Penn High School students and programs were the stars of the show at Monday night’s Board meeting (Jan. 22, 2018). Every year, the Board chooses a few schools to hold their Board meetings. The school meeting sites are a way for the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees to not only visit the schools, but to also give the schools a chance to highlight their successes.

As Board Members and guests arrived for the meeting, they were treated to Penn’s Jazz Jazz Combo, under the direction of Mr. Lavon Oke. The group recently received the "Judges Award" (third place) at the Purdue Jazz Festival.

With the help of Board President Chris Riley, STEM Academy/Biology teacher Andrew Warner demonstrated the school’s virtual reality unit that he uses in his classroom with students. President Riley travelled from outer space to Paris and climbed the Eiffel Tower all while never leaving Penn’s IMC!

Penn Principal Sean Galiher also asked students to present on the value of the dozens of Clubs offered at Penn.

More than half of Penn’s approximate 3,700 students take courses within Penn Fine Arts. Academy Leader Glenn Northern updated the Board on some of the recent accomplishments of Fine Arts Students:

• Penn High School students excelled in the Scholastic Art Awards, which is the largest Art competition in the nation. Penn students received 13 Gold Key Awards, 16 Silver Key Awards, and 25 Honorable Mentions.
• Two students have been invited to perform in the 2018 Carneige Hall Honors Performance Series National Youth Orchestra.
• The Penn Orchestra will be performing and participating in a recording soundtrack workshop at Disney World in April, 2018.
• Symphonic Winds placed 7th in the Indiana State Concert Band Finals in 2017.

    
   

Mr. Northern himself was recognized by the Board for his recent award for 2018 Outstanding High School Music Educator of the Year by the Indiana Music Educator Association Board, as well as Penn Softball Coach Beth Zachary for being named 2016-2017 Central Sectional Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Penn’s Wrestling Team overpowered South Bend Adams, 64-12, on Thursday, Jan. 18.

Noah Brown’s pin in :37 highlighted the Kingsmen effort.

Penn winners

106: Hunter Boynton, 11-4 decision.

113: Evan Light, win by forfeit.

120: Vince Sparrow, technical fall.

126: Nate Hadary, pin in 2:59.

132: Jai Pant, 9-7 decision.

145: Jeffrey Harper, pin in 2:35.

152: Austin Heater, pin in 3:24.

160: Noah Brown, pin in :37.

170: Max Chaffee, technical fall.

220: Adam Berta, win by forfeit

285: Hezzy DeVault, pin in 4:16.

Penn overcame a 10-point deficit in the first half, but the Kingsmen were unable to erase another double-digit deficit in the second half as South Bend St. Joseph posted a 67-58 victory against the Kingsmen on Friday, Jan. 19.

Drew Lutz scored 15 points to lead Penn.

Noah Applegate scored 13 points.

Noah Krathwohl scored 12 point.

Kegan Hoskins scored nine points.

PENN  58: Drew Lutz 15, Drew Schneider 3, Beau Ludwick 6, Luke Carlton 0, Noah Applegate 13, Noah Krathwohl 12, Kegan Hoskins 9.

St. Joseph: Joel Strangebye 2, Brady Powers 23, Phillip Robles 9, Hunter West 16, J.R. Konieczny 6, Adam O’Dell 2, Ben Terry 3, Alex Mossey 6.

Three-pointers: PENN 1 (Drew Lutz 1), St. Joseph 9 (Powers 3, West 3, Konieczny 2, Robles 1).

The Penn High School Jazz Combo, under the direction of Mr. Lavon Oke, received the "Judges Award" (third place) at the Purdue Jazz Festival on Saturday, Jan. 20.

The prestigious Purdue Jazz Festival is the largest Jazz Festival in Indiana.

David Richards was also awarded a $200 scholarship to the Indiana University Summer Music Clinic as an Outstanding Soloist.

Penn Jazz Combo members are Ashton Hershberger, Matt Long, Chris Mazurek, Chase Murray, Brian Oke, Santiago Retzloff, and David Richards.

Penn High’s Girls Wrestling Team repeated as the Indiana High School Girls Wrestling State Championship in the second season for the event, outdistancing the state finals field at Lawrence North High School on Friday, Jan. 19.

Penn placed first with 193 points to claim the 2018 State Crown. Hamilton Heights placed second with 64 points. Lafayette Jefferson was third with 59 points.

Penn boasted four individual state champions — Jaden Johnson (88), Madison Burke (152), Aiesha Helepa (170) and Andelisia Henry (220).

Penn results

88: Jaden Johnson, 1st.

106: Eryn Benak, 5th.

126: Anjali Pant, 3rd.

132: Olivia Nixon, 8th.

