The application window for P-H-M Education Foundation’s Fall 2017 Grant Cycle is now open!

And thanks to the  success of the P-H-M Education Foundation’s 20th Anniversary Gala in May 2016, an additional $10,000 is available for grants. A total of $ 33,920 is available this academic year!!!

PHMEF is seeking innovative programs that have not been previous funding through past grant cycles. Note there are funding restrictions such as not paying for substitutes, food, party supplies, etc. A complete list of restrictions can be found in the application packet. Those applications requesting non-funded expenses will not be presented to the Grants Committee.

So parents work with your student’s teacher or principal to write up a grant proposal for a program you’ve been wishing you child’s school had. PHMEF grants are eligible to any staff member who can demonstrate their program’s innovation, creativity and reflects commitment to excellence in education. Click here for a list of the unique Spring grant awardees.

The window for applications closes on Thursday, October 26. Applications are due promptly at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 26. If you are turning your applications in at the ESC, please come to 55900 Bittersweet Rd., Mishawaka. No late applications will be accepted. Note that there must be 10 copies for the traditional form.

There are two ways to apply:

• EZ Form: for grants less than $250

• Traditional Form: to be used for grants requesting $250 or more and/or a request that is comprehensive (multi-classroom, school-wide or district-wide requests)

Application and filing details can be found on the Education Foundation’s website. Click here to access the application.

The timeline for the PHMEF Fall Grant Cycle is as follows:
 

Thursday, Oct. 26 – All applications (EZ Form and Traditional Form) must be turned in by 4 p.m. No late applications will be accepted. Note there must be 10 copies for the traditional form. 
 

Between Oct. 31 and Nov. 27 – PHMEF grant committee meets to select recipients and presents grants for approval to the P-H-M Education Foundation Board of Directors.

By Nov. 30 – Recipients will be notified by email with formal letter to follow

By Dec. 8 – Checks will be sent to the recipient’s home school.

The Penn High School Football Team opened the 2017 Northern Indiana Conference portion of its schedule with a 35-0 victory against South Bend Adams on Friday, Sept. 15.

A Photo Gallery of the game is posted below.

Penn’s Student Section turned out in full force for the home football game against South Bend Adams on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017.

A tailgate party preceded the game, which featured a Neon Night theme.

A Photo Gallery is posted below.

Penn High School capped off its Homecoming activities with the presentation of the Homecoming Court and the naming of the Homecoming Queen and King.

Kendra Laidig was named the Homecoming Queen, and Carrington Neal was named the Homecoming King in a vote of Penn High School Seniors. Laidig and Neal and the Homecoming Court were honored by Penn-Harris-Madison Supt. Dr. Jerry Thacker, Penn High School Principal Sean Galiher, and Penn High School Instructor Cara Watt, who organized the event.

Also named to the Homecoming Court were Kelsey Anderson, Madison Hanna, Rachel Hickey, Kennedy Parker,  Joel Leibengood, Paul Moala, James Morris and Gabe Spencer.

A Photo Gallery is posted below. 

Last Friday night (September 15) was a big night … not only was it Penn’s Homecoming game vs. Adams High School, it was also the dedication of the Larry Beehler Ticket Center! 

Mr. Beehler was honored in a pregame ceremony with his family before kickoff. He was joined by his wife, four children and their spouses, six grand children with spouses, and one great grand child! Members of P-H-M Board of School Trustees, Education Foundation, P-H-M Administration, along with Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker were also on hand. Click to watch the video below of the night’s highlights.

Mr. Beehler is the longest serving Board Member on the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees. In his 31^st year of service with P-H-M, Mr. Beehler was elected to the Board as the Madison Township representative ​ in July 1986. He is a graduate and class valedictorian of then Madison Township High School (Wakarusa), which is now Madison Elementary School, one of P-H-M’s 11 elementary schools. Larry and his wife of 55 years, Judy, are lifelong residents of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. 

This past August, anonymous donors donated $25,000 to the P-H-M Education Foundation Naming Rights campaign to have the newly constructed ticket center at Penn High School’s TCU Freed Field named after Larry Beehler. Click here to read more about the Education Foundation naming rights campaign.

By GARRETT WENZEL

On Thursday, Sept. 14, the No. 1-ranked Penn Kingsmen Girls Soccer Team roared past the Riley Wildcats, 9-0.

The quick-strike Kingsmen offense got on the scoreboard in the third minute with a goal by Brooke VanDyck.

Just one minute later, Kristina Lynch scored to make it 2-0 Penn in the fourth minute.

The Kingsmen would then light up the scoreboard with three goals in four minutes.  McKenzie Blankenbaker, Mary Kaczynski and Maya Locognato scored to build the Kingsmen lead to 5-0.

In the 30th minute, Carly Todd score to put the Kingsmen up 6-0. Kristina Lynch scored her second goal of the night on a penalty kick to put the Kingsmen up 7-0.

