Penn High School will hold its 2026 Commencement Ceremony at Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion on Monday, June 8, at 7 p.m. (click here for details). The event will celebrate the graduation of more than 900 members of the Class of 2026.

On Monday, May 11, the Penn Faculty, P-H-M Administrators and members of the Board of School Trustees gathered with graduating seniors and their families to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 at the annual Senior Recognition Night. The event recognizes the academic success that members of the Senior Class have achieved recognizing them for awards, honors and scholarships that they’ve earned for graduation. 

Click here to see pictures from Senior Recognition Night and the full Canto Photo Gallery for the Class of 2026.

Awards conferred at Senior Recognition included academic excellence, leadership, service to school and community, citizenship, attendance, athletic accomplishments and a whole host of other accomplishments. Click here to jump to that list below.

Click here to see the list of local and private scholarship winners.

This year there are 20 Valedictorians and 2 Salutatorians. 

VALEDICTORIANS:

Fiona Bao, Sreeja Bhattacharjee, Mehreen Buchh, Gavin Doster, Sultaan Khan, Angie Liu, Trenton Mager, Ishita Masetty, Joseph McQueary, Kelsey Meyer, Leo Ni, Joshua Oh, Roman Ramos, Marie Roach, Henry Smoker, Grant Spadafore, Amina Spahic, Jocelyn Teeple, Zoya Turk, and Brooqlin Vargas

SALUTATORIANS:

Diya Lahane and Aidan Lee

As of May 11, the members of the Class of 2026 have earned more than $16 million in total scholarships! Over the summer, graduates will continue to be notified of scholarships, so we expect this number will continue to grow. We encourage students to notify the Penn Counseling Office of all your scholarships, even after you’ve graduated; it helps us measure the success of our graduates.

Many students were recognized for winning private scholarships during the Senior Recognition program. 

The 2026 graduating class is the seventh class to receive recognition through the Latin Honors System:

• A total of 68 students will graduate Summa Cum Laude, with the highest praise, by earning an Academic Honors diploma with a GPA greater than 4.25.
• A total of 114 students will graduate Magna Cum Laude, with high praise, by earning an 
• A total of 102 students will graduate Cum Laude, with praise, with a GPA greater than 3.75.

A total of 479 students in the Class of 2026 are graduating with an Academic Honors diploma! To be eligible for an Academic Honors Diploma, students must accumulate a minimum of 47 credits in a prescribed curriculum and have a grade point average of 3.0.

A total of 329 students in the Class of 2026 are graduating with High Honors! These students have maintained a 3.5 grade point average or above for the first seven semesters of high school study.

The Core 40 with Technical Honors diploma is awarded to students who complete professional internships and or college courses in a technical area. A total of 163 students are graduating with Technical Honors.

Fifteen students are designated as National Merit Finalists, based on their high PSAT scores. These students advanced to Finalist standing in the Merit Scholarship competition of 2026 by demonstrating, through distinguished performance, a high potential for future academic accomplishment. They are now eligible for one of the 8,000 scholarships soon to be awarded. 

Among the graduating Class of 2026 there are an impressive 132 members of Early College Academy–the ninth cohort of ECA.

• 116 will graduate Penn with an Associates Degree from Ivy Tech
• 12 have earned Indiana College Core credits 

Award winners include:

• Schmucker Award: Allison Tessier
• Kingsman of the Year: Arashjit Singh
• Principal’s Academic Excellence Awards: Joshua Buckler, Danielle Esguerra, Elizabeth Huchko, Elizabeth Marion, Ryan Pickard, Allison Tessier, Arashjit Singh, and Victoria Sanchez  
• Principal’s Leadership Awards: Kelly Kubinski and Vazgen Manukyan  

