Theatre” and assisted and later directed numerous Summer Firefly presentations. In recent years, Candace Butler has served as board president of the Casaday Costume Company.
Dr. Gilberto Cardenas
Dr. Gilberto Cardenas is the former Executive Director of the Notre Dame Center for Arts & Culture and the founding director of the Institute of Latino Studies. As an Assistant Provost at Notre Dame, he held the Julian Samora Chair in Latino Studies. Dr. Cardenas is an internationally recognized scholar in Mexican immigration having been named by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Latinos in the United States. As a South Bend resident, he has served on numerous local boards including South Bend Heritage Foundation, The Art Museum, and The History Museum along with several national boards and being appointed by the President to the Commission on White House Fellows.
Dr. Marvin Curtis
Dr. Marvin Curtis, a Chicago native, recently retired as Dean of the Raclin School of Arts at Indiana University South Bend after 12 years. Under his direction, the school saw successful growth in areas of music, theater, dance, communications, and integrated new media studies. Dr. Curtis is the first African American composer commissioned to write a choral work for a Presidential Inauguration. His composition was performed in 1993 at the Inaugural Ceremonies for President William Jefferson Clinton. Currently in retirement, this former public school teacher, lecturer, and musician continues to serve on numerous local boards and is the Director of Music at St. Michaels & All Angels Episcopal Church in South Bend.
Christine Lauber
South Bend and the world of business are very fortunate to have a true community asset in Christine Lauber. Having a wide range of degrees from Indiana University South Bend and later Bethel College, starting in the 1970s, Christine rose within the financial world at various companies and positions until 1982 when she established her very own CPA firm. Besides being a successful business owner, Christine has served our community by her adjunct teaching at IUSB and as a volunteer on numerous boards focusing on both business and the arts.
Maureen McFadden
Maureen McFadden is a South Bend native and graduate of Saint Joe High School, who recently retired as a two-time Emmy award winning news anchor from WNDU-TV. She started in Radio news after graduating from Saint Mary’s College in 1979 and moved into TV reporting and weekend anchoring in 1981. Maureen has covered a wide variety of assignments and stories for NewsCenter 16, more than any other local television journalist. Besides tending to her daily broadcast duties, Maureen has over the years volunteered her time and talents to numerous local organizations and served on many non-for-profit community boards and committees.
Michael Sacchini
South Bend Central High School grad, state championship athlete in football and basketball, teacher, coach, and public school administrator can best describe Michael Sacchini’s 52 years education. Starting in 1962 as a first-year teacher and coach at Harrison Jr. High, Michael soon moved to Washington High School, Central High School, LaSalle High School and Penn High School, teaching, coaching football and wrestling, as well as serving as a high school assistant principal. During Michael’s professional career, he has received many deserving awards, including induction into both the Indiana Wrestling (2001) and Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame programs.
Lulu V. Cline – Historical Inductee
Living from 1892 to 1940, Lulu V. Cline was a native of Bremen, Indiana, and moved to South Bend in 1909 to enter the Epworth Hospital of Nursing and graduated in 1912. In 1918 Ms. Cline joined the South Bend School’s health division and in 1920 served as the supervisor of health education. In 1924, she was named Director of Health and Supervisor of Nurses. By 1934, Lulu also became head of physical education for our city schools and was most instrumental in raising the standards of physical training for all youth. Due to her professional efforts, skills and knowledge, a former school emphasizing assistance to children of special needs was named in her honor.
South Bend Alumni Association 2021 Honorees:
Aaron Perri – Ideal Baldoni Award
Aaron Perri is a John Adams High School and Notre Dame graduate who is currently the Executive Director of Venues Parks & Arts for the City of South Bend. Aaron began his career at the University of Notre Dame, serving as General Manager of Legends and then going on to become the Executive Director of Downtown South Bend, a nonprofit dedicated to economic development in downtown. Having served successfully as an advisor to Mayor Pete Buttigieg, he has often been described as someone who can both design, strategize and execute plans.
WNDU – Corporate Contributions to Education Award
For the past 25 years, WNDU-TV (This is Home) has not only been a major reliable daily source of community and national news, it has also yearly showcased its commitment to enhancing the total Michiana community. Programs initiated such as the Toys for Tots Campaign, Pack-A-Backpack, The Care Food Package Challenge and the Bus Stop Prevention of Tragedies Project have all served to aid our local citizens.
Cultivate Food Rescue – Distinguished Community Service Award
Cultivate Food Rescue has devoted its efforts to ending the cycle of hunger within communities of Northern Indiana. By utilizing its staff and numerous volunteers, Cultivate provides a food rescue service to hundreds in need. Partnering with local companies to acquire excess food that has not been distributed to the public, Cultivate processes the rescued food into frozen meals and finally distributes these meals to numerous schools and food pantries.
Alpha Kappa Alpha – Distinguished Achievement Award
The Eta Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in South Bend chartered in 1960 has continuously strived to contribute to the betterment of the Michiana community. The Chapter’s focus remains on the empowerment and upliftment of women and adolescent girls through education, financial literacy programming, health awareness and the promotion of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs.) With over five decades of commitment to Michiana, the Eta Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has contributed over $250,000 in local scholarships and charitable organizations.
Our community continues to overcome the challenges facing it by virtue of the great many leaders who call this community home. Many of whom are being honored at the 34th Annual South Bend Community Hall of Fame. These individuals and organizations strive to impact South Bend and Michiana through their service and contributions of expertise in fields such as business, education, philanthropy, law, fine arts, Latino studies, etc. It is a privilege to honor the 2020/2021 Inductees for their contributions and to join together once again as a resilient community; courageous and strong in the face of great challenge. We are truly stronger together, and these inductees and honorees are a manifestation of our collective fortitude.
We hope to see you all on September 21st! Register today!
If you would like to make a contribution to support the continued work of The South Bend Alumni Association, please visit our website for more information: www.southbendalumni.com