Five Penn High School students earned top honors at the Northern Indiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair on Saturday, February 28 at Innovation Park at the University of Notre Dame. Each student received at least one award for their research, and three of the students will advance to the State Science Fair in Indianapolis on March 28.

Penn’s students competed against top young scientists from across the region, presenting original research projects and defending their findings before a panel of judges. Their work covered a wide range of scientific topics, from cancer research to environmental science and the effects of technology on living organisms.

Eleanor Niemier (9th grade) presented her project “Cisplatin Effects on Gene Expression in Lung and Colon Cancer.” She received several honors including the Notre Dame College of Science Dean’s Award, the Harper Cancer Research Institute Award, the Regeneron Biomedical Science Award, and a first place ribbon.

Viosa Hernandez (9th grade) earned recognition for her project “How do iPhones, iPads and WiFi affect the development of living organisms? A case study of Raphanus Sativus and Lepidium Sativum.” She received the Saint Mary’s College Dineen Award and a first place ribbon.

Ethan Doane (12th grade) presented “Fighting bacteria with liposomes: a better way to deliver antibiotics.” He was awarded the Notre Dame Biology Senior Award along with a first place ribbon.

Penn also had a strong showing in the team category. Jacob Pennington and Anthony Scott (11th grade) worked together on their project “The Effects of Municipal Wastewater Treatment on Microplastic Size and Concentration.” Their research earned the Community Impact Award, the Stockholm Junior Water Prize Regional Water Prize Award, and a first place ribbon.

Three Penn students will move on to represent the Northern Indiana region at the State Science Fair on Saturday, March 28 in Indianapolis:

• Eleanor Niemier ~ Cisplatin Effects on Gene Expression in Lung and Colon Cancer.” 

• Viosa Hernandez ~ “How do iPhones, iPads and WiFi affect the development of living organisms? A case study of Raphanus Sativus and Lepidium Sativum.”

• Ethan Doane ~ “Fighting bacteria with liposomes: a better way to deliver antibiotics.”

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is proud to celebrate two Penn High School educators, AP U.S. History teacher Keith O’Connell and AP Language and Composition teacher Julie Huxford, for their continued success in helping students excel in Advanced Placement coursework.

Superintendent Dr. Heather Short and Penn Principal Rachel Fry surprised O’Connell and Huxford with the P-H-M Teacher Impact Award recognition. Both teachers had the highest percentage of students earning a score of 3 or higher on their respective AP exams last year, demonstrating the impact of strong instruction, high expectations, and a commitment to student growth.

O’Connell and Huxford collaborate as co-teachers for a seminar class, allowing students to benefit from their combined expertise in historical analysis, reading comprehension, discussion, and argumentation. Their partnership helps create a cohesive academic experience that supports students across disciplines and strengthens overall achievement.

Beyond individual classroom success, Penn’s AP performance data shows a clear upward trend compared to state averages:

• AP U.S. History results have improved from -1% to +8% compared to statewide scores over the past three years.

• AP Language and Composition results have increased from +11% to +18% compared to state results during the same period.

These gains reflect a consistent emphasis on critical thinking, analytical writing, and deep content understanding, skills that prepare students not only for AP exams, but also for future college and career success.

The P-H-M Teacher Impact Award is presented each semester to teachers whose students show the greatest academic growth, highlighting excellence in teaching and learning across the district.

Thank you to the P-H-M Education Foundation for providing the beautiful engraved awards that the teachers keep in their classrooms as a reminder of what they and their students accomplished.

All P-H-M Impact Award Winners will be recognized for their outstanding student growth at the next School Board Meeting on Monday, March 16 at Meadow’s Edge Elementary School.

Click to see the full photo gallery in Canto.

Penn High School Early College students recently stepped outside the classroom to explore college campuses across Indiana during the program’s annual College Blitz Trip.

Since 2023, the Early College Academy has taken students on four College Blitz Trips with the goal of helping juniors, and sometimes sophomores when space allows, experience college life firsthand. The two-day trip gives students the opportunity to visit multiple campuses that would be difficult to see during a traditional one-day field trip and helps them imagine what their future could look like after high school.