• Principal’s Citizenship and Service Awards: Sreeja Bhattacharjee, Ashley Chew, Connor Geoghegan, Jacob Kyle, Noah Rossow, Mira Yaradi, Aaron Penrose, and Hayley Kruger
  National Merit Finalists: Sreeja Bhattacharjee, Mehreen Buchh, Balthasar Cammett, Madeline Dunn, Connor Geoghegan, Zachary Girton, Quinn Hayden, Wasif Javed, Sultaan Khan, Trenton Mager, Ishita Masetty, Leo Ni, Joshua Oh, Roman Ramos, and Grant Spadafore  
• National Merit Semi-Finalists: Sreeja Bhattacharjee, Mehreen Buchh, Balthasar Cammett, Madeline Dunn, Connor Geoghegan, Zachary Girton, Quinn Hayden, Wasif Javed, Sultaan Khan, Trenton Mager, Ishita Masetty, Leo Ni, Joshua Oh, Roman Ramos , and Grant Spadafore
• National Merit Commended Scholars: Joshua Buckler, Ashley Chew, Hayley Kruger, Angie Liu, Elizabeth Marion, Joseph McQueary, Ryan Pickard, Madison Raper, Nathan Rowe, Sturgis Seiss, Robin Sullivan, Allison Tessier, David Wheet, and William Wu
• U.S. Presidential Scholars Candidates: Sreeja Bhattacharjee, Wasif Javed, Sultaan Khan, and Ishita Masetty  

• State Academic All-Star: Ishita Masetty 

• Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Thacker Scholarship: Benjamin Galiher  

• Larry Beehler Scholarship: Caitlyn Gaynor 
• Media Arts: Eliza Wright
• Sculpture: Colleen Ruppert 
• Drawing: Ashton Hanover  
• Thespian: Percy Ramirez 
• Dance: Corde Simmons
• English: Ryleigh Browning  
• Painting: Adriana Aquila  
• Ceramics: Connor Pendergrass  
• The Pennant: Gabriel Penzenik  
• Speech: Roman Gargis  
• Debate: Victoria Sanchez  
• Broadcast Journalism: Marie Roach 
• Choir: Joe Vaccaro 
• Orchestra: Arty Ryzhkov  
• Band: Robin Sullivan 
• Spectrum: Danielle Esguerra  
• Yearbook: Ariana Higgins  
• Graphic Arts: Morgan Kukla  
• Ambassador Award: Corey Walter 
• Career Excellence: Skyler Green  
• Academic Advancement: Kaitlyn Schroeder  
• Peer Leader: River Sandoval  
• Engineering: Travis Sears
• Science: Grant Bennett 
• Mathematics: Josh Oh 
• Technology: Ethan Ardila 
• Agriculture: Eli Joswic 
• Social Sciences: Toby Prince  
• Economics: Sreeja Bhattacharjee  
• Government: Grant Bennett  
• Health & Wellness: Mila Obradovic 
• Penn Strength (Male): Dalton Zultanski 
• Penn Strength (Female): Alayna Riggins
• Accounting and Finance: Kamryn Fizer  
• Marketing: Macy Little  
• General Business: Noah Hoppers  
• Computer Science: Grant Spadafore  
• Professional Work-Based Award: Avianna Santiesteban  
• MBA Leadership: Reese Clark  
• American Sign Language: Natalie McColley
• Chinese Award: Angie Liu  
• French: Moriah Price  
• German: Rebecca Wolter 
• Japanese: Evan Swihart 
• Spanish: Allison Tessier  
• Early College Academy Growth Award: Carlito Young  
• Early College Academy Leadership Award: Aaron Penrose  
• Early College Academy Perseverance Award: Deivi Ricci Bastidas  
• Early College Overall Achievement Award: Arashjit Singh

Penn-Harris-Madison Schools is proud to recognize outstanding educators whose instruction leads to meaningful academic growth for students.

The P-H-M Teacher Impact Award celebrates the impact of strong instruction and student dedication. The award is presented each semester to teachers whose students demonstrate the greatest academic growth, highlighting excellence in teaching and learning across the district.

Superintendent Dr. Heather Short and Penn High School Principal Rachel Fry surprised two Penn teachers today in their classrooms to recognize their students’ significant growth:

• Martin Ufkin’s English 11 students demonstrated exceptional academic growth from the PSAT/NMSQT in October to the SAT in March. An impressive 61% of his students showed measurable growth between the two assessments, the highest percentage among English 11 classes across the district.