Grace Szklarek followed that up with a goal to put the Kingsmen up 8-0.

Haylee Shahan wrapped up the scoring for the Kingsmen.

By BRADEN PITTMAN

Penn’s Girls JV Soccer Team shutout Washington's Varsity Team, 9-0, on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

Penn not only shutout Washington, but the stellar Kingsmen defense didn’t even allow a shot on goal the entire game.

Sydney Domal led the team with two goals. Brooke Neal, Jordan Cencelewski, Nicole Kilbourne, Hannah Shely, Allison Yergler, Addison Machalleck and Anna Todd also scored goals.

Anna de Varona led the team in assists with two, along with assists by Ellie Tuesley and Hannah Shely.

Penn placed third in the Lafayette Jeff Volleyball Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 16.

In opening-round play, Penn beat Bloomington North, 25-3, 25-12, and beat Covington, 25-22, 25-15.

No. 3 Providence beat Penn 25-16, 26-24. Penn star Ally Hickey did not play in the match due to injury.

In the third-place match, Penn Beat Homestead 25-21, 25-13.

Sophia Cruz had nine aces to lead Penn in the four-game tournament. Julia Beers and Kylee Hixenbaugh had five aces each. Alyssa Torres had four aces. Italia Fields had 34 kills and Alyssa Torres had 23 kills. Rachel Rupert and Courtney North had 13 and 11 kills respectively. Naomi Willis had 54 assists in the tournament. Rachel Hickey led Penn with 54 digs. Kylee Hixenbaugh and Sophia Cruz had 25 digs each.

By GARRETT WENZEL

The No. 1-ranked and defending state champion Penn Kingsmen Girls Soccer Team rolled past Leo (8-0) and Fort Wayne Canterbury (8-0) on Saturday in the Canterbury Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 16.

Florida State recruit Kristina Lynch score a hat trick (three goals) in each game.

Kristina Lynch scored the Kingsmen’s first two goals of the game on assists from Lauren Cernak and Lauren Hamilton. McKenzie Blankenbaker scored in the 18th minute to put the Kingsmen up 3-0 over the Lions. The next goal was scored by Kristina Lynch to wrap up the hat trick and put the Kingsmen up 4-0.

Hamilton scored her second of the game in the 45th minute to put the Kingsmen up 5-0.

In the 49th minute, Brooke VanDyck blasted in a goal to put the Kingsmen up 6-0. Carly Todd would add onto that in the 65th minute to put the Kingsmen in front 7-0. The final Kingsmen goal would be scored by Grace Szklarek in the 67th minute to help the Kingsmen seal the victory 8-0.

In the 8-0 victory against Fort Wayne Canterbury, Kristina Lynch scored three goals. Maya Lacognato, Brooke Fuller, Brooke VanDyck, Regan Hart and Mary Kaczynski scored goals. Goalie Mackenzie Wood played offense in the second half and had two assists. Sydney Egendoerfer, McKenzie Blankenbaker, Kelsi Carrico and Kayla Leady also had assists.

Penn’s Girls Cross Country Team turned in a spectacular effort at the 50th running of the prestigious New Prairie Invitational, finishing second among 32 teams in the Class AAA race on Saturday, Sept. 16.

About 2,700 runners from 105 high schools in Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio competed in the event.

Penn’s Girls placed second with 153 points. Valparaiso finished first with 97 points.

The Kingsmen Girls competed in a field that included one third of the Top 25 teams in Indiana.

“On a hot day, the strength and depth of the Lady Kingsmen shined through,” Penn Girls Cross Country head coach Michael Clements said. “Every day at practice they rise to the challenge which I present them and I’m excited that they are starting to see the hard work pay off with success on some of the biggest cross country stages in Indiana.

“We were extremely competitive at every position, including our sixth & seventh runners beating several scoring runners from other teams, which was huge for us today,” Clements said.

“A big theme of ours is being adaptable, both in life and running, and today our pack adapted phenomenally to some tough conditions and stellar competition.”

Penn’s Lauren Frank placed 16th overall with a time of 19:30.8. Dani Spring was 25th (19:57.3), Brooke Neal was 27th (19:58.7), Ellie Jankowski was 40th (20:20.6); and Riley Keppler was 45th (20:28.9).

Valparaiso also won the Boys Class AAA race with 88 points. Penn was seventh with 217.

Colton Shail was Penn’s top runner with a 28th-place finish (16:46.2). Curtis Cornell placed 34th (16:51.1), Matt Long placed 45th (17:01.9), Chandler Neal placed 46th (17:04.5) and Chad Piatt places 64th (17:22.9).

Penn’s Girls boasted the top two runners in the Girls JV race, which had more than 500 runners. Reagan Hoke was first (20:59) and Haley Makowski was second (21:06).