Tonight (Friday, September 8, 2023) in Indianapolis at the Indiana Department of Education’s (IDOE) second annual Educational Excellence Awards Gala, Penn High School received the Excellence in College Readiness Award along with a $250,000 grant!

The Excellence in College Readiness Award as described by the IDOE is as follows:
This award recognizes an individual school that has demonstrated a commitment to helping students earn a credential of value before graduating high school. One or more of the following must be demonstrated by the award recipient: completion of high-value postsecondary credentials for graduating seniors, implementation of strategies that support students reaching their highest potential on ACT and SAT examinations, and expansion of scholarship opportunities for students entering into a higher education institution upon graduating.

For back-to-back school years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, Penn High School has been the top Indiana high school with the highest number of students earning ICC (Indiana College Core) or AGS (Associate of General Studies) certificates earned! Click to read more of Penn High School’s state and national recognition.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker and Penn administrators Principal Dr. Sean Galiher, Associate Principal Rachel Fry, Assistant Principals Josiah Parker and Jeanie Mitchell were on hand to receive the award. Other P-H-M honorees recognized at this evening’s Gala included:

• Penn AP History Teacher Eric Bowers, Indiana History Teacher of the Year
• Amanda Fox, 2022 Top 10 Finalist for Indiana Teacher of the Year
• Ryan Towner, 2022 Milken Educator 

This is the second year in a row P-H-M has been honored at the IDOE Educational Excellence Awards Gala. At the inaugural event September 2022, Towner and Fox were honored. Fox for being Indiana’s Finalist for Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Towner for being last year’s Milken Educator.

At this year’s Educational Excellence Awards Gala, the IDOE awarded nearly $5 million to schools and educators across the state! The black-tie event focused on celebrating and elevating the work of Indiana’s educators as they support student learning.

“The heart of the Educational Excellence Awards Gala is focused on the impact of our educators and schools. We know that we have continuous improvements to make for our students…and we also know that we have shining examples of success existing across our state,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education.

“Our goal was to host a red carpet event to celebrate our very best educators, on a level similar to how we celebrate movie stars and professional athletes, because their incredible impact deserves to be celebrated at the grandest level we can,” Dr. Jenner continued her praise of Indiana’s teachers. “Many of the educators tonight have positively impacted hundreds of students over the years and are leaders in their local communities. So, bringing them together for an awards night to roll out the red carpet and provide surprise monetary awards is one small way we can spotlight the massive impact they continue to make on our state.”

Click to read the IDOE’s full news release on the 2023 Educational Excellence Awards Gala.

Last Friday (August 25, 2023) night’s big 28-7 Kingsmen win over the Mishawaka Cavemen also gave Penn Football Coach Cory Yeoman his 200th career win (click to watch a video that captures the magic of that night)–making him Penn High School’s second football coach to receive 200 wins. Penn is now the ONLY high school in Indiana to have two coaches meet this milestone. The first was longtime legendary Kingsmen Coach Chris Geesman, who Coach Yeoman played under and coached with at the beginning of his career at Penn.

So it was only fitting that Hall of Famer Coach Geesman be on hand this morning (Wednesday, August 30) when the Indianapolis Colts presented Coach Yeoman with the award for Colts/NFL Coach of the Week for Week 2, presented by Corteva Agriscience, headquartered in Indianapolis. Click here to read the Indianapolis Colts news release. Former NFL player and current Youth Football Commissioner for the Colts, Mike Prior, presented Coach Yeoman with the award and a $2,000 check that will go to Penn Athletic Department. Prior gave Coach Yeoman his award and check in Penn High School’s Strength & Conditioning Weight Room with Penn’s senior football players applauding him.

The student-athletes got a chance to hear from Prior who talked about his commitment and dedication through challenges in high school and college football, his choice to play pro football over baseball, and how it eventually paid off. Prior played for Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Colts and the Green Bay Packers. For the Packers, he was a punt returner and a defensive back. He played in Super Bowl XXXI and XXXII. Prior showed the players one of his Super Bowl Championship rings and they had a chance to ask him questions.