• Algebra II teacher Megan Buckler’s students also showed exceptional growth over that same period. An impressive 79% demonstrated measurable growth, the highest percentage among Algebra II classes across the district.

Thank you to the P-H-M Education Foundation for providing the beautiful engraved awards that the teachers keep in their classrooms as a reminder of what they and their students accomplished.

Click to see the Martin Ufkin photo gallery in Canto.

Click to see the Megan Buckler photo gallery in Canto.

This afternoon P-H-M and Penn High School Administration along with the P-H-M Education Foundation officially unveiled the updated entryway for Schafer Gear Works Robotics Lab at Penn High School. The lab is where Penn’s Robotics classes are held and Teams 135 (Black Knights) and 328 (Golden Rocks) work out of. Manufacturing and welding classes are also held in this area.

In alignment with PHMEF’s long-term sustainability model, the donation will be directed to the PHMEF Endowment, ensuring support for innovative projects in P-H-M schools for years to come. A portion of the funds will also be allocated specifically to support Penn Robotics, strengthening competitive robotics opportunities and hands-on STEM learning for students.

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What started as a typical first block this morning in Señora Kelley Watts’ Spanish IV class quickly turned into a surprise party when Spanish teacher Kelley Watts unexpectedly learned that she was being named Penn-Harris-Madison’s 2026 Secondary Teacher of the Year.

With some behind-the-scenes planning by Principal Rachel Fry and Associate Principal Jeanie Mitchell, Watts was called away from her classroom for what she thought was a photo opp with students in Penn’s Main Arena–on the other side of the building away from her classroom. While Watts was being kept busy, P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Heather Short, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lavon Dean-Null, other P-H-M administrators, and local TV station news crews snuck into Watts’ classroom to get everything in place for the big surprise. Click to see a photo gallery below. Click here to see the full gallery on Canto.

When Watts returned, she was met with applause, cameras, and the big news that she was P-H-M’s  Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Click below to watch the video of the surprise for Señora Watts.

Throughout her career, Watts has demonstrated a deep commitment to student learning, leadership, and building meaningful connections both inside and outside the classroom. She brings 30 years of teaching experience, including 22 years at Penn High School. In addition to her classroom role, Watts has led student initiatives, including serving as the Kingsmen Against Cancer sponsor for more than eight years. 

She serves as an instructional coach and is an active leader in the P-H-M Teachers Association, where she advocates for both students and staff. As a mentor to fellow educators, she is an example of continuous growth and collaboration. She also serves alongside her husband, Mark, as co-head coach of the Boys Volleyball team, now in its second season. Click here to read a recent article in the South Bend Tribune, featuring the Watts’, about the growth and rise in popularity of boys volleyball as a new IHSAA sanctioned sport.

Teaching and coaching colleague Eric Bowers nominated Watts for the honor. Bowers understands firsthand what it takes to excel in both the classroom and in athletics. Bowers, an AP History teacher and Penn’s Boys and Girls Tennis coach was named P-H-M’s 2023 Secondary Teacher of the Year.

“Kelley has a unique ability to connect with students not only in the classroom, but through opportunities like Spanish Club [which she led in previous years] and now through coaching as well,” Bowers said. “She reaches a wide range of students and creates meaningful relationships that extend beyond the school day.”

Known for her engaging and supportive teaching style, Watts creates learning environments where students feel confident to take risks and grow. One example is her Spanish II “Yelp Review” writing unit, where students progress from foundational language skills to composing six-paragraph essays entirely in Spanish.

“My favorite level of Spanish to teach is Level 2. When they enter my class, they have made the choice to continue learning Spanish, which already reflects a level of commitment,” Watts reflected. “Level 2 of any language is often the most challenging, and I enjoy pushing students to reach levels of learning and understanding that they initially believe are beyond their capabilities.”

Watts has created educational opportunities for her Penn Spanish students to engage in authentic conversations, build global connections, and apply their language skills in real-world settings. Through a month-long cultural exchange experience, she brought Ecuadorian students studying in the United States to Penn to spend several weeks alongside her students, immersing the international students in English instruction and American culture, while also giving her students the opportunity to learn directly from native Spanish speakers and experience authentic cultural exchange.

