Rotarian Mary Vegh introduced Ethan Hunt from the new International Soccer Academy of America (ISAA) in Mishawaka. Ethan has a Master’s in Sport Management, Johan Cruyff Institute and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (did a traditional 2-year program in one year).He has a BA in Sport Management from Bethel University, Cum Laude, was named Bethel University Kinesiology Student of the Year 2017-18, and Bethel University Servant-Leader of the Year 2018-19. Ethan holds a United Soccer Coaches National Coaching Diploma. He spent 3 years as Bethel University’s Men’s Soccer Student Manager and two years coaching soccer at Marian High School, prior to founding ISAA in 2020 and to opening in the Fall of 2021.
Ethan stated that ISAA is a private high school directed toward soccer players, located at 205 W. Edison Road. Students attend both school and soccer in the same environment with the goal to elevate their game to attend college as a soccer player. Learning inside the classroom will include a mindfulness class based on curriculum developed by Bethel Professor Rachel Lindvall and Erin McLeod a world class goalie. The academy will have a 12:1 student to teacher ratio with added tutoring. Friday’s will be project day and without a lot of homework outside the classroom. Two teachers have been hired from Marian and one for Montessori. Classes will start at 9:30 with soccer play at 5:00. There will also be prep classes for ACT, SAT, and essay writing required.
It is a private school with no state funding and the tuition is based on 10% of a combined household salary. ISAA will not compete with local high schools, instead will play with regional and national clubs and in tournaments. For admission their soccer skills will be accessed by attending games they are playing in. There will be 5 teams with no more than 18 on a team that will play by skills not age.
As he has traveled around the world, Ethan stated it is the most popular sport worldwide that everyone can play, all it takes is a ball, 2 sticks, and a field. ISAA will take on England’s organizational structure and hopes to host students from around the world. He said you have to see our facility to believe it and invited everyone to take a tour. We have a league partner from a youth academy in Spain coming in next week.
Soccer training will start on July 26th and the first class will start on August 16th. There are 11 students from 14 to 18 years of age enrolled for this year, with the goal of 54. For questions about the Academy call 574.402.0100.
Rotarian Doug Elder introduced Anne Gooch and Nicole McKee. Founded by two best friends who share a love of food and fitness, The WHOLEsome Package is a meal prep company that makes “fast food for healthy people”. Our business model is different from any other and designed to make healthy and whole food just as available as the unhealthy fast food that is currently available today. Our passion for clean, nutritious, and delicious food is derived from life experiences that trust us into a world of realization that health is wealth. 
Our very own Amy Hill, new Transpo CEO, was introduced by Rotarian Jill Scicchitano and provided the program today. Telling us more about our local public transportation institution: Transpo. 124 employees (most of them union!), 29 fixed bus routes, and 17 paratransit vans, our local municipally owned transportation company has been serving our community for over 50 years.
Rotarian Beth North introduced our speakers, Rotarian TaKisha Jacobs and Loria Perez, who are community gun violence prevention advocates. Each is a mom; one with four boys, the other with three boys and two girls. These working moms have been spreading love and bringing awareness to our city’s gun violence. Together, they founded Connect 2 Be the Change. Each is the other’s other half. Bullets 4 Life Indiana counts them as its Director of Community Relations and its Lead Chief Ambassador. And they are founders and officers of J.U.M.P. [Jumping 4 Jesus].
Fellow Rotarian Heather Goralski introduced Henriette Nyirarukundo Ngenga who Is a survivor of horrific atrocities against the Tutsi in Rwanda which began in April 1994, but also a walking miracle and author of Carrying Divine. In May of 2011 she met Kristin Ponce Baker at Granger Community Church who has partnered to write and publish the book. 2014 marked the 20th anniversary of terror of the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda. One million lives were lost in 100 days. Henriette’s friends, family, neighbors- were slaughtered. Henriette’s story opens eyes to those of us who are blessed to live in this free land. Her deeply rooted joy, faith, and gratitude exude to anyone who takes the time to get to know her, and is a contagious gift to anyone who hears her story.
