Yeoman Family Plaza Dedication Photo Gallery
Friday, August 23rd was the Home Opener for Kingsmen football. It was a perfect night for the dedication of the Yeoman Family Plaza at Everwise Freed Field. See the full photo gallery below.
Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent Dr. and Mrs. Thacker donated $10,000 to the P-H-M Education Foundation Naming Rights Campaign to rename the plaza after former Penn High School Head Football Coach Cory Yeoman and his family.
The Yeoman Family bleeds black and gold. Coach Cory’s father Wally Yeoman was an assistant coach with legendary Chris Geesman. Coach Cory and brothers Trent and Todd all played for Penn. Male members of the Yeoman family and those who married into the family have either played for or coached for the Long Black Line at some point. The wives of Cory, Trent, Todd, their children and grandchildren were all present for the dedication along with Dr. and Mrs. Thacker and P-H-M Education Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Turnblom.
Cory earned all-state honors at defensive tackle. In 1979, he led a Kingsmen defense that only allowed 33 yards rushing a game. That Kingsmen team finished 11-1, winning an NIC Championship before losing to Hobart in the second round of the playoffs. Cory graduated from Penn in 1980.
Cory played for Miami (Ohio) University. He was a roommate and teammate of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl winning head coach, John Harbaugh. He joined the Kingsmen coaching staff after graduation from Miami, and has been on the Kingsmen sidelines for 40 seasons.
In his first season after replacing legendary Coach Geesman, Cory guided Penn to the 2003 State Championship Game. Yeoman also led Penn to Semi-state titles in 2017, 2015 and 2011. In addition to winning four Semi-state Championships, the Kingsmen have won nine regional crowns under Yeoman’s leadership, 13 sectional titles and 17 Northern Indiana Conference championships.
Yeoman retired at the end of the 2023-2024 school year after 40 years with P-H-M.
Dr. Thacker has been superintendent of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation since 2006 and has supported the Education Foundation wholeheartedly. Over the course of 18 years, Dr. and Mrs. Thacker have donated $232,500 to the P-H-M Education Foundation. Most of this money has either been unrestricted donations or used as matching funds for fundraising initiatives.
Dr. and Mrs. Thacker have made five donations since 2021 totaling $65,000 as part of the Naming Rights Campaign, recognizing the contributions P-H-M employees have made to the community:
- Chris Geesman Kingsmen Athletic Center (formerly the Kingsmen Athletic Center), $25,000 donated in December 2021 ($5,000 per year over five years, for an overall period of 12 years)
- Al Rhodes Kingsmen Court, $10,000 donated in October 2023 (one lump sum)
- Arthur M. Klinger Planetarium (formerly the P-H-M DVT & Planetarium), $10,000 donated in January 2024
- Yeoman Family Plaza, $10,000 donated in March 2024
- Greg Dikos Field, $10,000 donated in August 2024
Culver’s Sports Performance Center Dedicated at Penn
Penn High School welcomed a new member of the Kingsmen Athletics team when Culver’s Sports Performance Center was dedicated on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. Keith Remington and Mark Nowak co-owners of Culver’s Restaurant (on McKinley Avenue near Penn High School) donated $125,000 to P-H-M Education Foundation’s Naming Rights campaign.
The partnership between Culver’s, P-H-M, P-H-M Education Foundation, and Penn High School signals a new chapter in Kingsmen Athletics Excellence.
P-H-M Board of School Trustees VP Ryan McCullough, P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, PHMEF Exec. Dir. Jennifer Turnblom, P-H-M Chief Operating Officer Dr. Aaron Leniski, Penn High School Principal Dr. Sean Galiher, Assistant Athletic Director Bridget Williams, and Strength & Conditioning Coach Matt Cates welcomed Remington (1997 Penn grad) and Nowak and their families today.
The T-shirts that the student-athletes were wearing at today’s event are an additional annual gift from Culver’s valued at $7,000.
The mission of the Education Foundation is to develop alternative sources of income to support education initiatives in the School Corporation by strengthening partnerships between the community and the District. PHMEF supports education through awarding innovative teaching grants, staff development and other corporation-wide initiatives.