Principal Rachel Fry said Watts exemplifies the very best of Penn High School.

“Kelley Watts represents what it means to be an exceptional educator,” Fry said. “She builds strong relationships with students, challenges them to achieve at high levels, and creates meaningful learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. Her leadership and commitment to excellence make a lasting impact on our entire school community.”

Watts’ love for language has permeated down to benefit P-H-M’s elementary and middle school students as well. Watts was involved in the creation of P-H-M’s Summer Visual Arts Academy, a week-long summer enrichment program that integrates music, art, and culture. One of the first years the VAA included Spanish language instruction, for which Watts helped develop the curriculum. She’s also been involved with the district’s summer week-long Language Academy camps for elementary and middle school students, with a different language featured each year.

Superintendent Dr. Heather Short has seen the impact Watts has on students over the years.

“Kelley’s impact is felt across our entire district,” Dr. Short said. “She is deeply committed to helping students at every level develop a love of language and culture, and she creates meaningful learning experiences that inspire curiosity and connection in all of our learners.” 

Every Spring P-H-M honors a Secondary Teacher of the Year, Elementary Teacher of the Year and a Certified Employee of the Year. All three honorees are officially recognized at P-H-M’s annual Employee Recognition & Retiree Dinner, which will be held this year on Wednesday, May 20th. The two Teachers of the Year will then go on to compete for Indiana’s Teacher of the Year, which will be announced Fall 2026 by the Indiana Department of Education. The PHM Education Foundation awards each Teacher of the Year a $1,000 grant and gift card to the Employee of the Year.

We’re Accepting Applications for the
2026-27 School Year

Click to learn more about P-H-M and why you should join our family.

Penn High School’s Class of 2026 has earned a record-high 15 National Merit Scholarship Finalists—placing those students among the top one percent of high school students nationwide! This milestone marks the most National Merit Finalists in Penn High School history and represents a significant academic achievement for the Penn-Harris-Madison community.

The 15 students include:

• Sreeja Bhattacharjee
• Mehreen Buchh
• Balthasar Cammett
• Madeline Dunn
• Connor Geoghegan
• Zachary Girton
• Quinn Hayden
• Wasif Javed
• Sultaan Khan
• Trenton Mager
• Ishita Masetty
• Leo Ni
• Joshua Oh
• Roman Ramos
• Grant Spadafore

Approximately 15,000 high school seniors nationwide have been named 2026 National Merit Scholarship Finalists, representing the top one percent of students in the United States. Selected from more than 16,000 Semifinalists announced in September 2025, finalists must complete a rigorous application process that includes confirming high PSAT/NMSQT performance with a qualifying SAT or ACT score, maintaining an outstanding academic record (generally a 3.5 GPA or higher), earning a high school recommendation, and submitting a self-descriptive essay. Of those finalists, approximately 6,930 students will ultimately receive National Merit Scholarships, with winners announced between April and July 2026. Click here for more details.

Penn High School Principal Rachel Fry commented on how the achievement reflects the dedication of students and the academic excellence Penn faculty provided … 

“I am incredibly proud to celebrate our 15 National Merit Scholarship Finalists, the most in our school’s history. Even more impressive, every one of our semi-finalists advanced to finalist standing, a testament to their dedication, perseverance, and academic excellence. This remarkable achievement reflects not only the talent and effort of these students, but also the commitment of our teachers, families, and school community who support them each day. It is an exciting accomplishment and I could not be more proud of this outstanding group of scholars.”

On Wednesday, January 14, members of the P-H-M Board of School Trustees, P-H-M and Penn High School administrators and coaches, P-H-M Education Foundation Board Members, community partners, student-athletes, guests and members of the media gathered to officially open the 80,000-square-foot multi-use student facility (click here to see a brochure with specs & details). It was also a time to honor retired, long-serving Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker and his wife Donna Thacker. 

Click to see a full photo gallery of all the pictures from the event.

