Penn High School Principal Sean Galiher announced that 21 students have been named Valedictorians for the Class of 2024. Four students were named Salutatorians.

Valedictorians Mia Aboukhaled, Shayan Asafuddaula, Joel Bell, Owen Black, Henry Gillin, Lillian Gregory, Caroline Johnson, Suzana Josenhans, Bohdan Kolomiiets, Erini Mattheos, Aadil Qasim, Bella Schaetzle, Connor Schmitt, Jaden Shim, Ella Smoker, David Son, Jayden Wang, Lillian Weiss, Audrey Wise, Michelle Yuan and Felix Zhang, and Salutatorians Anika Amin, Maria Goffinet, Rhea Rakhra and Landon Sears will lead the Class of 2024 at Penn’s Commencement Ceremony, 7 p.m., Monday, June 3, at the University of Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.

VALEDICTORIANS

Mia Aboukhaled

Parents: Dany Aboukhaled and Wakim Aboukhaled

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Study Biology at Indiana University.

Career Plans: Medicine

Activities/Honors: Four seasons on the Penn Girls Lacrosse Team, Key Club, Freshmen Mentor, Medical Club, Kingsmen Tutor.

Shayan Asafuddaula

Parents:  Kousumi Tania and Shayan Asafuddaula

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Purdue University

Career Plans: Engineering

Activities/Honors: Debate, Robotics, DECA, Academic Super Bowl, NHS, Model U.N.

Joel Bell

Parents: Angela Bell and Jason Bell 

Elementary School: Northpoint and Tomoka Elementary

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Indiana University majoring in Finance

Career Plans: Finance (Private Equity or Investment Banking)

Activities/Honors: Founder and President of the Chess Club, co-Founder and Executive of the Math Club, Public Relations Officer of DECA, Executive of the Kingsmen Court, IASP Indiana Rising Star, National Merit Commended Scholar, Indiana University Kelley School of Business Scholar, Kingsmen Tutor

 

Owen Black

Parents: Danielle Black and Karl Black

Elementary School: Cleveland

Middle School: Schmucker

College Plans: Indiana University, pre-Medicine Bio Major

Career Plans: Anesthesiologist

Activities/Honors: Varsity Track (Pole Vault), U.S. Presidential Scholar Nominee, National Merit Finalist.

Henry Gillin

Parents: Amy Gillin and Peter Gillin

Elementary School: Horizon

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Purdue University to study Engineering

Career Plans: Plans to start own technology company with a basis in robotics and artificial intelligence. 

Activities/Honors: Captain of the Penn Varsity Lacrosse Team (lettered three years), member of the Penn Varsity Hockey Team (lettered two years), member of the Penn Robotics Team, the Black Knights

Member of the National Honor Society 

Lillian Gregory

Parents: Laura Gregory and Chad Gregory

Elementary School: Prairie Vista

Middle School: Schmucker

College Plans: Purdue University, Chemical Engineering

Career Plans: Chemical Engineer

Activities/Honors: Symphonic Orchestra cellist, Science Academic Super Bowl captain, German Club council member, Tri-M Music Honor Society vice-president, Mathcounts coach at Schmucker Middle School, Kingsmen Tutoring Internship leader, National Honor Society member, Key Club member, German American Partnership Program (GAPP) member, National Merit Finalist, Rising Star of Indiana 

Caroline Johnson

Parents: Abigail Johnson and Eric Johnson

Elementary School: Horizon

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Purdue University, Mathematics

Career Plans: Actuary

Activities/Honors: Key Club, National Honor Society, Target employee, DECA, Penn PACA, National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction .

Suzana Josenhans

Parents: Barbara Josenhans and Thomas Josenhans.

Elementary School: Sharon Elementary (K-3), Chandler Elementary (4-5).

Middle School: Castle North Middle School.

College Plans: Study Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Notre Dame.

Career Plans: Chemical or Biomolecular Engineer and research developing new technology. 

Activities/Honors: Co-Founder of Fischoff Chamber Music Association’s “Music For,” President of French Club, Secretary of Science National Honor Society, and member of National Honor Society, Key Club, and the South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra, U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate, AP Scholar with Distinction

Bohdan Kolomiiets

Parents: Iryna Yefimchuk Kolomiiets and Andrii Yefimchuk Kolomiiets

Elementary School: Erudytynya School (1st grade, Ukraine) School Number 3 (2nd grade, Ukraine), Sophia School (3rd grade, Ukraine), Hillside School and then International School of Luxembourg (4th grade),  Walt Disney Elementary (USA, 5th grade) 

Middle School: Schmucker (6th grade), Discovery (7th and 8th grades)

College Plans: Undecided.

