Penn High School proudly recognized members of the Class of 2025 who have committed to careers in education—an inspiring step toward shaping future classrooms. Click here to see the full photo gallery posted below.

The Teacher Signing Day, similar to a College Signing Day for student-athletes, was held in the Studio Theater on Tuesday, May 13.

Students wore shirts representing their college of choice and announced their academic decisions, field of speciality in education, and named their favorite Penn-Harris-Madison teachers.

Under Penn High School’s Family and Consumer Sciences program, students who are interested in pursuing a career in education can prepare for the profession by taking several courses, such as Early Childhood Education and Cadet Teaching.

“This event is important to highlight and celebrate those students who are pursuing a career in education,” said Penn instructor Rachael Meyers, who oversees Cadet Teaching.

Meyers said that Penn plays a key role in preparing students for careers in education.

“The education professions pathway has continued to grow and evolve  and teachers throughout the district continue to partner with the program,” Meyers said. “This opportunity allows students to explore the skills necessary to pursue a career in education.

“The world of education is constantly changing,” Meyers continued. “The needs of our students change from year-to-year. This program helps foster a vision for students who are considering at the very least to work with children of all ages.  The program also highlights the possible directions education might go.”

Students received letters of intent from Penn-Harris-Madison guaranteeing the students a job interview for a teaching position upon completion of their degree and teaching licensure.

Their decision reflects the heart of P-H-M’s “Triangle of Success,” where students, teachers, and parents work together to build a foundation of excellence.

P-H-M Director of Human Resources Robert Thompson said that P-H-M is committed to staying connected with these students.

“We will continue to reach out, offer mentorship opportunities, and support your professional growth as you prepare for a future in education,” Thompson stated. “We look forward to the day when you may return to Penn-Harris-Madison to inspire the next generation of Kingsmen—just as you were once inspired.”

Below is the list of graduating students who participated in this morning’s ceremony with their intended college/university and major, along with their inspiring teacher:

• Hannah Abad, Ball State University, Elementary Education, inspiring teacher: Mrs. Wachs
• Ruth Bautista, Indiana University South Bend, Elementary Education, inspiring teacher: Mrs. Wachs (not present at the ceremony, but will receive a letter of intent)
• Olivia Bennett, Indiana University South Bend, Special Education, inspiring teacher: Mr. Blazo
• Chloe Bowering, Indiana University South Bend, Special Education, inspiring teacher: Mr. Sanders
• Kate Diaz, Ball State University, Elementary Education, inspiring teacher: Mrs. Wetzel
• Kiley Ellis, Indiana University South Bend, Elementary Education, inspiring teacher: Mrs. Schenkel
• Lizzy Green, Ball State University, Elementary Education, inspiring teacher: Mrs. Meyers and Mrs. Wetzel
• Megan Kennedy, Ball State University, Elementary Education, inspiring teacher: Mrs. Obert
• Katherine Kollar, Ball State University, Secondary English, inspiring teachers: Ms. Armstrong, Mr. Coffee and Mrs. Meyers
• Kyleigh Mason, Indiana University Bloomington, Elementary Education, inspiring teachers: Mrs. Wetzel and Mrs. Meyers
• Reagan Miller, Indiana University South Bend, Early Childhood, inspiring teacher: Mrs. Wetzel
• Arianna Rice, Indiana University South Bend, Elementary Education, inspiring teachers: Mr. Keck and Mrs. Wachs

Penn High School’s Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony will be held at 7 p.m., June 9, 2025, at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

Click here for info on livestream of Commencement for friends and family not in attendance. 

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Penn’s Fine Arts and Social Studies teams each finished as State Runner-up in the Academic Super Bowl competition at Purdue University on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

The Fine Arts team finished second in the Academic Super Bowl State competition at Purdue.