Built for P-H-M Students

The Fieldhouse will serve Penn High School students across athletic programs, academic, and extracurricular programs, including marching band, color guard, and robotics events (elementary, middle and high school). Academic use of the facility will include physical education classes and secure large-scale assessments, for example PSAT, SAT, and AP testing.

In addition, the Fieldhouse will support P-H-M middle school students through Future Kingsmen Athletics and Marching Band, helping students build both athletic and fine arts skills while safely preparing for the next level at Penn High School.

“The Fieldhouse is about investing in students and the experiences that help them grow,” said Superintendent Dr. Heather Short. “From academics to athletics and the arts, it will support learning and opportunity across our district for generations.”

The Fieldhouse will be open for student use beginning Tuesday, January 20th.

A Community Investment—Without Raising Tax Rate

The Fieldhouse project was identified as a priority in P-H-M’s 2022 District Master Facilities Plan and was completed without raising tax rates for residents of Penn, Harris, and Madison Townships. P-H-M continues to maintain one of the lowest tax rates in St. Joseph County while delivering strong academic outcomes. The groundbreaking for the project was May 2024 (click here for those details). 

Click to watch the video below that includes time lapse video of the project–start to finish–and highlights from the ceremony.

The total project cost is $18 million, reflecting the district’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and long-range planning.

“This Fieldhouse is the result of years of thoughtful, long-range planning and sound fiscal stewardship by the Board,” said P-H-M Board of School Trustees President Chris Riley. “By following our District Master Facilities Plan, we were able to make a meaningful investment in students while maintaining one of the lowest tax rates in St. Joseph County and without increasing the tax burden on our community.”

Designed for Versatility and Excellence

Located just off McKinley Highway, the 80,000-square-foot Dr. Jerry and Donna Thacker Fieldhouse expands Penn’s campus and provides much-needed indoor space to support year-round student programming across academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities.

“The design of this Fieldhouse reflects thoughtful planning around flexibility, safety, and long-term use,” said P-H-M Chief Operating Officer Dr. Sean Galiher. “Every element, from academic and training spaces to event amenities, was intentionally designed to support students, staff, and large-scale programming.”

The multi-use facility includes indoor space for these athletic teams:

*Track and Field: six-lane, 200-meter indoor track, pole vault, long jump, high jump, and shot put areas

*Indoor Hitting: Drop-down batting nets for baseball and softball indoor hitting practices

*Wood courts: two multi-purpose courts for basketball, volleyball

“The Fieldhouse gives Penn student-athletes a first-class, year-round training environment,” said Jeff Hart, Penn Athletic Director. “From indoor track and field to court sports and speed and agility training, this facility allows our programs to practice, compete, and prepare regardless of weather—supporting performance, safety, and student development.”

Beyond athletics, the Fieldhouse will accommodate marching band rehearsals, smaller scale robotics events, school dances, and other large student gatherings, further expanding opportunities for student engagement and districtwide events.

Additional amenities include four locker rooms, two classroom/conference spaces, a student commons area, a physical trainer and rehabilitation space, equipment storage, an observation hallway serving the second floor, a concession stand, security office, event parking, and future bleacher seating for more than 800 spectators.

“This Fieldhouse is truly a space for all Penn students, expanding opportunities for connection, creativity, and school pride,” commented Penn High School Principal Rachel Fry. 

Honoring a Legacy of Leadership and Giving

The Ribbon Cutting will commemorate that the Fieldhouse has been named in honor of retired P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker and his wife Donna Thacker, recognizing their decades of leadership, service, and philanthropic support of Penn-Harris-Madison schools and the P-H-M Education Foundation (PHMEF).

Dr. Thacker served as P-H-M’s Superintendent from 2006 to 2025. Under Dr. Thacker’s leadership, P-H-M became one of Indiana’s top school districts with the schools, students, teachers, and staff achieving countless recognitions, at the state, national and international level (click here for more background information on Dr. Thacker’s tenure).

“This Fieldhouse is an investment in students today and in the future of our district,” said Jennifer Turnblom, PHMEF Executive Director. “The Naming Rights Campaign directly benefits the Foundation’s endowment which in turn provides classroom grants for P-H-M teachers benefiting generations of students for years to come.”