Career Plans: Earn a JD/MBA degree and then pursue a career either in corporate/business law, investment banking, finance or Ukrainian/Polish politics

Activities/Honors: Debate Team executive (district champion, State runner up and LaPorte Tournament Champion-all in P.F. debate with Noah Schafer), Speech Team executive, Grissom Middle School Debate assistant coach,  Model U.N. executive, 180 days around the World Club member, South Bend Youth Advisory Council member, PACA officer, DECA, Freshman Mentor, Tennis (Penn High School Invitational No. 2 doubles champion with Zichu Wang), Soccer Referee,

-American Citizenship Award 5th grade.

Erini Mattheos 

Parents: Nektaria Mattheos and Panagiotis Mattheos

Elementary School: Prairie Vista

Middle School: Schmucker

College Plans: University of Notre Dame, Biology

Career Plans: Dentist

Activities/Honors: President of Dream Commission Society, Executive of Around The World in 180 days, National Honor Society, Key Club, JV Tennis, Kingsmen Tutor, Freshman Mentor, DECA

Aadil Qasim

Parents: Saadia Qasim and Qasim Asghar

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Study Neuroscience at Indiana University.

Career Plans: Physician.

Activities/Honors: Blood Drive Chair of NHS

Executive Board Member of MSA

Kingsmen Tutor

DECA Competitor

Bella Schaetzle

Parents: Lina Schaetzle and Dan Schaetzle

Elementary School: Walt Disney and Mary Frank

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Purdue University, Chemical Engineering.

Career Plans: Earn a Masters in Chemical Engineering and then Law School to study patent law.

Activities/Honors: Key Club President, Speech and Debate team captain, National Honors Society member,  Mishawaka Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council member, Discovery Middle School debate coach, and Kingsmen Tutor. Interned at Notre Dame in the mass spectrometry and proteomics lab, $2170 grant from the P-H-M education foundation for the Penn Grown Project (run by Key Club), Lilly endowment community scholar, National Speech and Debate Degree of Distinction. 

Connor Schmitt

Parents: Kathryn Park and John Schmitt 

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Attend Indiana University as a Wells Scholar majoring in Human Biology on a Pre-Med track with a minor in Philosophy.

Career Plans: Orthopedic surgeon.

Activities/Honors: Co-Founder and Co-President of Penn’s Association for Children with Autism, Boys Tennis Team Captain, National Honor Society Vice President, Science National Honor Society Executive, Kingsmen Court Representative, Discovery MATHCOUNTS Assistant Coach, Stock Market Club, DECA, National Merit Scholarship Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction.

Jaden Shim

Parents: Jaehee Shim and Scott Shim

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Will attend either the University of Virginia, the University of Notre Dame or Indiana University to study business and statistics

Career Plans: Unknown

Activities/Honors: Boys Tennis (Senior Captain), Penn Korean Club Co-President/Founder, National Honor Society Internal Vice President, Discovery Middle School MathCounts Assistant Coach, Kingsmen Tutor Leader, Member of DECA/Key Club/PACA (Penn’s Association for Children with Autism), National Merit Commended Scholar, two-time Northern Indiana Conference All-Conference Second Team (Boys Tennis, 2022, 2023)

Ella Smoker

Parents: Jen Smoker and Phil Smoker

Elementary School: Meadow’s Edge

Middle School: Grissom

College Plans: University of Notre Dame to study finance and business management

Career Plans: Business, likely venture capitalism or consulting

Activities/Honors: Short Hair Because We Care Club – founded the club in 2018 at Grissom Middle School and continued the club a Penn, current founder and president, hosted a yearly hair donation event at which a local salon came and cut/prepped hair for donation to Children With Hair Loss, covered by local news and media coverage, DECA two-year club president, four-year member, qualified for the International competition three years in a row by placing top three in state every year, Granger Student Ministries – weekend service middle school group leader and band member, as well as summer camp counselor, Kingsmen Against Cancer four-year member, secretary for two years, Freshmen Mentor three years, National Honor Society for both years eligible (Junior, Senior), Penn-Harris-Madison Education Foundation Intern (Sophomore, Junior), Key Club four years, National Society of High School Scholars  both years eligible (Junior, Senior)

David Son

Parents: Yun Kim and Yang Son

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: UCLA to study Business Economics

Career Plans: Business and Economics

Activities/Honors: Captain of Penn Swim and Dive, Freshmen Mentor Executive, Kingsmen Tutor Leader, Kingsmen Court Executive, Co-President of Penn’s Association for Children with Autism, National Honor Society President.

