Penn Juniors and Seniors Attend Annual Job Fair Hosted by P-H-M Education Foundation
All Penn High School juniors and seniors attended the annual Job Fair at Penn High School this morning. The event was organized by the P-H-M Education Foundation and brought together local colleges, businesses, and organizations to share information about future opportunities.
Representatives from colleges and universities were available to discuss academic programs and admissions. Local companies also participated, providing details about career paths, internships, and apprenticeships for students interested in entering the skilled trades.
Several employers also shared information about part-time positions currently available for high school students.
Students also had the opportunity to attend a financial literacy session presented by partners from Everwise Credit Union. The session focused on helping students understand basic financial concepts that will be useful as they prepare for college, careers, and independent living.
The annual Job Fair provides Penn students with the chance to explore a variety of post-graduation pathways and connect directly with professionals from across the region.
Penn Orchestra Hosts Elementary Pops Concert
Fifth graders from across the district visited Penn High School this week for the annual Elementary Pops Concert, an energetic introduction to available instrument options ahead of Instrument Selection Night.
Members of the Penn Orchestra took the stage to perform well-known, crowd-pleasing songs. The performance was designed to spark excitement about music and give students a firsthand look at the kinds of ensembles they could join in middle school and beyond.
At one point, Penn musicians lined the front of the stage to demonstrate the various instruments available to beginning students in sixth grade, including strings, woodwinds, and brass. Students were able to see, hear, and compare each instrument as they consider both orchestra and band options in middle school.
The concert also featured two memorable special moments. Assistant Orchestra Director Ashlyn Graham surprised the audience by dressing as Mira from K-Pop Demon Hunter while the orchestra performed the fan-favorite song “Golden.”
Later, Director of Orchestras Zac Coudret conducted the How to Train Your Dragon theme while dressed as Toothless, delighting students with both the music and the dramatic flair.
The Elementary Pops Concert serves as an exciting kickoff to instrument selection season and helps students envision themselves as future Penn musicians—whether they choose band, orchestra, or both.
People of Penn Gets “Facelift”
Have you ever noticed the large scale (12.5 feet tall by 8.5 feet wide) “People of Penn” graphic in the sunshine hallway? It was installed in 2011.
Last year, then Penn Principal Dr. Sean Galiher reached out to the graphic design program about making a second iteration. Graphic design student Morgan Kukla (now a senior) was handpicked for this project due to her outstanding talent, creativity, and artistic ability along with her level of responsibility and attention to detail.
And she absolutely nailed it.
The graphic was installed on Monday, January 19th, 2026 and it looks awesome!
The installation was overseen by former Penn student Steven Tucker (class of ’09) who now works as a sales project manager at US Signcrafters.
About the Artist:
Most challenging part of creating the graphic: Finding people willing to participate knowing their face would be on it and then being able to get a good shot of them. Also making sure I got a good representation of all grades and all different types of people.
Kaleidoscope Concert 2025 Photo Gallery
Penn High School hosted its annual Kaleidoscope Concert last night, Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
The evening was a fun and memorable experience for everyone involved, as Penn’s bands joined with P-H-M’s middle school musicians for an exciting night of music. It was especially thrilling for the middle school students to perform on the Penn stage alongside the high school ensembles.
A photo gallery from the event is available below.
Penn Homecoming Dance Kicks Off Spirit Week on September 20th, 2025
Purchase Tickets Online Here
To help ensure that we have a smooth evening, we encoursge students to buy their tickets early.
The Penn-Harris-Madison Education Foundation is excited to host the Penn Homecoming Dance on Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 7:30 – 11:00 p.m. Please note: this is the Saturday BEFORE the Homecoming Football Game and Parade on September 26th, 2025.
Important Information for Students
- Who: Only Penn High School students may purchase tickets. Students may come from other schools IF they are the date of a Penn High School student AND they are 20 years old or younger.
- Location: Everwise Freed Field behind Penn High School
- Dance Start Time: Doors open at 7:30 p.m. – please do not arrive early.
- Wristbands Required: You must wear your wristband to be admitted.
- Wristband Pick-Up: Students must pick up their wristbands in the cafeteria during lunch September 15–19.
- Parking: Available in the main lot.
- Dress Code Reminder: Semi-formal wear is encouraged. No heels are permitted on the Penn football field.
- Refunds: No refunds will be issued.
- Food and Drink: Popcorn and 1 free drink from a coffee cart are included with ticket. Food trucks will have full meals available for purchase.
Questions?
Contact Kelsey Weaver at the P-H-M Education Foundation:
📧 Email: PHMEFHOCOrocks@gmail.com
📞 Call: 574-259-7961
Purchase Tickets Online Here
This Friday, Aug. 29, 2025: P-H-M Community Tailgate Party
P-H-M’s Annual Community Tailgate is a long-standing tradition that brings families, students, staff, and community members together to show their Penn pride. The event is held before the Penn Football home opener and is a chance for everyone across the district to connect, celebrate, and support the Kingsmen.
