Terre Haute North announces Polaris 2023-24 award recipients
Dec. 13—Terre Haute North Vigo High School has announced the 2023-2024 recipients of the Polaris Awards for Patriots of Purpose.
Established in 2011, in honor of Carl S. Riddle, first principal of THN, the Polaris Awards are bestowed annually to three alumni or former staff who have brought distinction to North through significant personal, professional and civic achievements.
This year's recipients are Timothy Nation, AJ Patton, and Dennis Grayless. They will be recognized at the Polaris Awards Recognition Ceremony during halftime of a sporting event on Jan. 20, 2024.
Timothy Nation, 1984
Nation is the co-founder and executive director of the Peace Learning Center, the focus of which is to reduce violence and increase kindness in the Indianapolis community.
The Peace Learning Center has grown to a community educational institution promoting peace-building and conflict resolution with programs replicated in 8 U.S. cities and five countries. Nation's executive leadership has created an organization that provides training to public schools, community organizations, and businesses in equity, social-emotional learning, and restorative justice education.
The Peace Learning Center conducts workshops in high schools, juvenile correction facilities, and prisons, and provides anti-racism education serving more than 10,000 people a year.
Nation was named Sagamore of the Wabash Valley by Gov. Eric Holcomb and Distinguished Hoosier by Gov. Frank O'Bannon. He serves as an executive committee member of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, co-chair of the Indianapolis Race and Cultural Relations Leadership Network, board chair of Purdue Extension Marion County, a member of the Indianapolis Rotary Club, and serves on the Sisters of Providence Mission Board.
He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Meg Littlejohn Nation.
AJ Patton, 2004
Patton was elected governor at Hoosier Boys State, student council president in high school, and student government president at Indiana State University, where he graduated with a degree in finance.
His leadership skills ultimately led him to his current position as CEO and executive director of 548 Enterprise in Chicago, a company he founded that works to develop solutions for the housing, environmental, and economic issues facing inner cities.
Patton continues to lead his company and works to bring sustainable technologies and housing to the inner city of Chicago. He has been named Midwest Energy "40 under 40," is an American Council on Renewable Energy- Accelerate member, serves as the Chicago Business Leadership Council Banking and Finance Co-chair, World Leaders Forum Board Member, Lowe's Green Community Partner, Chicago INVEST South/West Winner, and Chicago Community Trust Grant recipient.
He resides in Chicago, where he is an avid sports fan, golfer, workout enthusiast, and father.
Dennis Grayless, 1981
Grayless enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in the fall of 1981 at 17 years old. He has earned 14 decorations, has served the country during The Persian Gulf War on both domestic and foreign soil.
He graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree from Campbell University, has trained and developed new recruits, and has been positively impacting high school students in areas of leadership, scholarship, physical fitness, and life skills through instructing and coaching since 2005.
Grayless currently serves as instructor of Naval Science and head of the JROTC program at Shawnee Mission North High School in Overland Park, Kansas, where his cadets have excelled and earned multiple accolades including a total of 40 Navy national titles. Notably, his cadets became the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps overall National Academic, Athletic and Drill champions in 2016, making them No. 1 of 625 schools.
He lives in Overland Park with his wife.