This year’s trip included visits to Indiana University Bloomington, Purdue University West Lafayette, IU Indianapolis, and Butler University. Students experienced everything from large Big Ten campuses to a downtown city setting and a smaller private university atmosphere. The variety allowed students to compare campus environments, explore academic programs, and start thinking about which type of school feels right for them.

The experience also focused on building connections within the Early College program. On Tuesday night, students shared a memorable bonding moment when they were recognized at an Indiana Pacers game.

About Penn’s Early College Academy

Penn High School’s Early College Academy gives students the opportunity to begin their college journey while still in high school. Through a partnership with Ivy Tech Community College, students take dual credit courses taught by credentialed Penn teachers, allowing them to earn college credits while completing high school graduation requirements.

The program supports students as they build confidence, develop college readiness skills, and work toward earning significant college credit, and in some cases an Associate’s Degree, before graduating from Penn High School. Early College continues to open doors for students by providing access, support, and real college experiences that help prepare them for success after graduation.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

College Blitz Trips are an extension of the Early College mission. By walking college campuses, meeting with admissions staff, and seeing college life up close, students gain valuable perspective that helps make their next steps feel more real and achievable. For many students, the trip is more than a visit. It is a chance to see themselves on a college campus and begin planning for what comes next.

To learn more about Penn’s Early College Academy click here.

Penn High School’s Class of 2026 has earned a record-high 15 National Merit Scholarship Finalists—placing those students among the top one percent of high school students nationwide! This milestone marks the most National Merit Finalists in Penn High School history and represents a significant academic achievement for the Penn-Harris-Madison community.

The 15 students include:

• Sreeja Bhattacharjee
• Mehreen Buchh
• Balthasar Cammett
• Madeline Dunn
• Connor Geoghegan
• Zachary Girton
• Quinn Hayden
• Wasif Javed
• Sultaan Khan
• Trenton Mager
• Ishita Masetty
• Leo Ni
• Joshua Oh
• Roman Ramos
• Grant Spadafore

Approximately 15,000 high school seniors nationwide have been named 2026 National Merit Scholarship Finalists, representing the top one percent of students in the United States. Selected from more than 16,000 Semifinalists announced in September 2025, finalists must complete a rigorous application process that includes confirming high PSAT/NMSQT performance with a qualifying SAT or ACT score, maintaining an outstanding academic record (generally a 3.5 GPA or higher), earning a high school recommendation, and submitting a self-descriptive essay. Of those finalists, approximately 6,930 students will ultimately receive National Merit Scholarships, with winners announced between April and July 2026. Click here for more details.

Penn High School Principal Rachel Fry commented on how the achievement reflects the dedication of students and the academic excellence Penn faculty provided … 

“I am incredibly proud to celebrate our 15 National Merit Scholarship Finalists, the most in our school’s history. Even more impressive, every one of our semi-finalists advanced to finalist standing, a testament to their dedication, perseverance, and academic excellence. This remarkable achievement reflects not only the talent and effort of these students, but also the commitment of our teachers, families, and school community who support them each day. It is an exciting accomplishment and I could not be more proud of this outstanding group of scholars.”

Penn High School’s Model United Nations team, sponsored by Eric Bowers, was named the Outstanding Small Delegation at the Indiana University Model U.N. competition.

Aydn Kurama was named Outstanding delegate, Marie Stambaugh earned honorable mention, and Rebecca Wagnam earned Verbal Commendation.

Penn Playschool students took their first “trip” of the week without ever leaving the classroom, thanks to a special visit from some Penn High School Spanish students.

Penn Playschool is part of Penn High School’s Health and Human Services Academy and provides a hands-on learning experience for both high school and preschool-aged students. Early Childhood Education students plan and lead intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development-based activities for preschool-aged students, applying what they’ve learned throughout the school year. Under the guidance of certified teacher Kylee Wetzel, the program supports future educators while creating meaningful, engaging experiences for young learners.

This week, Penn Playschool is exploring a “Cultures & Travel” theme, and the kickoff featured a fun, interactive mini-lesson in Spanish led by Penn High School Spanish students.