Jayden Wang

Parents: Lin Wang and Zheng Wang

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: University of Notre Dame, pre-med, Chemistry major

Career Plans: Emergency Medicine Physician

Activities/Honors: Science National Honor Society Co-founder and President, Fischoff Chamber Music Academy Community Engagement Intern, Cancer Research Intern at Notre Dame, South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra, Penn High School Symphonic Orchestra, Key Club, National Honor Society, PACA, Piano, Lilly Endowment Scholar, U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate, National Merit Finalist, Regional Academic All Star, National Chemistry Olympiad National Qualifier, AP Scholar with Distinction, Hoosier Piano Competition 1st in State

Lillian Weiss

Parents: Andrea Weiss and Jonathan Weiss

Elementary School: Prairie Vista

Middle School: Schmucker

College Plans: Purdue University, Biology

Career Plans: Pathologist or Geneticist

Activities/Honors: Penn Competition Dance Team member (captain for 11th and 12th grade), IHSDTA State Champion in duet (11th and 12th grade), National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, National Honor Society member, Key Club member, Kingsmen Tutor, Freshmen Mentor, Kingsmen Against Cancer member, PACA and Handwritten Hearts member.

Audrey Wise

Parents: Jane Wise and Douglas Wise

Elementary School: Horizon

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Pharmaceutical Sciences at Purdue University

Career Plans: Pharmacy industry

Activities/Honors: Penn Marching Kingsmen, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Symphonic Winds, Advanced Jazz Ensemble, Kaleidoscope Jazz Combo, Symphonic Orchestra, Whirlpool Foundation Scholarship winner, DECA ICDC qualifier, South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra

Michelle Yuan

Parents: Miao Zhong and John Yuan

Elementary School: Horizon

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Cornell University Nolan School of Hotel Administration.

Career Plans: Hotel manager.

Activities/Honors: Airbnb Superhost, Penn Korean Club Co-president and Founder, Penn Chinese Club Co-president, Penn Key Club, Penn National Honor Society, TEAMS, Grace Chinese Christian Conference Group Leader, Penn Kingsmen Tutor, Penn Kingsmen Tutor Internship and Private Tutoring, Symphonic Orchestra Violinist, Piano Pianist and Accompanist, Figure skating – Private and Public Coach and Figure skater.

Felix Zhang

Parents: Shanqin Chen and Yongtao Zhang

Elementary School: Northpoint.

Middle School: Discovery.

College Plans: Undecided.

Career Plans: Undecided.

Activities/Honors: Concertmaster of the All-State Orchestra, Penn Symphonic Orchestra, South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra. Top 3 placements at International Piano Competitions. Founding Violinist of Music For Community String Quintet, Interns for Fischoff Chamber Music Academy, AP Calculus AB Perfect Score. National Merit Scholarship Winner. Presidential Scholar Candidate. Discovery MathCounts Head Coach. Mathnasium Instructor. Co-founder and executive of Penn Math Club. Secretary of Penn’s National Honor Society Chapter. Spell Bowl Individual and Team State Champions. Math Academic Super Bowl. DECA. 3x AIME qualifier. MathCON  National Finals 2nd place. Indiana Math League State Champion.

SALUTATORIANS

Anika Amin

Parents: Ekta Amin and Nikesh Amin

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Indiana University

Career Plans: Major in Neuroscience

Activities/Honors: President of Penn Medical Club, Member of National Honor Society, Member of Key Club, Three-year member of Freshmen Mentoring, Two-year member of Science National Honor Society, Member of PACA, Member of Ronald McDonald House Charity Club

MARIA GOFFINET

Parents: Karen Goffinet and Kent Goffinet

Elementary School: Christ the King Catholic School

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Purdue University

Activities/Honors: 4H, 4H Jr. Leaders, DECA, PACA, English Academic Super Bowl, Social Studies Academic Super Bowl, Gilder-Lehrman Student Advisory Council, DECA – fourth-place Integrated Marketing Campaign, third-place Franchise Business Plan, fourth-place International Business Plan English Academic Super Bowl State Champion Social Studies Academic Super Bowl State Runner-Up Interdisciplinary Academic Super Bowl State Finalist AP Scholar with Distinction National Merit Commended Scholar NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award Indiana Affiliate Winner Billy Michal Student Leadership Award

RHEA RAKHRA

Parents: Sue Rakhra and Bob Rakhra

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Major in biomedical or chemical engineering; medical school. 

Activities/Honors: 2-time State Winner International Qualifier for DECA, Team Captain Northern Indiana Volleyball Association (NIVA three years), President of Kingsman Against Cancer and Co-Founder of Science National Honor Society, Freshman Mentor, Penn Volleyball, Written Event Officer Executive for DECA. 

LANDON SEARS

Parents: Dr. Jennifer Sears and Andrew Sears

Elementary School: Horizon

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Bethel University

Career Plans: Practice medicine as a Pediatrician

Activities/Honors: Earned Associates Degree in General Studies from Ivy Tech Community College through Penn’s Early College Program, Fundraising Officer for Penn’s Association for Children with Autism (PACA), National Honor Society, plays travel volleyball for Team Pineapple in Angola, Indiana.