“Community support is vital for our ability to support excellence in education in P-H-M schools,” PHMEF Director Jennifer Turnblom said. “Culver’s generous donation shows their dedication to our schools and positive impact on our community and we are honored to partner with them through the naming rights program. Their commitment allows us to continue to increase grant funding and support district wide programs in all 15 P-H-M schools.”
The P-H-M Board of School Trustees approved the Naming Rights partnership between the P-H-M Education Foundation and Culver’s at the Feb. 12 Board Meeting.
According to the agreement, Culver’s co-owners Keith Remington and Mark Nowak and agree to pay PHMEF $125,000 over 12 years to name the weight and performance center at Penn High School the Culver’s Sports Performance Center.
Penn Athletic Director Jeff Hart said that Culver’s sponsorship will provide a positive impact in the performance and lives of more than a thousand Penn students each school year.
“We sincerely appreciate the commitment that Culver’s is making to our school community,” Hart said. “By sponsoring our weight rooms, Culver’s is helping to put a spotlight on the Strength and Conditioning program at Penn and the importance that a successful program can have on our 1,100 student-athletes.
“The leadership at Culver’s understands the benefits this program provides through the prevention of injuries, self confidence, improved athletic performance, and long-term health,” Hart continued. “We look forward to an exciting partnership.”
The Culver’s Sports Performance Center is nationally renowned. The National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA) named Penn’s Strength and Conditioning program a NHSSCA Program of Excellence School. This honor recognizes that Penn High School’s Strength & Conditioning program operates at a highest level of professionalism.
In awarding Penn and Coach Cates with this honor NHSSCA noted …
“This honor recognizes that this High School Strength & Conditioning program operates at a highest level of professionalism. To earn this honor Coach Cates & Penn High School has displayed excellence in safety, quality, efficacy, outreach & highlighting. While also displaying excellent continuing education & technology usage in their Strength & Conditioning program.”
2024 Community Tailgate & Yeoman Family Plaza Dedication
P-H-M’s annual Community Tailgate is a tradition and a great way to kick off the start of the Kingsmen football season. This year’s home opener will be against Valpo on Friday, August 23rd.
Gates open at 5:30 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 Zolman’s Tire Concessions Stand.
At 6:15 p.m. a special dedication for recently retired Penn Head Football Coach Cory Yeoman. Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent Dr. and Mrs. Thacker donated $10,000 to the P-H-M Education Foundation Naming Rights Campaign to name the plaza located at Penn High School’s Everwise Freed Field the Yeoman Family Plaza, after former Penn High School Head Football Coach Cory Yeoman and his family.
The Yeoman Family bleeds black and gold. Coach Cory’s father Wally Yeoman was an assistant coach with legendary Chris Geesman. Coach Cory played for Penn, earning all-state honors at defensive tackle. In 1979, he led a Kingsmen defense that only allowed 33 yards rushing a game. That Kingsmen team finished 11-1, winning an NIC Championship before losing to Hobart in the second round of the playoffs. Cory graduated from Penn in 1980.
Cory Yeoman played for Miami (Ohio) University. He was a roommate and teammate of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl winning head coach, John Harbaugh. He joined the Kingsmen coaching staff after graduation from Miami, and has been on the Kingsmen sidelines for 40 seasons.
In his first season after replacing legendary Coach Geesman, Yeoman guided Penn to the 2003 State Championship Game. Yeoman also led Penn to Semi-state titles in 2017, 2015 and 2011. In addition to winning four Semi-state Championships, the Kingsmen have won nine regional crowns under Yeoman’s leadership, 13 sectional titles and 17 Northern Indiana Conference championships.
Yeoman retired at the end of the 2023-2024 school year after 40 years with P-H-M.
Male members of Yeoman family and those who married into the family have either played for or coached for the Long Black Line at some point.
The dedication of the plaza in the name of the Yeoman Family is a great way to honor such strong supporters of the Kingsmen Family and all they’ve contributed to the Penn Football program!
Dr. Thacker has been superintendent of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation since 2006 and has supported the Education Foundation wholeheartedly. Over the course of 18 years, Dr. and Mrs. Thacker have donated $232,500 to the P-H-M Education Foundation. Most of this money has either been unrestricted donations or used as matching funds for fundraising initiatives.
Dr. and Mrs. Thacker have made five donations since 2021 totaling $65,000 as part of the Naming Rights Campaign, recognizing the contributions P-H-M employees have made to the community:
- Chris Geesman Kingsmen Athletic Center (formerly the Kingsmen Athletic Center), $25,000 donated in December 2021 ($5,000 per year over five years, for an overall period of 12 years)
- Al Rhodes Kingsmen Court, $10,000 donated in October 2023 (one lump sum)
- Arthur M. Klinger Planetarium (formerly the P-H-M DVT & Planetarium), $10,000 donated in January 2024
- Yeoman Family Plaza, $10,000 donated in March 2024
- Greg Dikos Field, $10,000 donated in August 2024
Dr. and Mrs. Thacker Donate $10,000 for Greg Dikos Field
On July 22nd, the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees approved the $10,000 gift from School Superintendent Dr. and Mrs. Thacker to the P-H-M Education Foundation Naming Rights Campaign to name the field at Penn High School’s Jordan Automotive Baseball Stadium as the Greg Dikos Field.
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:
- Chris Geesman Kingsmen Athletic Center (formerly the Kingsmen Athletic Center), $25,000 donated in December 2021 ($5,000 per year over five years, for an overall period of 12 years)
- Al Rhodes Kingsmen Court, $10,000 donated in October 2023 (one lump sum)
- Arthur M. Klinger Planetarium (formerly the P-H-M DVT & Planetarium), $10,000 donated in January 2024
- Yeoman Family Plaza, $10,000 donated in March 2024
- Greg Dikos Field, $10,000 donated in August 2024
Dr. Thacker has been superintendent of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation since 2006 and has supported the Education Foundation wholeheartedly. Over the course of 18 years, Dr. and Mrs. Thacker have donated $232,500 to the P-H-M Education Foundation, including this most recent donation of the naming rights. Most of this money has either been unrestricted donations or used as matching funds for fundraising initiatives.
Coach Dikos owns an 839-298 record in 37 seasons.
Penn has won six State Championships during Dikos’ tenure as head coach: 1994, 1998, 2001, 2015, 2022 and 2023. Coach Dikos has also led Penn to seven Semi-State Championships, 13 Regional Championships, 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.
Per PHMEF’s Naming Rights fundraising initiative, 80 percent of the donation will go into the Foundation’s endowment, which will in turn provide alternative and additional funding for various co-curricular and extracurricular programs. The remaining 20 percent directly funds professional development initiatives for P-H-M teachers. Continuing the education and training of teachers is a major priority for P-H-M School District.
The mission of the Education Foundation is to develop alternative sources of income to support education initiatives in the School Corporation by strengthening partnerships between the community and the District. PHMEF supports education through awarding innovative teaching grants, scholarships to students, staff development and other corporation-wide initiatives.
PHM Introduces ParentSquare, new parent communication tool
With the start of the 2024-2025 academic year, P-H-M is switching to ParentSquare, a new unified, user-friendly, communications platform designed with parents and guardians in mind. CLICK HERE TO GET ALL THE INFO YOU NEED TO GET STARTED.
ParentSquare provides a centralized location for families to receive communications from school principals, teachers, coaches, and front office staff on all their students, in all schools, in all classrooms! CLICK HERE TO GET ALL THE INFO YOU NEED TO GET STARTED.
Parents/guardians receive alerts, updates, and posts on:
- important notifications, such as school closings and delays
- attendance
- principal & teacher newsletters
- school & classroom calendar of events
- volunteer & RSVP for events
- fill out permission slips & other forms
- … ALL IN ONE LOCATION!
Families chose their preferred mode of communication for non-urgent notifications– app, text, email, phone. Parents/guardians can also chose to have all communications automatically translated to their preferred first language.
As we approach the first day of school (Wednesday, August 21), principals and teachers will be using ParentSquare to share important “Back to School” information. Parents and guardians are asked to activate their accounts by Monday, August 12, 2024.
PLEASE NOTE: If your child is transitioning to a new building from last school year, the information will be updated later this summer. You are still able to register for ParentSquare.
To activate parent/guardian accounts, parents need to check their email for the welcome and introductory email.
The email was sent between Thursday, July 11 and Friday, July 12, 2024 with the subject line: “Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp. is now using ParentSquare.”
The sender of the email will appear as “Penn-Harris-Madison via ParentSquare” with a donotreply @parentsquare.com email address, similar to this … donotreply+01d8d49e-b6f1-47f3-ac23-d45abf67b233@parentsquare.com
Penn Students Recognized at Elkhart Area Career Center Recognition Night
Before Penn’s Commencement on June 3, 13 seniors were recognized as a part of Elkhart Area Career Center’s Student Recognition Night, held May 14.
These are the awards and scholarships the students won:
- Grayce Spadafore: Teachers Choice Award – Cosmetology
- Madison Trosper: Teachers Choice Award – Culinary Arts, Culinary/Baking Scholarship
- Emma Heintzelman: Teachers Choice Award – Exercise Science
- Arianna Holiday – Turner Scholarship Winner – Criminal Justice
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Dylan Brown: Teachers Choice Award – Automotive Service Technology |
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Christian Nelson: Teachers Choice Award – CNC Machining |
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Joshua Morrow: Teachers Choice Award – Diesel Services Technology |
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Joshua Morrow (2nd from right): Gateway Mile Autofest Toolbox and Tool Scholarship Award – Diesel Service Technology Alex Valentiny (far right): Gateway Mile Autofest Toolbox and Tool Scholarship Award – Motorsports |
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Gracie Goss (far right): SillsUSA State Gold Winner – Commercial Photography |
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Reid Ohlson (far right): Future Farmers of America (FFA) State Finalist – Small Engines |
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Isabel Botham (far right): Turner Scholarship Winner – Computer Networking |
Class of 2024 Commencement Video & Photo Gallery
On Monday, June 3, 2024, Penn High School held our 65th Commencement. The ceremony was held at the University of Notre Dame. The Class of 2024 is made up of approximately 854 students. It was a wonderful time to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of ALL of our graduates! Click here to see the photo gallery below with photos that can be downloaded for FREE!
The full ceremony was livestreamed and has been archived on the Penn Harris Madison YouTube channel. You can watch it below. This is the direct link: https://youtube.com/live/5gWg5mbUuqc
Click here to download a copy of the Commencement Program.
Click to see video and pictures of some of the Senior Parades that took place Thursday, May 30th and Friday, May 31st.
Highlights from the Class 0f 2024 include:
- nearly $16 million in scholarships
- 442 earned Academic Honors diplomas
- 325 earned High Honors diplomas
- 72 earned Technical Honors diplomas
- 119 Early College Academy students
- 113 earned a credential through Ivy Tech Community College
- 98 earned an Associate’s Degree from Ivy Tech
- 21 Valedictorians
- 4 Salutatorians
Click here for more information about the Class of 2024.
The official photos of every graduate were taken by InterState Photography and are available for purchase. Please refer to the Senior Parent Communications for the link and password.
The photos in this photo gallery are unofficial candid photos were taken by Penn-Harris-Madison School Communications Department staff. We have uploaded these candid photos to the photo gallery below. To download these high-resolution jpg files for FREE from the photo gallery below, just simply right click and select “Save image as” and save it to your desktop or device.
Commencement 2024 Parking & Other Patron Information
Commencement is Monday, June 3 at at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. The ceremony begins promptly at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 for attendees.
For those wishing to watch the livestream, click here.
Students are to enter Gate 10. Doors open at 4:30. Seniors arriving after 5:00 will not be in alphabetical order and may be required to be seated at the end of the line or may even be excluded from Commencement. Click here for more student related information.
Please refer to the map below for parking locations.
Clear bags are preferred, but not required. Notre Dame reserves the right to search purses/bags. Backpacks, totes, and duffel bags are not allowed. Please see ND’s list of prohibited items include (or click here):
- Alcohol
- Animals (Service Dogs are permitted)
- Artificial noisemakers (including whistles)
- Cameras with lenses longer than six (6) inches
- Cans or glass bottles (including aerosols)
- Drones or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
- Fireworks or explosives
- Food or beverage (except unopened plastic water bottles). Food is allowed as a medical necessity with proof.
