By COLE POLLYEA

Penn High School student reporter

For the students at Penn High School, be it their freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior year, college admissions is on the radar. While some are preparing for standardized tests in an effort to set themselves up for admission to selective universities, others are waiting to hear back from the very same schools. As far as selectiveness goes, there are none more so than the formidable Ivy League schools, with their frightening acceptance rates and daunting price tags.

As it happens, one of Penn High School’s own, senior Camden Bohn, attained acceptance this fall and is planning on attending Harvard University, one of the most prestigious of the eight Ivies.

Bohn said that Penn’s curriculum played a critical role to prepare him for Harvard admission.

The importance of establishing a rigorous schedule is not just something that counselors say to make students’ lives miserable. Rather, it is a necessary component for admission to Ivy League universities, and it is one of the factors Bohn weighed most heavily when deciding which high school to attend.

“I had a decision to go to Penn or Saint Joe when I was entering high school,” Bohn said. “I think the best thing that going to Penn has done for me is that it allowed me to make my schedule as difficult as I want … and since I knew I wanted to go to a prestigious college, I challenged myself from the very beginning. You’ve got to give it up to Penn for offering the AP classes that a lot of other schools don’t.”

Rigorous academic challenges aren’t the only criteria Ivy League schools consider in the admission process.

“It seems that the most emphasis on Harvard’s application was on the extra-curriculars, what you’re doing outside of the classroom,” said Bohn, who plans on studying medicine. “When I visited, they said that they could take so many kids who got perfect scores on the SAT or ACT, but, ultimately, they want a diverse group of students who are capable of forming a great community. They’re looking for something special, something that sticks out in a person, more so than that person getting perfect test scores.”

All things considered, a 36 ACT and 2400 SAT is undoubtedly something to strive for. According to PrepScholar, Harvard’s average ACT is a 34, average (old) SAT is a 2260, and average GPA is a 4.04. But the lesson here is to get involved. Test scores are insurmountably important, yes, but, according to Bohn, they have to come along with a strong extracurricular package.

Bohn is attending Harvard in the Fall of 2016 and is planning on playing football there as well. While he didn’t receive an athletic scholarship (Ivy League schools don’t award scholarships of any sort), his athletic contribution to the school was considered when his application was evaluated. A quarterback, Bohn led Penn to the Class 6-A state championship game in football this season, and was named the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award winner.

Of course, not every student athlete is capable of playing sports at the collegiate level despite their involvement at the high school level. Does this mean, then, that participation in high school varsity athletics counts for nothing outside of self-fulfillment? Upon being asked this, Bohn responded with a fortified no.

“I think that playing sports shows that you’re able to function in a team environment, and that you are able to thrive in a team environment,” said Bohn, who quarterbacked Penn’s football team to the state championship game this season. “Being able to work with other people is something that they really like, especially on the application.”

Never overlooked, either, is the importance of submitting strong, eloquent essays on the application. Bohn admits that, while it’s impossible to know if the essay was something that got you in or kept you out of a college, he was informed by the football coach at Harvard that these essays were seriously important in judging a student’s character.   

As mentioned, with either the SAT or ACT (or both) being a critical factor in an application, many students are faced with the dilemma of preparation. Assuming that test-takers are aiming high, ignoring prep courses can be OK for some, but not so much for others ― certain students might hit a home run with their first swing of the bat.

Bohn indicated that, in his case, preparation for these courses was a huge payoff and most definitely factored into his admittance.

“I was always kind of a natural on the math section, but not so much on the reading and writing sections,” Bohn said. “It definitely took a lot more work in the preparatory stages for me to boost up my reading and writing scores to get on Harvard’s radar.”

It is the advice of this Ivy Leaguer to take advantage of prep courses and/or hit the prep books when it comes time to think about the SAT/ACT, if schools like Harvard are on the horizon.

Bohn expressed his appreciation for the support that Penn offered during his four years here, whether it be through the athletic programs or the stellar academic programs (both in which he most clearly thrived).

Ultimately, however, according to Bohn, he is a self-starter and his advice to any students seeking Ivy League admittance is this: “Be yourself, but do something that stands out. Chase your dreams. Even though you’re a high schooler, you can do something that’s different than other high schoolers. They’re looking for someone extraordinary, not just someone who could get a 4.0 in the classroom.” (Even though that, too, is incredibly important).