• Chris Chen – Entrepreneurship Series Event
• Lenna Khan & Sobrin Fitwi – Buying and Merchandising Team Role Play
• Fareha Afaq and Katelynn Ngo – Innovation Plan
• Stanley Liew and Matthew Deahl – Hospitality Services Team Role Play

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Penn High School’s Fine Arts Academic Super Bowl team and Social Studies Academic Super Bowl team have both qualified for the state competition on Saturday, May 10, at Purdue University.

Fine Arts Team: Coach Mr. Coudret

Social Studies Team: Coach Mr. Bowers

Team members: Connor Geoghegan, Sreeja Bhattacharjee, Kyan Fogarty, Bryce Herman, Logan Hubbard.

Greg Dikos is retiring from Penn High School as a teacher after 45 years in education, but he will remain the head coach of the Kingsmen Baseball program. Dikos teaches Advanced Team Sports.

On Satuday, April 26, Penn’s home turf will be named Greg Dikos Field.

The ceremony to name field in honor of Coach Dikos will take place at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, in between games of a doubleheader between the Kingsmen and Lake Central. Former Kingsmen baseball players are invited to attend!

The field dedication is made possible by a $10,000 gift from retiring School Superintendent Dr. Jerry and Mrs. Thacker to the P-H-M Education Foundation Naming Rights Campaign. This makes the fifth donation Dr. and Mrs. Thacker have made as part of the Naming Rights Campaign, recognizing the contributions P-H-M employees have made to the community. Click here for more details.

Going into the 2025 season, Dikos owned a record of 839-298 in 37 seasons.

Penn has won six State Championships during Dikos’ tenure as head coach – 1994, 1998, 2001, 2015, 2022. 2023.

Coach Dikos has also led Penn to seven Semi-State Championships, 13 Regional Champion-

ships, 21 Sectional Championships and 22 Northern Indiana Conference Championships.

A graduate of Swartz Creek High School (Mich.) and Ball State University, Coach Dikos was selected by the Atlanta Braves as a third baseman in the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft in the 31st round.

Coach Dikos was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011.

Auditions for the 2025-2026 Penn High School Dance/Pom Team (open to current students in grades 7-through-11)

Dates:

• Monday, April 21: 6:30-8:30 pm – Main Arena at PHS
• Tuesday, April 22: 6:30-8:30 pm – Auxiliary Gym at PHS
• Wednesday, April 23: 6:30-8:30 pm – Main Arena at PHS (Competition Tryouts only)
• Thursday, April 24: 6:30-8:30 pm – Auxiliary at PHS (JV and Varsity Tryouts)

(Competition team results will be announced on Thursday morning via Instagram)

(JV and Varsity team results will be announced on Friday morning via Instagram)

We will be filling positions for the JV, Varsity and Competition teams.

We will be looking for the following qualities during tryouts: dance ability, showmanship, and technical skills (Turns/Pirouettes, Toe Touches, Leaps, Splits, as well as advanced skills for the competition team).

If you wish to try out for the Competition team, your technical skills will be an extremely important aspect of your tryout. You MUST have:

– Minimum: a triple and quad pirouette
– Toe touches/pop up toe touch
– Firebird
– Turning Disc
– Calypso
– Side leap
– Saut de chat
– Fouettes/ala Seconde Turns
– Kip ups
– Head springs
– Aerials (front and side)
– Switch to tilt jump; switch to arabesque; switch to second
– Preferred skills: front walkovers

Any questions, please contact:

Alison Minegar / aminegar@phm.k12.in.us

PARENT/STUDENT SIGNATURE PAGE (Audition for the 2025-2026 Penn High School Dance_Pom Team).

I, _____________________________________ have read all requirements and give my student,
_________________________________ permission to audition for the Penn High School Dance Team.

Parent Signature:

Dancer Signature:

Date: _______________________________________

** This form must be handed in on the first day of tryouts, or student will NOT be allowed to participate.

Any questions, please contact:

Alison Minegar / aminegar@phm.k12.in.us