The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority recently inducted Deniece Williams and Nick Popovich as South Shore Legends.

The South Shore Legends program recognizes individuals whose achievements embody the values of courage, exploration, creativity and innovation. Honorees are selected by a panel of judges representing colleges and universities throughout Northwest Indiana. Past inductees include Octave Chanute, Jean Shepherd, Orville Redenbacher, The Jackson 5 and Dean White.

Gary native Deniece Williams is an international recording artist. She is a four-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee. Williams rose from singing part-time while working as a nurse and telephone operator to performing with Stevie Wonder’s Wonderlove. Her career spans R&B, pop and gospel. Williams credits Gary for inspiring her early dreams.

Nick Popovich is a leader in aviation. He founded Gary-based Sage-Popovich in 1979, and built it into an aviation consulting and asset management firm. The company’s services include aircraft inspections, appraisals, repossessions and liquidation. Popovich’s accomplishments have earned him induction into the Living Legends of Aviation. He and his team received the Hero Flight Zero Award for their work with the Veterans Airlift Command.

This year’s ceremony also honored the 2025 Legends Scholar, Marisa Winslow of Indiana University Northwest. Winslow was selected for her outstanding academic achievement and commitment to community excellence.

The South Shore Legends induction ceremony took place Dec. 11, at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond.