CHESTERTON | Duneland School Corporation hosted their annual Opening Day event for teachers and support staff at Chesterton High School Auditorium on Monday.

Teachers and support staff serving the Corporation for 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years were honored at the event.

Those receiving 20 year awards were: Diane Redlarczyk, assistant cashier at Chesterton Middle; Kay Sopata, secretary at Liberty Intermediate; Sandra Carney, teacher at Jackson Elementary; Barry Reed, teacher at Liberty Intermediate; Richard Piechnik, teacher at Liberty Intermediate; Keith Anderson, custodian at Liberty Intermediate; Mary Buckman, counselor at Yost Elementary; Helen Hogan, teacher at Yost Elementary; Debra Imhof, teacher atYost Elementary School; Pam Evans, bus aide; and Char Vawter, assistant to transportation director.

For 25 years: Pauline Gotch, secretary at IMC; Treva Puglisi, corporation secretary; Nancy Beavers, secretary at Jackson Elementary School; and Maureen Eckert, bus driver.

For 30 years: Maria Bachuchin, teacher at Bailly Elementary; Cindy Kelly, teacher at Bailly Elementary; Robert Ted Woolever, teacher at Chesterton High; Mara Becking, teacher at Chesterton Middle; Barbara Reed, teacher at Jackson Elementary; Henry Matthys, teacher at Liberty Intermediate; Bonnie Ricard, bus driver; Michele Stipanovich, WDSO instructional aide at Chesterton High; Madge Kollar, title I aide at Yost Elementary

For 35 years: Jane Pearson, teacher at Brummitt Elementary; Karen Leonard, secretary at Chesterton High; Donna Whitenack, teacher at Chesterton High; Dan Garwood, teacher at Chesterton Middle; Roger Sargent, teacher at Chesterton Middle School; James Ton, principal at Chesterton Middle; Tom Trzeciak, teacher at Chesterton Middle; Paul Wilson, teacher at Chesterton Middle; Elaine M. Shumway, teacher at Liberty Intermediate; Don Justak, teacher at Westchester Intermediate; Connie Hamilton, teacher at Yost Elementary School.

For 40 years: Larry Bol, teacher at Yost Elementary; Bonnie Gaston, Corp. treasurer and business manager; and Michael Grubb, principal of Bailly Elementary.

Also honored for her 20 and 25 year awards was Mary Jo Keck, teacher at Yost Elementary who was inadvertently omitted from the list in previous years. This year marks Keck's 26th year.

--For The Times