The Mayor’s Youth Council has named Evan and Ryan Quackenbush as Valparaiso’s Rising Stars. The inaugural Rising Star recognition celebrates the abundance of responsible, intelligent and hardworking youth that contribute to the success of Valparaiso every day. “It’s so gratifying to have our youth council elevating the qualities of benevolence, leadership and perseverance that the Rising Star recognizes,” said Mayor Jon Costas. “We congratulate Evan and Ryan Quackenbush and applaud their community-minded work.”
Evan and Ryan are both freshmen – Evan at Valparaiso High School and Ryan at Culver Military Academy. The twins were very engaged in raising funds for Flounder & Friends, Valparaiso’s new skatepark. They met with a development professional, made face-to-face presentations and secured a funding match to make the park a reality. They also utilized their musical skills and played mini concerts at Valpo Velvet Ice Cream almost every week of the summer, raising more than $5,000 for the project.
The Rising Star Recognition program was created by the Valparaiso Mayor’s Youth Council in 2024. The program was created by youth to recognize outstanding youth leadership and involvement. To learn more about the program visit the Community Engagement page at www.valpo.us.
Photo caption: Ryan Quackenbush (left) and Ryan Quackenbush of Valparaiso were recognized with the Rising Star award at a recent City Council meeting for their contributions to the community, particularly in support of the Flounder & Friends Skatepark. Presented by the Mayor’s Youth Council, the Rising Star Award was introduced in 2024 to celebrate the abundance of responsible, intelligent and hardworking youth that contribute to the success of Valparaiso every day.