On an interesting note, Prior is an assistant football coach at Cathedral High School, who Penn plays this Friday, Sept. 1, in Indianapolis. Coach Yeoman joked and asked Prior if he “wishes every team good luck this week?” Prior said that “Yes, he does!” 

The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation’s ENL Services’ is sponsoring the District’s FREE Community Connections Fair!

Come check out what the Mishawaka, South Bend, and Elkhart communities have to offer to your families!

P-H-M is inviting area businesses who want to participate in the Community Connections Fair to sign up. Click here to request a table at the event. 

The Fair will also include cultural performances from P-H-M students and families. Families wishing to sign up to perform, click here.

Bilingual interpreters will be on hand at the event to assist those families who need it.

Come out and enjoy the many cultural performances and student work that will be on display representing countries from all over the world! 

Please join us! Click here to download and share the flyer.

For more information, please contact:
Rylee Jacobson
P-H-M Elementary ENL Coordinator
(574) 271-8598, Ext. 50913
rjacobson@phm.k12.in.us

On Friday, August 25th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m., the “Backyard Brawl” rivalry between Mishawaka and Penn High School was renewed at Everwise Freed Field at Penn High School. The last time the two teams met up was Oct. 18, 2019.

The rematch lived up to all the pre-game anticipation and excitement, and ended with a Kingsmen victory of 28-7 over the Cavemen. The magic of “Friday Night Lights” & the “Return of the Backyard Brawl” was captured in this video. Take a look … 

Pictures from the Community Tailgate can be found in this Facebook album, click here.

Friday Night, August 25, 2023 marks the return of the storied rivalry between the Mishawaka Cavemen and Penn High School. The “Backyard Brawl” was last played at Mishawaka on Oct. 18, 2019. This time around Penn is hosting. We’re expecting a large crowd for this big game, which is also Penn’s home opener, and we want everyone to have a good time.

Here are some things that will be helpful for all fans as they head to Everwise Freed Field.

Parking:

• Paid Parking ($2 cash) at these lots:
  • Penn High School (Front Lot & Jefferson Rd. Lot)
  • Softball/Tennis Lot
  • Bittersweet School Lot
• Free Parking at these lots:
  • Soccer Lot (Bank Lot)
  • Pennway Lot
  • Schmucker Lot (front, Sides & in Back of School)

Gate & Ticket Info:

• Gates open at 5:00 p.m. (Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m.)
• Tickets are available online for presale for $6 (PreK & younger are FREE; students & all other age groups same price)
  • Click here to buy your tickets online
• Tickets on August 25 (at the gate or online) are $7
• PHM Employees plus one guest get in FREE, but you must have ID badge & the guest must be with the employee
• Please remember middle schoolers cannot be dropped off unsupervised. Once in the game, the students are free to walk around. At least one responsible adult must be onsite.
• Tickets are sold at the North & South gates only!
• Penn All Sports Passes and tickets (hard & online) are accepted at all gates
• The Center Gate is reserved for Penn All Sports Passes and online ticket holders only
• No Reentry!

Community Tailgate

• All fans are welcome; it is a Community Tailgate!
• You must purchase a football ticket to attend the Community Tailgate. You will not be able to enter the stadium at 5:00 unless you have a ticket to the game!
• Once inside the stadium head down to the white tents in the South End Zone, near the Zolman’s Tire & Auto Care South Concession Stand.

Fan Safety:

• Extra police officers will be on hand for traffic direction & crowd control
• There will be an extra outdoor concession stand just selling drinks and water
  • STAY HYDRATED! It will be a hot day/early evening.
• Fire & EMS will be on site
  • Contact a medic if you or anyone near you is experiencing a heat related illness
• Please utilize crosswalks when crossing Bittersweet Road

Rules to Remember:

• No Reentry
• No outside food or beverages, no insulated cups
• No backpacks
  • Diaper bags & large women’s purses are allowed
• Penn does not have a clear bag policy
• No electronic noise makers
• No Footballs or Beach Balls
• No weapons of any kind
• No alcohol
• No Smoking/Vaping products of any kind. All PHM school property is smoke free.
• No open flames at private tailgating

Our educators will go to new heights to show students the unlimited possibilities and limitless opportunities available to them!