138: Grace Selis, 4th; Emily Spitaels, 7th; Karmyn Pollock, 8th.

145: Emma Ringer, 5th; Autumn Hale, 6th; Ashley Benak, 7th

152: Madison Burke, 1st.

160: Amanda Feder, 2nd.

170: Aiesha Helepa, 1st

182: Sadie Kunze, 7th

195: Katie Selis, 4th.

220: Andelisia Henry, 1^st

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The Penn Girls Basketball Team wrapped up the Northern Indiana Conference Championship with a 33-31 victory at South Bend St. Joseph on Thursday, Jan. 18.

Penn is 11-0 in the NIC, and 20-1 overall.

Sara Doi led the Kingsmen with 15 points.

Tia Chambers and Jordyn Smith added seven points each in Penn’s victory.

The Kingsmen look to complete a perfect NIC season when next week they face Mishawaka at home on Thursday, Jan. 25, for senior night.

By DAVID OBERT

​Student Reporter

Paul Moala has been impressing fans on the football field for four years. This 6-foot-1, 200-pound defensive back made big plays for the Penn Kingsmen all season.

On Saturday, Jan. 20, Moala hopes to make big plays in the Polynesian Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. Kickoff is set for 11 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed online at ESPN3.

In his senior season for the Kingsmen, Moala scored a total of eight touchdowns — two from returned kickoffs, two from returned punts, two defensive touchdowns, and two receiving touchdowns.

Moala was a force to be reckoned with on the Wild Bunch this season, leading the team with 79 tackles, recovering two fumbles, and intercepting a pass. Opposing teams feared him, coming off a great 2016 season where he picked off seven passes — four of which he returned for touchdowns.

All of these incredible feats earned him the title of Indiana High School Defensive Player of the Year, and a scholarship from the University of Notre Dame to play for the Fighting Irish.

Added to this list of honors is his invitation to play in the Polynesian Bowl.

The Polynesian Bowl will be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday, Jan. 20. Dick Vermeil, who led the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl title and Terry Donahue, who coached at UCLA will serve as the head coaches. NFL players Danny Shelton and DeForest Bucknerwell will serve as honorary team captains. The game ambassadors include the Pittsburgh Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Baltimore Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley, the Tennessee Titans’ Marcus Mariota, and the Seattle Seahawks’ Michael Bennett.

You can see Penn’s Paul Moala playing for Team Mauka. He will wear No. 20 in a green jersey. Catch the game at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, streaming live on ESPN3.

The Penn Girls Basketball Team beat South Bend St. Joseph, 33-31, on Thursday, Jan. 18.

Penn’s victory wrapped up the Northern Indiana Conference Championship.

A Photo Gallery is posted below.

Participate in the Indiana Pacers STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Fest 2018 and you can help your school earn up to $2,000 through the STEM School Incentive program.

The school with the highest attendance at the Indiana Pacers STEM Fest 2018 when the Pacers take on the New York Knicks on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018, will receive $2,000 to be used toward STEM kits or equipment.

Click this link to purchase tickets. The deadline to order tickets is Thursday, Feb. 1.

The Indiana Pacers STEM Fest 2018 is being conducted in partnership with CONEXUS INDIANA.

Here are the details:

• Sunday, February 11, 2018
• Bankers Life Fieldhouse
• STEM Fest: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks: 5 p.m.

Discover Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math through hands-on activities with local Indiana companies, universities, and non-profit organizations. Enjoy a fun-filled day as you get a glimpse into how the Indiana Pacers and other local teams use STEM in SPORTS! Come back for the Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks game starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are only $10 per person for both the STEM Fest and the Pacers game!

INDIANA PACERS STEM FEST 2018 FOR FAMILIES:

A STEM Mentor from a local company, university, or non-profit organization will take your family on an interactive journey through various STEM activities on the main concourse of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Concession stands will be open and available to purchase food & beverage throughout the STEM Fest. Participants can meet Pacers Mascot Boomer and the Pacemates. Participants will also see how the Pacers & other local sports teams use STEM in SPORTS.

Activities also include "Get in the Lane with STEM" and meet future college representatives & employers representing STEM organizations – it’s never too early to start helping your children plan for their future!

Parking will be available in the Virginia Avenue Garage on a first come, first served basis for $15 per space for covered parking, and $6 per space for rooftop parking (limited number of spaces available)

TICKETS ARE LIMITED & SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. HURRY AS THIS EVENT WILL SELL OUT! WALK-UP TICKETS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ON DAY OF EVENT. TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE!

THE DEADLINE TO ORDER TICKETS IS: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018.

The Penn Boys Basketball Team beat Northridge, 78-67, in double overtime on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

A Photo Gallery is posted below.