Not the crown-and-scepter kind (though we wouldn’t put it past her)—Sam reigns with heart, hustle, and a contagious love for her neighborhood. If you’ve ever found yourself dancing in the streets at First Fridays, carving pumpkins with your neighbors, or cheering on a Wiffleball game with a hot dog in one hand and a local brew in the other, chances are Sam had something to do with it. As President of the Haynie’s Corner Arts District Association, she leads the charge on some of the city’s most beloved happenings, from Front Porch Fest to Pride Music Fest, and countless moments in between.
Originally from the rural Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts (cue the banjo), Sam moved to Evansville in 2004 to attend the University of Evansville. By 2008, she made it official: Evansville is home. And lucky for us, she took that choice seriously.