The U.S. Army’s Golden Knights Parachute Team invited Assistant Principal Mr. Josiah Parker to go skydiving with them. The goal of the program was to highlight and show all the different types of jobs available in the Army. Mr. Parker was among 30 educators and community representatives selected to participate. 

Take a look at the video of the jump and the photo gallery below

Last spring, Mr. Parker also visited Fort Sam Huston to learn more about medical related jobs/training available in the Army to come back and share with students.

This year’s annual Community Tailgate will be a great way to kick off the return of the Backyard Brawl between the Kingsmen and the Mishawaka Cavemen. 

All fans are welcome, Cavemen and Kingsmen! There’s plenty of food for fans on both sides.

Gates open at 5:00 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, near the Zolman’s Tire & Auto Care South Concession Stand.

For $6 you get your choice of hot dog, hamburger or brat served with a bag of chips, choice of drink, and a cookie. Food tickets for the Tailgate are purchased at the Tailgate.

 

On Monday, June 5, 2023, Penn High School held our 64th Commencement; it was held at the University of Notre Dame. The Class of 2023 is made up of approximately 876 students. It was a wonderful time to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of ALL of our graduates!

Highlights from the Class 0f 2023 include:

• $15 million in scholarships
• 446 earned Academic Honors diplomas
• 253 earned High Honors diplomas
• 41 earned Technical Honors diplomas
• 119 Early College Students
  • 106 earned ICC through Ivy Tech Community College
  • 89 earned Associates Degrees from Ivy Tech

Click here for more information about the Class of 2023. Click here to learn more about 17 Valedictorians and Salutatorians.

Click here to download a copy of the Commencement program.

The full ceremony was recorded and has been archived on the Penn Harris Madison YouTube channel. You can watch it below.

In addition to the fully produced program, we set up a camera to focus only on the students walking across the stage. If you want to see your graduate walk again, you can fast forward to their name in the alphabet and watch them in the video is below:

The official photos of every graduate were taken by Inter-State Photography and are available for purchase. Please refer to the Senior Parent Communications for the link and password.

Unofficial candid photos were taken by Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation 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 click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the photo while viewing it in the Photo Gallery function. 

Penn High School Principal Sean Galiher announced that 17 students have been named Valedictorians for the Class of 2023. Four students were named Salutatorians.

Valedictorians Sakina Al-Fadhl, Ryan Cheng, Tanya Datta, Eshaal Kizilbash, Gwyneth Lannon, David Luan, Reagan Ludwig, Zenia Qasim, Abigail Schroeder, Derick Shi, Sydney Szklarek, Grace Wang, Zichu Wang, Carl Xu, Allison Yu, Janet Yu and Madelyn Zavada, and Salutatorians Jillian Adams, Anna Buckler, Arda Kurama and Amelia Martin will represent the Class of 2023 at Penn’s Commencement Ceremony, 7 p.m., Monday, June 5, at the University of Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.

Click here for Commencement information.

Valedictorians

Sakina Al-Fadhl

Parents: Gamilah Rajeh and Dahan Al-Fadhl

Elementary School: Prairie Vista

Middle School: Schmucker

College Plans: Majoring in Neuroscience at IU Bloomington

Career Plans: Plans to attend medical school

Activities/honors: National Honor Society, Penn Advocates for Thinking Healthy (PATH) Executive, Muslim Student Association (MSA) Vice-President, Academic Super Bowl, Medical Club, Freshman Mentoring, Model U.N., French Club, Violinist in Symphonic Orchestra, National Merit Finalist

Ryan Cheng

Parents: May Cheng and Steve Cheng

Elementary School (Earliest to Most Recent): Brookfield Elementary School (in Masury, Ohio), Plantation Park Elementary School (in Bossier City, Louisiana), Liberty Elementary School (in Mishawaka, Indiana)