Penn High School students excelled at the recent state DECA competition, with six Penn DECA members earning berths to the International Competition in Nashville, Tenn., in April.

DECA is an organization devoted to developing leaders and entrepreneurs in finance, marketing, hospitality and management at the collegiate and high school level. There are more than 3,500 high school DECA chapters.

Penn students qualifying for DECA International Competition are:

Cassidy Jurkaites – Financial Consulting Event

Kyle Cather – Professional Selling

Danielle Kovach – Hospitality & Tourism Professional Selling

Kennedy Parker – Principles of Marketing

Luke Schneider – Personal Financial Literacy 

Kacey Wood – Advertising Campaign Event

“Penn DECA students have worked researching and working on papers and presentations since late fall in order to prepare for the Indiana State Competition that took place in Indianapolis, Feb. 28- March 1^st,” Penn DECA sponsor Stephanie McElwrath stated. “Students have reached out to business professionals to perfect their ideas, papers and presentations as well as spending hours studying for exams that are part of competition.”

McElwrath gave the students credit for one of Penn’s best showings at the state competition.

“The Penn DECA program has come a long way since its inception six years ago, and we have had numerous success stories,” McElwrath said. “What sets this group apart is that they are very self-driven and will become very successful business leaders in the future.”

By ARIELLE KIRSCH

Penn High School Student reporter

On Tuesday, Mar. 22 at 7:30 p.m., avid listeners will settle down in Penn High School’s Center for the Performing Arts for an engaging jazz performance of English composer Will Todd’s Mass in Blue.  Performing this wondrous musical creation will be Penn High School’s advanced choir Viva Voce and advanced Jazz I ensemble.

Tickets can be purchased online for $6 beginning March 8 at www.ticketracker.com.

Tickets can be purchased for $6 at lunch on March 17, 18, 21, and 22.

Tickets can be purchased for $8 at the door.

Todd was born in England in 1970, and his earliest memory of music is climbing up onto his sister’s piano stool and teaching himself how to play piano at the ripe young age of three years.  Todd, a world-renowned musician and composer, premiered Mass in Blue in 2003, and the 40-minute piece has been performed more than one hundred times worldwide since then.  

On Feb. 9, Todd traveled to the United States and came to Penn High School to join Viva Voce and the advanced jazz band for a day of reading, singing, playing, and learning about Mass in Blue and other music.  Seniors Rachel Peters and Rachel Page (President and Vice President, respectively) of Viva Voce were awed by the experience of rehearsing with such a talented and inspirational musician, and understanding firsthand the perspective of the piece, and the composer’s intentions.

Viva Voce students said that the session with Todd was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and they will treasure the experience Penn offered them to work with a composer of Todd’s stature.

Choir director Andrew Nemeth and band director Bill Leather were beyond thrilled at the prospect of working with Todd on Mass in Blue.

“(Todd) is able to shape (the music) … having the composer here is a truly unique experience,” Nemeth gushed.  

Leather followed up by saying, “To work with Will Todd was insightful and inspiring.  To have the composer's intentions for the piece explained and taught by the man himself was an invaluable experience.”

According to Leather, both Viva Voce and the Jazz I ensemble have gained not only musical skills, but also important leadership and cooperation skills from the experience of rehearsing with Todd, as well as working on Mass in Blue itself.  

“Collaborating with Viva Voce is very exciting for the jazz program, as it brings new energy, music and influence to the students.”

Nemeth concluded his thoughts about the Penn students working with Todd enthusiastically.

“They were engaged the entire time…you can’t compare (the experience).”

Mary Poppins

Friday, March 4, 2016, and Saturday, March 5, 2016

7 p.m.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

3 p.m.

Tickets: Presale $10,  at the door:  $12

Online sales begin Wed., Feb. 17

Lunch sales Tuesday, March 1; Wednesday, March 2; Thursday, March 3; Friday, March 4

Fine Arts Festival

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Tickets:  Donations will be accepted

Rhythm : Songs

Thursday, March 17, 2016

7 p.m.

Tickets: Pre-sale:  $5 adults/ students free with ID  

 At the door:  $6 adults/ students free with ID

Online sales begin Monday, Feb. 22

Viva Voce and Jazz Band: Mass in Blue

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

7:30 pm

Tickets: Pre-sale  $6, at the door  $8

Online sales begin Monday, March 7

Spring Band Concert

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

7 p.m.