- GoPro or selfie sticks
- Halloween-style masks
- Laser or pen pointers
- Signs, banners, and balloons
- Stadium chairs or seat backs (unless medical reason with documentation)
- Strollers
- Throwing of any object at any time (including footballs)
- Water vessels of any kind, including water bottles
- Use of tobacco products and e-cigarettes
- Use or possession of marijuana, and other illegal drugs
- Weapons/Firearms. WEAPONS OF ANY KIND ARE PROHIBITED ON CAMPUS
- Any other items deemed dangerous or inappropriate
It’s also highly recommended that families make prior arrangements as to where to meet their seniors after the graduation ceremonies have ended. Please do not interrupt the procession as the graduates exit the Joyce Center. The graduates will be released to meet with family and friends after re-entering the field house.
We wish everyone a wonderful Commencement evening!
Mrs. Beelaert & Mrs. Horvath win Impact Awards
Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker started handing out the third and final round of district Impact Awards on Wednesday, May 22. The awards were given to teachers who had the most significant individual student growth with DIBLES, ILEARN, and SAT assessments for Spring 2024.
Dr. Thacker, along with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Heather Short, Director of Professional Development and Student Learning, visited four schools to surprise five teachers letting them know that they were the latest winners, and Penn High School had two winners:
- Candice Beelaert had the highest student growth in English on the SAT.
- Rebecca Horvath had the highest student growth in Math on the SAT.
Congrats to Mrs. Beelaert and Mrs. Horvath and their students!
As this school year comes to a close we want to thank all our teachers and students for their commitment to academic excellence this school year. The hard work really paid off!
Thank you to the P-H-M Education Foundation for covering the cost of the awards for purchasing the beautiful crystal awards given to the teacher award recipients.
Teacher Signing Day
It’s widely known that there’s a national teacher shortage. In Indiana, it’s been reported that there are around 2,000 teacher vacancies across the state.
Encouraging high school students with an interest in children and education to become teachers is one way we can help widen the teacher shortage gap.
Under Penn High School’s Family and Consumer Sciences program, students who are interested in pursuing a career in education can take several courses, such as Early Childhood Education and Cadet Teaching.
Click here to see Penn’s full Program of Studies.
On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, a special event was held for 13 Penn students who plan to become teachers. Patterned after College Signing Day what student-athletes do to declare their intentions on playing for a particular school, the Penn students donned their college of choice t-shirt and signed their intentions to major in Education with proud parents in the audience. We also asked the students to invite their favorite P-H-M teachers.
- Brooklin Kline: Indiana University South Bend, Elementary Education
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Kylee Wetzel, Penn High School - Sarah Gentry: Purdue University, Elementary Education
Favorite Teachers: Mrs. Sherri Potts, Mrs. Cassie Scarsella, Mr. Jason Pikuza, Bittersweet Elementary; Mr. Steven Sanders, Penn High School - Gretchen Moore: Indiana University Bloomington, Secondary Special Education
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Bonnie Manningham, Penn High School - Kaitlyn Vargo: Indiana University South Bend, Elementary Education
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Rachael Meyers, Penn High School - Molly Knight: Ball State University, Elementary Education
Favorite Teacher: Mr. John Hedrick, Discovery Middle School - Brianna Magnuson: Holy Cross College, Elementary Education
Favorite Teacher Mrs. Rachael Meyers, Penn High School - Emma Szymanski: University of Kentucky, Elementary Education
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Anna King, Mary Frank Elementary - Payton Johnson: Indiana University South Bend, Elementary Education
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Rachael Meyers, Penn High School - Samantha Fecteau: Ball State University, Elementary Education
Favorite Teacher: Miss Anne Napoli, Penn High School - Caitlynn Fischer, IUSB, Elementary Education
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Stephanie Betzer, Moran Elementary - Ellie Stabnick, University of Tampa, Elementary Education
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Ally Starkweather, Penn High School - Xavier Browning, Purdue University, Secondary Education
Favorite Teacher: Mr. Kyle Marsh, Penn High School - Brandon Mueller, Indiana State, Secondary Education
Favorite Teacher: Mr. Jeremy Starkweather, Penn High School
Good luck to these students and we hope to see these faces again when they come back to Penn-Harris-Madison to teach!