Middle School: John Young Middle School (in Mishawaka, Indiana)

College Plans: New York University, planning to major in Data Science

Career Plans: Data analytics at Bloomberg or other major New York firms

Activities/Honors: Robotics [FIRST Tech Challenge (2019-2020), FIRST Robotics Competition (2021-2023)], Quiz Bowl (2019-2023), National Honor Society (2021-2023), National Merit Semi-Finalist (2023), U.S Presidential Scholars Nominee (2023)

Tanya Datta

Parents: Anjuli Datta and Suman Datta

Elementary school: Horizon

Middle school: Discovery

College plans: Cornell University

Career plans: Computer Science, Software Engineer

Activities/honors: Rising Star of Indiana Class of 2023, National Merit Finalist, U.S. Presidential Nominee and Candidate, AP Scholar with Distinction, Science Academic Superbowl Captain, TEAMS, National Honor Society, Kingsmen Tutor, Kingsmen Court, Girls Who Code, Research at Notre Dame

Eshaal Kizilbash

Parents: Aeliya Mir and Asad Kizilbash

Elementary school: Northpoint

Middle school: Discovery

College plans: Majoring in Neuroscience at Northwestern University

Career plans: Oncology

Activities/honors: Key Club President, Kingsmen Court Executive, National Honor Society, Science Academic Super Bowl, National Merit Finalist

Gwynth Lannon

Parents: Linnea Lannon and Kevin Lannon

Elementary school: Prairie Vista

Middle school: Schmucker

College plans: Notre Dame, to study English and physics

Career plans: Author, Professor, Editor

Activities/honors: Spectrum editor, Symphonic Orchestra, Orchestra Leadership, cross country Academic All-State, track and field, National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Freshmen Mentor, Science National Honor Society, ISSMA district and state solo and ensemble Gold Medals, Dried Ink Contest Winner, Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Regional Silver and Gold Keys and National Silver Medal

David Luan

Parents: Yan Gao and Guanglei Luan

Elementary school: Northpoint

Middle school: Discovery

College plans: Neuroscience at University of Notre Dame

Career Plans: Doctor

Activities/honors: National Honor Society, DECA, Tennis, Kingsmen Tutor, TEAMS, TSA, Medical Club, Handwritten Hearts, Key Club, PACA

Reagan Ludwig

Parents: Jennifer Ludwig and David Ludwig

Elementary school: Prairie Vista

Middle school: Schmucker

College plans: Notre Dame

Career plans: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician

Activities/honors: Handwritten Hearts Club (president), Penn soccer and tennis, National Honor Society (vice-president), Freshmen Mentor, Girl Talk Mentor, Piano player, Special Outdoor Leisure Opportunities ski volunteer, St. Joseph Hospital volunteer, Key Club member, Penn Poetry Club member, Penn Girls Soccer Kingsman Award, National Merit Scholarship Finalist

Zenia Qasim

Parents: Saadia Qasim and Asghar Qasim

Elementary school: Northpoint

Middle school: Discovery

College plans: Indiana University; neuroscience and business

Career plans: Physician

Activities/honors: Key Club, National Honor Society, Freshmen Mentor, Kingsmen Tutor, MSA, Medical Club; awarded Burger King Scholarship

Abigail Schroeder

Parents: Manmam Schroeder and Eric Schroeder

Elementary school: Northpoint Elementary

Middle school: Discovery

College plans: Purdue University to study biomedical health sciences

Career plans: Gene Therapist

Activities/honors: Freshmen Mentoring (Executive), Chinese Club (Vice President), Kingsmen Tutoring Leader, National Honor Society, Key Club, English Academic Superbowl, Medical Club, AP Scholar with Distinction

