Nelson-Deuitch named Humanitarian of the Year
Article originally published by The Michigan City News-Dispatch here. Photo by Kelley Smith
MICHIGAN CITY — Angie Nelson-Deuitch was named the Humanitarian of the Year at the Michigan City Human Rights Commission’s annual awards luncheon Friday.
An employee at NIPSCO since 2011, Nelson-Deuitch is currently a project manager for gas operations and responsible for pipeline compliance programs. She is the 2018 chair of the Energetic Women’s Conference in Orlando, Florida; and at work, she is involved with multiple employee resource groups.
But Nelson-Deuitch also is well-known throughout the Michigan City area for her service to the local community.
Some of her current roles are that of sponsor of the Student United Way at Michigan City High School, board of directors for the Unity Foundation of La Porte County, La Porte County Career and Tech Center Advisory Board, La Porte County United Way board president, Urban League of Northwest Indiana board chair and the Food Bank of Northern Indiana.
In the past, Nelson-Deuitch has served as an elected at-large member of the Michigan City Common Council, and as a board member at Dunebrook, CASA/Harmony House, the former Michigan City Economic Development Corporation, Michigan City Housing Authority, Hope Program and the NAACP.
She also has volunteered for the Boys and Girls Club of Michigan City and the former Minority Health Coalition.
Civic organizations to which Nelson-Deuitch belongs include The Links Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. and The Drifters Inc., the latter for which she is the president of the local chapter and the national parliamentarian for the national board of directors.
Last year, Nelson-Deuitch was named Volunteer of the Year by the United Way of La Porte County; and in 2016, she received the Community Service Award from Leadership La Porte County.
In 2014, Nelson-Deuitch was named Influential Women of Northwest Indiana’s Up and Coming Business Woman of the Year and won South Shore Leadership’s Leaders as Heroes Award. She also received the Lester Radtke Community Service Award in 2013.
After accepting her Humanitarian of the Year Award on Friday, Nelson-Deuitch quoted Philippians 2:3-4: “Let nothing be done with selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind that each esteem others better than self. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others.”
As she spoke, Nelson-Deuitch talked about the places from where she draws inspiration, but she barely discussed her own accomplishments or community involvement. Instead, she called out people in the room for their service to the community, having each stand for recognition and applause.
“This award is not only for me, but it’s for you, too. Because you guys make me better at doing the things that I do,” Nelson-Deuitch said.
Others recognized at Friday’s luncheon included Nadia Flores, who received the Judie Huber Scholarship; Kendyl Adney, who received the Hawkins-Williams Scholarship; and Matthew Jarrett and Michael McKervey, each of whom received the Unsung Hero Award.