Under the PHMEF Naming Rights Campaign structure, 80 percent of naming rights donations are placed into the Foundation’s endowment to support long-term student programs, while 20 percent directly funds professional development for P-H-M teachers.

Longtime PHMEF donors and supporters Gary and Tammy Fox donated $10,000 to the PHMEF Naming Rights Campaign to have the fieldhouse honor Dr. Jerry and Donna Thacker. Gary Fox served on the P-H-M Board of School Trustees with Dr. Thacker as the Superintendent from 2001-2020 before stepping down. He was re-elected to Harris Township, Seat 4 in November 2024. 

“Dr. Thacker’s leadership helped shape P-H-M into one of Indiana’s premier school districts,” said Gary Fox. “Naming the Fieldhouse in honor of Jerry and Donna Thacker recognizes a legacy rooted in student success, community partnership, and long-term vision.”

During his time as Superintendent, Dr. Thacker and his wife contributed $300,000 in lifetime donations to the Foundation.

“It has been our greatest joy to watch generations of P-H-M students learn, grow, and benefit from the opportunities a quality education provides,” said Jerry Thacker and Donna Thacker. “We are deeply honored to have the Fieldhouse named in our honor, and we hope it becomes a place where students continue to discover their potential for generations to come.”

Project Partners

Construction of the Fieldhouse was completed by R. Yoder Construction Inc., with architectural design by Fanning Howey, a longtime P-H-M partner with more than 40 years of service to the district. Structural engineering was done by Magnus Engineering. Civil Engineering by Danch, Harner & Associates Inc.

In 2024, Penn High School Robotics Coach Kyle Marsh and students came up with an idea on how to help students with ADHD, on the Autism Spectrum, or who just need help concentrating at school. Their idea was to use 3D printers to create and produce fidget tools for students. The key to making these tools more accessible and quickly available to the elementary students who needed them was to put a 3D printer at all 11 of P-H-M’s elementary schools.

Fortunately, P-H-M teachers and staff members can apply for classroom grants  through the P-H-M Education Foundation to pay for innovative ideas like this. Marsh was awarded a $5,000 grant to bring his idea to fruition. Penn High School students also benefit on this project because Marsh’s Robotics students not only install the 3D printers at the elementary schools, but they also help Marsh manage the project.

This inspiring story was recently featured on WSBT “Operation Education” highlighting the program in action at Elsie Rogers Elementary School where Marsh’s son Cooper attends third grade. Elsie Rogers was highlighted as of P-H-M’s 11 elementary schools with the 3D printers. Click to watch the story below on WSBT’s YouTube channel.

The Penn-Harris-Madison Education Foundation (PHMEF) continues its mission of supporting excellence in education by awarding $73,715.48 in classroom innovation grants for the 2025-2026 school year, marking one of the largest funding years in foundation history! And Penn was fortunate to receive $28,206.97 in grant dollars!

Each year, PHMEF’s Annual Grant Cycle provides teachers across the district with opportunities to bring creative, hands-on learning projects to life, projects that go beyond traditional classroom resources. The grants are made possible through the generosity of community donors, local businesses, and district supporters.

During the first couple of weeks of December, PHMEF Executive Director Jennifer Turnblom surprised grant recipients. Click here to see the full photo gallery.

Penn was awarded six traditional grants (more than $1,000) and 15 EZ grants (under $750) for a total of 21 grants. The descriptions are listed below:

1. Tania Bangtsson CPA Haze Machine
Braden McMillen • $1,449.98
Purchase of a professional-grade haze machine to enhance student learning and production quality. Facilitates a hands-on student experience (with staff guidance/oversight) for classroom learning and public performances. Allows for student interaction with stage lighting to create high-quality atmospheres to enhance production.

2. Kingsmen in Custom Shining Armor
Stephen Vincent, John Gensic • $1,713.08
Collaboration between Principles of Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics students to produce custom Kingsmen Armor (chainmail articles, shields, helmet, NO swords) that can be worn by student mascots. Additional production of chain nets for outdoor basketball hoops located east of the Educational Services Center. 