Derick Shi

Parents: Guoyun Liu and Zonggao Shi

Elementary school: Northpoint

Middle school: Discovery

College plans: University of Notre Dame, Computer Science

Career plans: Software engineer, data scientist, or AI engineer

Activities/honors: Discovery Middle School Mathcounts Head Coach, Math Academic Super Bowl Captain, Science Academic Super Bowl Captain, Technology Student Association Executive, Tests of Engineering Aptitude Mathematics and Science, National Honors Society, Key Club, Model United Nations, Notre Dame Center for Civic Innovation Intern, American Math Competition, Indiana Math League, Mathcon, Trine Math Competition, Inspirit AI Camp, National Merit Finalist, Spectrum Dried Ink Poetry Contest, AP Scholar with Distinction

Sydney Szklarek

Parents: Melanie Szklarek and David Szklarek

Elementary school: Prairie Vista

Middle school: Schmucker

College plans: Notre Dame

Career plans: Civil/Environmental Engineer

Activities/honors: Captain of Penn Girls Soccer, Student-Athlete Leadership Council, Lilly Endowment Scholar, National Honor Society, Vice President of Handwritten Hearts, Key Club, Leader of Discovery Girl Talk Club, Girls Golf, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Candidate for U.S Presidential Scholar, National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, Soccer Academic All-State, 2022 Penn Girls Soccer Program Pillar Award

Grace Wang

Parents: Hong Zhu and Guoyao Wang

Elementary school: Prairie Vista

Middle school: Schmucker

College plans: University of Notre Dame majoring in Global Affairs

Career plans: Becoming a software developer with a focus in the ethics of algorithms and AI, or possibly the field of cybersecurity

Activities/honors: Key Club, PATH (executive), Model U.N., English Academic Super Bowl (state champions in 2021 and 2022), Fine Arts Academic Super Bowl, Marching Band (Section Leader), Band (Flute), Piano, Asian Student Union (Co-President), Pep Band, Freshmen Mentoring, Tri-M Music Honor Society, National Merit Finalist

Zichu Wang

Parents: Chu He and Ting Wang

Elementary school: Northpoint

Middle school: Discovery

College plans: Carnegie Mellon University, Business Major and Computer Science Minor

Career plans: Business/Economics Professor

Activities/honors: Lilly Endowment Scholar, National Merit Scholarship Winner, Indiana Elks Association Scholarship Winner, Coca Cola Foundation Scholarship Semifinalist, Indiana Rising Star, AP Scholar with Distinction, Notre Dame Center for Civic Innovation Intern, SBYSO Principal Violist, SBYSO 2023 Concerto Competition Winner, ISSMA State Solo Perfect Score, Model U.N. Executive, I.U. Model U.N. VIII FIFA Council 3rd Place Delegate, Discovery Middle School MathCounts Assistant Head Coach, Penn Tennis, Penn Tennis JV Invite No. 2 Doubles Tournament Champion, TSA Executive, Indiana TSA Conference 1st Place Coding, MathCon Honorable Mention, TEAMS Executive, TEAMS 3rd Place State, Science and Math Academic Superbowl, National Honor Society, Key Club, Indiana Math League, Kingsmen Tutor

Carl Xu

Parents: Alice Yang and Dale Xu

Elementary school: Mary Frank

Middle school: Discovery

College plans: Purdue

Career plans: Computer Hardware Engineer; Virtual Reality (VR) Start-up

Activities/honors: Hibachi Host

Allison Yu

Parents: Haiyan Yin and Richard Yu

Elementary school: Northpoint

Middle school: Discovery

College plans: Yale University, majoring in Economics & Mathematics

Career plans: PhD. in finance, Quantitative finance, professor

Activities/honors: Lilly Endowment Scholar, National Merit Scholar Finalist, Indiana Rising Star, AP Scholar with Distinction, Indiana Regional Academic All-Star, Presidential Scholar Candidate, Model U.N. Executive, Science Academic Super Bowl Team Captain, Kingsmen Court Executive, Discovery Middle School MathCounts Coach, Notre Dame Research Assistant, Research Assistant at I.U. Bureau of Business and Economic Research, MathCon, Kingsmen Tutoring, Key Club, National Honor Society

