Drew, professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA), 1998–2004; head coach for Vanderbilt University men's basketball team since 2016 Michael Essany, reality television talk show host and author Gina Fattore, producer and writer of Dawson's Creek, Gilmore Girls, Parenthood and showrunner of Dare Me Chris Funk, guitarist for The Decemberists Henry C. Gordon, astronaut Mark A. Heckler, 18th president of Valparaiso University Robbie Hummel, professional basketball player in the NBA since 2012 Samuel Austin Kendall, politician Mike Kellogg, retired Moody Radio announcer Hub Knolls, former pitcher in Major League Baseball Heather Kuzmich, 4th runner-up of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 9 Earl F. Landgrebe, politician, staunch defender of Richard Nixon Charles F. Lembke, architect and contractor. He built many downtown area buildings, such as the Memorial Opera House, Carnegie public Library, Hotel Lembke, and several local schools. . David E. Lilienthal, politician Orville Redenbacher, hybrid popcorn developer Sean Manaea, professional baseball player in MLB Jeff Samardzija, professional baseball player in MLB Carly Schroeder, actress Walter Wangerin, Jr., author and professor at Valparaiso University R. Harold Zook, architect See also List of cities in Indiana Valpo Velvet References External links Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce Cities in Porter County, Indiana Chicago metropolitan area County seats in Indiana Cities in Indiana Populated places established in 1836 Northwest Indiana 1836 establishments in Indiana