This year’s home opener will be “The Backyard Brawl” against Mishawaka on Friday, August 29th, 2025. Click here for game ticket info.
Gates open at 5:00 p.m. You must have a ticket to the football game to enter. Once inside the stadium head down to the white tents in the south end zone at the Yeoman Family Plaza.
Friday night marks the 67th meeting between Penn and Mishawaka. Penn leads the all-time series 49-16-1.
Students Get Hands-On with Screen Printing Thanks to PHMEF Grant
Thanks to a grant from the P-H-M Education Foundation, Digital Design students at Penn High School are getting real-world experience with the art of screen printing. This week, students in Ms. Alex Dunfee’s class completed the full, multi-step process and successfully printed their own custom T-shirts.
With support from the grant titled “You Can’t Swipe This Screen – Screen Printing Basics,” which awarded $3,373.58, students in grades 9–12 were able to dive into one of the most common methods used for printing on fabric.
The process began by applying a light-sensitive emulsion to the screen. Students created their designs in Photoshop, printed them onto transparent film, and placed them on the prepared screens.
Once exposed to light, the emulsion hardened—except where the design blocked the light. After rinsing the screen to wash out the unexposed emulsion, the final stencil was ready for printing.
With the screens prepped, students used them to apply ink to fabric and bring their designs to life on T-shirts.
This hands-on learning experience allowed students to combine creativity with technical skill, reinforcing principles of design while learning a practical production technique used in the industry.
Thank you to the P-H-M Education Foundation for supporting innovative classroom opportunities like this one!
Penn High School Hosts Annual Job Fair
Today, Penn High School hosted its annual Job Fair, providing students with a valuable opportunity to explore career pathways, internships, and employment prospects.
Sponsored by the P-H-M Education Foundation, the event connected juniors and seniors with representatives from businesses, organizations, and colleges across the area.
This event is just one of the many ways Penn High School and the P-H-M Education Foundation work to provide students with real-world learning experiences that set them up for success.
Personal Finance Session by 1st Source Bank
In addition to job opportunities, students also benefited from a Personal Finance information session provided by 1st Source Bank. This session provided an overview of financial literacy skills, helping them understand the importance of budgeting, saving, and managing money responsibly as they prepare for their future careers.
A special thank you to all of the local businesses, organizations, and colleges who participated and took the time to support our students. Your presence and guidance play a crucial role in shaping the future workforce and helping students gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
Penn Students Shine at Regional Science Fair, Qualify for State
Penn High School students Jagmit Singh and Dhruvi Patel had an incredible showing at the Northern Indiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair (NIRSEF), earning 1st place for their innovative research projects and securing their spots at the Indiana State Science Fair!
The competition, hosted by Notre Dame, took place virtually on Saturday, February 22, with students presenting their research and answering questions from judges. Prior to the virtual event, Singh and Patel showcased their projects in person at Penn High School, giving a glimpse into their impressive scientific work.
Award-Winning Research:
Dhruvi Patel – “Will Mutant Macrophages Eat More Cancer?”
In addition to winning 1st place, Patel also received the Harper Cancer Institute Award for her research.
Jagmit Singh – “APC Loss Impacts DNA Damage on Triple Negative Breast Cancer with a Resistance to Doxorubicin”
What’s Next?
With their success at regionals, Singh and Patel will now compete at the Indiana State Science Fair, representing Penn on a bigger stage.
Congratulations to Jagmit and Dhruvi for their incredible achievements!
Penn High School Building Trades Students Constructing Two Homes This Year
Penn High School’s Building Trades program is once again giving students hands-on experience in the construction industry by building homes from the ground up. This real-world learning opportunity allows students to develop valuable skills that prepare them for careers in the trades—all while still in high school.
This year, the program has students working on two separate homes—which allows ample opportunities for all the students who wish to participate.
Now in its 56th year, these are the 57th and 58th houses in the programs history—a testament to the program’s continued success and impact on career readiness.
From framing and roofing to electrical work and plumbing, students gain insight into multiple trades, helping them develop specialized skills that can lead to future careers in construction, carpentry, and beyond. The experience also fosters teamwork, problem-solving, and a strong work ethic—essential qualities in any trade.
By building homes, Penn High School’s Building Trades students are not only constructing houses—they’re building their futures.
Click HERE to view progress photos from the 2024-25 house builds.
Today (February 4th, 2025), we stopped by both houses for an updated. Students were installing flooring, tiles, electrical, roofing and more. View today’s photo gallery below.