Tickets: Pre-sale $5,  at the door  $6

Online sales begin:  Monday, April 11

Lunch sales Monday, April 18; Tuesday, April 19

Children’s Play

Thursday, April 21, 2016, and Friday, April 22, 2016

6:30 pm

More info. to come

Spring Orchestra Concert

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

7:30 pm

Tickets: $5

Online sales begin Monday, April 11

Lunch sales: Friday, April 22; Monday, April 25; Tuesday, April 26

Dress rehearsal pre-sale  Monday, April 25, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Penn Choir: Spring Concert

Thursday, May 5, 2016, and Friday, May 6, 2016

7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $6

Online sales begin Tuesday, April 26

Lunch Sales Thursday, April 28; Friday, April 29; Monday, May 2; Tuesday, May 3; Wednesday, May 4

Variety Show

Friday, May 13, 2016

7 p.m.

More info. to come

Dance Classic

Thursday, May 19, 2016, and Friday, May 20, 2016

7:30 p.m.

Tickets:  $5

No online sales

Lunch sales: Monday, May 16; Tuesday, May 17; Wednesday, May 18; Thursday, May 19; Friday, May 20

Penn High School Principal Steve Hope announced that nine Penn students – Edward Atkinson, Jack Bao, Rohit Das, Raina DeVries, Katherine Lutz, Olivia Mercurio, Yejee Oh, Eric Pfrender, Christopher Yun – have been named National Merit Finalists.

“The National Merit Finalists from Penn represent the top one percent of all students in the United States,” Hope. “There is no higher academic honor than to be called a National Merit Finalist.

“These students have earned the respect of their teachers and peers by applying themselves and working hard to become elite scholars,” Hope continued. “We are proud of them and we are proud to have supported them on their academic journey.” 

Penn’s National Merit Finalists are in competition for an approximate 7,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million. About half of the Finalists win a National Merit Scholarship.

The National Merit Scholarship program, which was established in 1955, honors the nation’s scholastic champions and the pursuit of academic excellence.

Responding to adversity can define a championship team.

Penn High School’s girls basketball team faced adversity throughout the season, but their ability to counter it with character helped the Lady Kingsmen author one of the more remarkable chapters in Hoosier Hysteria.

Coach Kristi Kaniewski Ulrich’s Kingsmen outscored Columbus North 38-20 and stunned the No. 1-ranked and defending state champion Bull Dogs, 68-48, to capture the Class 4-A state championship Saturday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Penn (28-2) captured the school’s first state crown in girls basketball. Columbus North (27-2) defeated the Kingsmen 67-52 in the regular season, but Penn played that game without point guard Kaitlyn Marenyi (stress fracture).

In the rematch with the state title on the line, Marenyi scored 21 points, and Camryn Buhr scored 24, as the Kingsmen ruled the court. Lindsy Kline scored 11 points, Claire Carlton scored seven and Kamra Solomon scored five points for the Kingsmen.

Buhr and Carlton hustled for seven rebounds each, and also led Penn with three assists each. Marenyi, Buhr and Solomon led Penn’s relentless defensive effort with three steals each.

Penn torched the nets early, hitting seven of its first 11 shots on the way to a 20-9 lead after the first quarter.

Columbus North stormed back, outscoring Penn 19-10 in the second quarter and closing what at one time was a 13-point Penn lead to two points (30-28) by halftime.

Columbus North took a 31-30 lead at the 7:11 mark of the third quarter.

That’s when the Kingsmen responded in full force.

Penn went on a 24-7 run the rest of the third quarter and stormed to a 17 points lead, 54-37, entering the fourth quarter. From that point, the Kingsmen maintained the upperhand to build their 20-point margin of victory.

Buhr and Marenyi led a sizzling effort by Penn. Buhr hit 8-of-12 shots, and Marenyi hit 7-of-10 shots, as the Kingsmen connected on 23-of-44 shots for 52 percent.

Penn Girls Basketball (27-2 record) has advanced to the 4A State Championship game!  They will take on Columbus North (27-1) at 8:15 p.m. this Saturday, February 27, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. 

Penn is seeking its first ever Girls Basketball State Championship, and we are counting on many of our local boosters to join us for this exciting event!  Come on down and support Coach Kristi Kaniewski Ulrich and her squad of exceptional student-athletes as they reach for the prize.

ADVANCE TICKET SALES

STATE GEAR