During the most recent lesson, playschool students practiced counting to 10 in Spanish and learned a few everyday words and phrases, including hello, thank you, and goodbye. Experiences like this not only introduce early learners to new languages and cultures, they also create meaningful connections across our school community by bringing students together to learn from one another. Great way to show #PHMExcellence, Kingsmen!

📍 Penn High School | 🗓 March 7–8, 2026
🎟 Admission: Free

Penn High School will host a FIRST Indiana Robotics District Competition on Saturday, March 7, and Sunday, March 8, 2026. The competition will take place in the Main Arena and feature more than 40 teams from across Indiana.

Click here to see a photo gallery of last year’s competition.

📅 Event Schedule

Saturday, March 7

• 10:30 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies

• All Day – Qualification Matches

• @7:00 p.m. – Competition concludes

Sunday, March 8

• 9:30 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies

• 2:00–5:00 p.m. – Playoff Matches & Awards

🤖 About the Competition

• Theme: FIRST AGE (Archaeology)

• Game: REBUILT

• This event serves as a qualifier for the FIRST Indiana Robotics Championship
  (April 17–19 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds)

• Top teams may advance to the FIRST Robotics World Championships

👉 Click here for more information on the REBUILT game

🚗 Parking & Entry

• Parking: Penn High School parking lots: Main, Softball, Soccer; and across the street at Schmucker Middle School

• Spectator Entrance: Door D (northwest corner of the school)

🍔 Food & Amenities

• Food trucks available both days

• Spectator-friendly event for all ages

Come cheer on Indiana’s best student engineers and experience innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving in action!

Penn’s Science Olympiad teams enjoy exceptional success at the 2nd annual Notre Dame Invitational, competing against 20 teams.

🥇1st Place

Chem Lab – Toby Prince & Ishita Masetty

Designer Genes – Sadie Charbonneau & Shyla Douglas

🥈2nd Place

Astronomy – Allie Tessier & Katie Kuzmic

Disease Detectives – Iniya Christopher & Kathy Lee

Machines – Kelsey Meyer & Maddie Kuzmic

🥉3rd Place

Dynamic Planet – Jayden Hoffman & Caleb Tyler

Botany – Jayden Hoffman & Caleb Tyler

Water Quality – Ishita Masetty & Abhijay Masetty

EVENT INFO:
Sunday, Feb. 15

8:00 – 11:00 p.m.

Penn High School Main Arena
Entry through Door A

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

• Tickets will be for sale online until 8 p.m. on the day of the dance (or until the event is sold out). No ticket sales at the door on the evening of the dance. 
• Your ticket includes dancing, unlimited smoothies, coffees, lattes, Italian sodas, etc., bottled water, assorted desserts, and photo booth fun.
• You (and your guest) must have your ticket (printed or digital) and school ID to enter. 
• Your confirmation e-mail will include instructions about policies, door entry, music requests, etc.
• Students Choose the Music again this year. A special link to a Google Form will be included in the ticket confirmation e-mail.
• Music Requests can be made until Friday, Feb. 13, at 11:59 p.m. Get your requests in. NO requests are taken the night of the dance.
• Dress to impress, but formal attire is not required.
• Guests from other schools are welcome to attend with you, but they must be 20 years old or younger, not in middle school, and they must have their school ID or state issued license to enter.
• Once you leave the dance re-admittance will not be permitted.
• Students may bring a small purse or clear bag, but these bags must be checked in the coat-check and will not be permitted in the main arena. 
• Shoes can be worn and there will also be a coat check (We are not responsible for lost/stolen items, so don’t leave valuables in the coat check).
• This is a school event and students are expected to follow the same code of conduct as during the school day. Security and administration will be onsite for the event, which includes security patrolling the parking lot areas.
• Your ticket includes unlimited drinks from American Espresso (Lattes, Frappes, Italian Sodas, etc.), Bottled Water, Assorted Desserts, Ritters and photo booth fun are all part of ticket price.

For any questions, please contact pennhspto@gmail.com