Special to the Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — A prominent local journalist, a former basketball standout and a pediatric surgeon make up the class of 2010 of Terre Haute South Vigo High School’s Hall of Distinction.
The three — Mark Bennett, Brian Evans and Dr. Evan Kokoska — will be inducted during ceremonies April 16 and 17, according to Dan Wunderlich, Hall of Distinction committee co-chairman.
Mark Bennett is a member of the South Class of 1978. Raised in Prairieton, Bennett is a graduate of Indiana State University. He joined the former Terre Haute Star as a part-time sports journalist in 1977 and today is an award-winning columnist and features writer.
Bennett has won numerous awards for this work, being named Best Daily Feature Writer of the year four times by Community Newspapers, parent company of the Terre Haute Tribune-Star. He has been recognized nationally by the Associated Press for news and sports reporting and editing. He resides in the Wabash Valley with his wife, Teri, and three children.
Brian Evans graduated with the Terre Haute South class of 1991. A superb high school athlete, Evans was named all-state in basketball and baseball. He led the 1991 South boys basketball team to the coveted state finals. He scored more than 1,000 points as a South Brave. As a pitcher, he posted a perfect 7-0 record his senior year. Evans is one of few athletes in Indiana to be named to the basketball and baseball all-star teams.
Following graduation from South, Evans attended and played basketball at Indiana University. Playing for Coach Bob Knight, Evans was named as Most Valuable Player by the Big Ten Conference in 1996.
He was also named to the All-American team and was selected Male Athlete of the Year by Indiana University.
Evans was selected on the first round of the National Basketball Association draft by the Orlando Magic and spent three seasons in the NBA. He went on to play six seasons in Italy and Japan. Evans set an Italian League single-game scoring record of 51 points.
He resides today in Noblesville with his wife Erin and three daughters and owns businesses in Bloomington.
Dr. Evan Kokoska is a 1985 graduate of Terre Haute South. A Rose-Hulman graduate, Kokoska is a prominent pediatric surgeon.
Kokoska previously served as assistant professor of pediatric surgery at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the University of Arkansas. While in Arkansas, Kokoska was named as one the Best Doctors in America. He was honored with Rose-Hulman’s Career Achievement Award last May.
Today, Kokoska is associate professor of surgery and director of minimally invasive pediatric surgery at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, where he has become a leader in minimally invasive pediatric surgery.
Reservations for the Hall of Distinction dinner on April 17 at the Country Club of Terre Haute may be made by contacting the main office at Terre Haute South, (812) 462-4252.