Janet Yu

Parents: Lijun Bai and Liguo Yu

Elementary school: Northpoint

Middle school: Discovery

College plans: Notre Dame

Career plans: Computer Science

Activities/honors: Mathcon 10th grade Honorable Mention, Mathcon 11th grade Bronze Medalist, 2X AIME qualifier, 2022-2023 Jane Street AMC 12 A Certificate of Excellence, Indiana Math League state top-scorer, Math Superbowl member, Discovery Middle School Mathcounts Assistant Head Coach, NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing Certificate of Distinction, 2x Indiana State Debate Tournament Semifinalist, NSDA National Tournament Qualifier, Speech and Debate Team Captain, Discovery Middle School Debate Coach, U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate, National Merit Scholarship winner, Rising Stars of Indiana Class of 2023, AP Scholar with Distinction, Kingsmen Tutoring Leader, Freshmen Mentor, Key Club member, National Honor Society member, bioinformatics research at IUSB

Madelyn Zavada

Parents: Nicole Zavada and Michael Zavada

Elementary school: Horizon

Middle school: Discovery

College plans: Purdue, with the intention of studying Computer Engineering

Career plans: Computer Engineering

Activities/honors: Captain of the English Academic Super Bowl team, state champions in 2021 Captain of the Social Studies Academic Super Bowl team Captain of the Interdisciplinary Academic Super Bowl team, state runner-up in 2022 Kingsmen Tutor/Kingsmen Tutor Leader Discovery Middle School MathCounts coach Member of Penn Coding Club Tutoring Spanish speaking students at Schmucker Middle School

Salutatorians

Allison Adams

Parents: Allison Adams and Robert Adams

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery 

College Plans: Purdue University

Career Plans: Human Resources Management / Management Consulting

Activities/honors: Penn Robotics Team 135 Outreach Lead, 2X FIRST Robotics Dean’s List Semi-Finalist, CTE Presidential Scholar nominee for Penn High School

Anna Buckler

Parents: Megan and Michael Buckler

Elementary School: Sand Pine (Wesley Chapel, FL)

Middle School: Dr. John Long (Wesley Chapel, FL)

College Plans: Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame.

Career Plans: I plan to work in a Non-Profit Organization in a position that allows me to travel and advocate for others’ rights

Activities/Honors: Participated in Marching Band entire high school career, holding the positions of Section Leader and Assistant Section Leader junior and senior years, also been in Jazz Band and Symphonic Orchestra, as well as National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and Tri-M, JV Girls Basketball Team for one year, earned the Most Outstanding Underclassman in AP Chemistry Award in 2022 and gold medals on both a solo and an ensemble piece for ISSMA in 2023

Arda Kurama

Parents: Cigdem Kurama and Yahya Kurama

Elementary school: Northpoint

Middle school: Discovery

College plans: Notre Dame

Career plans: Computer Science, Piano Performance

Activities/honors: Robotics FRC & FTC, Coding Club, TSA, Symphonic Winds, ISSMA

Amelia Martin

Parents: Kirsten and Patrick Martin

Elementary school: Montgomery Knolls Elementary School (Silver Spring, MD)

Middle school: Eastern Middle School (Silver Spring, MD)

College plans: UC Davis, majoring in Computer science engineering

Career plans: Earning a PhD surrounding AI and the ethics behind computer science, pursuing a career in academia to teach and research.

Activities/honors: Graduated a semester early and started working as a research assistant for Notre Dame; ran track and cross country and played basketball for two years at Penn.

We are happy to once again be able to hold Commencement at the University of Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion. There is no ticket requirement—meaning families are not limited on the amount of attendees. A livestream of Commencement will again be provided to friends and family not in attendance.

All Families have to do is return to this webpage on Penn’s website, Monday, June 5, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. The placeholder graphic above will be replaced by the embedded livestream from YouTube.

Share this link with family and friends who want to watch: https://penn.phmschools.org/2023PennGraduation

 

Families have received Commencement communication directly from Penn High School. Please click here to view those communications.