3. Graphing Finite Math for Infinite Human Flourishing
Angela Yarrell, John Gensic • $2,560.00
Funds to purchase new graphing calculators to allow students to focus on financial literacy and forecasting. Students can compare compound interest, annuities, mutual funds, stocks and more. Additionally, students will use calculators to model increased use of electricity in the region due to data centers and population growth. Grant allows for all students to have access to the same tools in classrooms. 

4. Wisdom Across Generations
John Gensic, Angela Yarrell, Corin Sailor, Sarah Dwigans, Danielle Black • $1,175.00
Purchase of 25 books, 5 of each author for 5 different classrooms. Allows for students who complete work early, to stay engaged and off digital devices. 

5. Shaping Future Minds
Scott Shelhart, John Gensic • $2,599.00
Purchase of a 3D Printer with laser engraving technology. Allows all students enrolled in
Manufacturing to have the same technological printing level experience as the Robotics
students while continuing to learn the importance of manufacturing through student projects.

6. Penn HS Digital and Legacy Recognition Wall
Josiah Parker • $10,000.00
Allows for the creation of a Digital Alumni Recognition Wall to preserve, celebrate and expand access to past/current student achievement. Will feature two touchscreen TVs to explore
digitized photos, trophies and historic memorabilia that are currently in storage due to limited display space. The Wall will highlight the prestigious Schmucker Award and Kingsmen Award as well as past honorees. The Wall will be created and maintained collaboratively by students in Computer Science, Graphic Design, Interior Design and Architecture, Yearbook and Photography classes.

7. Classroom Breakout Boxes
Stephanie Roy-Stover
Digital Escape Room
Awarded $657.00 

8. Portable Bocce Ball Courts
Keith Stork
Portable bocce ball courts for new Unified Sports team
Awarded $609.08

9. Chinese Culture and Literature Study
Ming Liu
Chinese Culture and Literature Books
Awarded $300.00 

10. Blooket Plus
Melissa Brazeau
Online Review Game for Spanish Classes/Club
Awarded $550.00 

11. Real-Time Heart Rate Monitoring in Cellular Respiration Labs
Zackary Lopez
Heart Rate Monitors for Biology Class
Awarded $350.00 

12. Go Penn Go!
Alex Dunfee
Penn Spirit Button Maker
Awarded $723.85 

13. Dishwashers for Biology Classrooms
Sarah Clark
Countertop Dishwashers for Biology Classrooms
Awarded $639.98

14. Illuminating Art – Sculptural Ceramic Lamp Design
Lacey Dilly
Ceramic Lamp Materials and Lighting Inserts for Sculpture II Class
Awarded $750.00

15. Jewelry Room Updates
Jessica Marsh
Mobile Jewelry Making Tools for Students
Awarded $750.00 

16. Bridging Language Barriers: Enhancing Communication Through AI Translation Technology
Sarah Hendricks and Wendy Pierce
Two Pairs AI Glasses to Aid in Language Translation for Parent Conferences 
Awarded $700.00

17. Dried for Good
John Gensic
Funds Kiln Drying Existing Materials (Wood) for Future Use in Construction Classes
Awarded $325.00 

18. Just Planed Wood
Evan White
Small Wood Planing Tool for Construction Class
Awarded $730.00 

19. Professional Audio/Video Recordings
Andrew Nemeth
Professional Audio/Video Recording Equipment
Awarded $750.00 

20. Daily Formative Assessment Materials
Ashlyn Graham
Individual Student White Boards
Awarded $205.00 

21. Modern Measures to Maximize Potential
John Gensic, Matt Cates
Biometric Impedance Analysis Tools
Awarded $670.00 

On behalf of the entire PHM Education Foundation Board I want you to know how deeply we believe in our teachers and staff,” said PHMEF Executive Director Jennifer Turnblom. “Your dedication, and passion for making a positive impact are what make our schools truly exceptional. We are committed to funding your innovative ideas because you are the heart of excellence in PHM, and we are proud to support the remarkable work you do every day.”

For more on the P-H-M Education Foundation’s 2025-26 grant awards, click here.