Jean, Ryan Hou presented Community Service Award
Edna Folger Award to journalism teacher Green
BY BORIS LADWIG bladwig@therepublic.com
Jean and Ryan Hou received the Community Service Award Wednesday for their dedication to the city’s businesses, organizations and events, ranging from Cummins Inc. to kidscommons and Ethnic Expo. The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce also recognized local businessman Tony Moravec for the resurrection of historic downtown ice cream parlor Zaharakos. The Edna Folger Award, which recognizes excellence in teaching, went to Kim Green, journalism teacher at Columbus North High School. Jean Hou, who works for Cummins, said she was grateful for her blessed life in Columbus. She said she was born in Taipei, Taiwan, but that the biggest events in her life have happened in Colum-
bus: She married Ryan Hou in the Bartholomew County Courthouse, and her children were born at Columbus Regional Hospital. She said she and her husband consider Columbus their hometown. Ryan Hou, chief executive officer of LHP Software, said, in jest, “I want to declare the recession is over.” He also said LHP is looking for 70 experienced engineers, including about 45 for full-time positions in Columbus. The jobs would pay about $60,000 a year. He said LHP already has hired eight employees this month. Moravec, who, like the Hous and Green received a standing ovation from the crowd at the Holiday Inn, thanked the city and chamber for their support during his two-year, multi-million dollar restoration of Zaharakos. The shop, at 329 Washington St., was a mainstay in Columbus since opening in 1900. It closed in 2006 because of economic conditions and the declining health of owner Lew Zaharako, who died that year. Moravec, who owns local health care products companies Blairex Laboratories and Applied Labs, reopened the soda shop in June. “I’ve had fun on this project,” Moravec said. Presenter Tom Vujovich, president of Columbus Redevelopment Commission, thanked Moravec for “sharing this national treasure with us.” He also said Zaharakos has become an integral part of downtown redevelopment. Marsha VanNahmen, of Center for Teaching and Learning, presented the teaching award with Lu Backensto, of Emcon Technologies. VanNahmen said that journalism teacher Kim Green’s peers, administrators and students praised her for creating an environment that allows students to assume responsibility, for conducting her duties ethically and with dignity in the face of challenges and for ingraining in students a sense of justice. Green said, “This is a fabulous community that values education.” The Chamber also recognized Lynn Lucas, executive director of Columbus Area Visitors Center; and Chuck Wilt, director of Columbus Parks and Recreation Department, with the Community Project of the Year Award for their collaboration to bring to Columbus more sports tourism. The Chamber and Columbus Enterprise Development Corp., a local business incubator, also recognized three students who participated in the Maverick Challenge, a high school business planning competition. Ana Moreira won for infusing cooking with culture for a family-run Brazilian bakery, and Sydney Cox won for her idea of offering an online tutoring service. Ashley Whitehead was named runner-up for her business, Time Traveler’s Café. The winners received cash prizes of $6,500. Nearly 100 students and 35 business mentors participated.