 

 

 

 

Every year before Commencement our graduating seniors get to take a trip down memory by returning to their P-H-M elementary schools. It’s a special day for our students because they’re cheered on by younger students, they get to reconnect with their former elementary principals and elementary teachers, and maybe see younger siblings, neighbors, or family friends. They may even get to play some of their favorite old recess games!

 Here’s a short recap video pf the excitement!

Below are just a sampling of the 11 Senior Parades we were able to capture in photos.

Northpoint Elementary School (Thursday, May 30)

Click to see more photos on Northpoint’s website.

 

Moran Elementary School (Thursday, May 30)

Click to see more photos on Moran’s website.

 

Walt Disney Elementary School (Thursday, May 30)

Elm Road Elementary School (Friday, May 31)

Click to see more on Elm Road’s website.

 

Bittersweet Elementary School (Friday, May 31)

Click to see more on Bittersweet’s website.

 

Elsie Rogers Elementary School (Friday, May 31)

Click to see more on Elsie Rogers’ website.

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!

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.

 

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.

1. Brooklin Kline: Indiana University South Bend, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Kylee Wetzel, Penn High School
2. 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
3. Gretchen Moore: Indiana University Bloomington, Secondary Special Education
   Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Bonnie Manningham, Penn High School
4. Kaitlyn Vargo: Indiana University South Bend, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Rachael Meyers, Penn High School
5. Molly Knight: Ball State University, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teacher: Mr. John Hedrick, Discovery Middle School
6. Brianna Magnuson: Holy Cross College, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teacher Mrs. Rachael Meyers, Penn High School
7. Emma Szymanski: University of Kentucky, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Anna King, Mary Frank Elementary
8. Payton Johnson: Indiana University South Bend, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Rachael Meyers, Penn High School
9. Samantha Fecteau: Ball State University, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teacher: Miss Anne Napoli, Penn High School
10. Caitlynn Fischer, IUSB, Elementary Education
    Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Stephanie Betzer, Moran Elementary
11. Ellie Stabnick, University of Tampa, Elementary Education
    Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Ally Starkweather, Penn High School
12. Xavier Browning, Purdue University, Secondary Education
    Favorite Teacher: Mr. Kyle Marsh, Penn High School
13. 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!

Mr. Art Klinger, the man credited with being the “father” of P-H-M’s DVT & Planetarium, was honored today when the facility he helped create 44 years ago was officially renamed in his honor. The new P-H-M Arthur M. Klinger Planetarium sign now hangs on the exterior of Bittersweet Elementary School, where the facility is housed. It was unveiled to cheers and applause on the afternoon of May 14, 2024. Click to watch the video below.

On hand for the unveiling and dedication were Klinger’s wife, son, and longtime friends. Also present was P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, Executive Director of P-H-M Education Foundation Jennifer Turnblom, members of PHMEF Executive Board, P-H-M School Board Members Jim Garrett and Ryan McCullough, P-H-M Administrators, and current Planetarium Director Melinda O’Malley. P-H-M former Superintendent Dr. Dean Speicher also attended. It was under Dr. Speicher’s leadership that Bittersweet school and the Planetarium opened in 1980. Bittersweet first grader teachers and students added to the celebration. The students made a banners to mark the occasion.

PHM School Trustee VP Ryan McCullough, former PHM Superintendent Dr. Dean Speicher, Art Klinger, current PHM Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, & PHM School Trustee Jim Garrett

Click to see the full photo gallery on P-H-M’s website.

Klinger began his 45 year career with P-H-M in 1970.  He taught Earth and Space Sciences at Schmucker Middle School, a position held for 10 years before taking over the Planetarium as its first director. Klinger’s interests in astronomy, aviation, and space travel made him a natural for the position. He was a pilot receiving his private pilot’s license in 1974. He was a member of the Great Lakes Planetarium Association and the International Planetarium Society. Klinger even authored an Introductory Astronomy text book that was used in Penn High School and IUSB astronomy classes; the last revision was August 2020. 

It was Klinger’s interest in the space travel history and NASA that really transformed the Planetarium. Astronaut Col. James Irwin, Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 15 (8th man to land on the Moon), was the honorary speaker at the Planetarium’s public dedication in February 1981. He was the first of six astronauts to visit the Planetarium over the years; a Russian cosmonaut even visited in 1994. With every visit, personalized autographed photos were donated.

The Planetarium’s Space Museum came about through a connection Klinger made with the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum because of his application for the “Teacher in Space Project” in 1984. From that connection, 47 artifacts, including 16 that have actually been on the Moon, were loaned to the museum. Klinger eventually secured autographed pictures of all flown astronauts. He even obtained the autographed photos of the scientific minds behind the “Space Race,” like Wernher von Braun and Yuri Gagarin. Klinger states that according to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, P-H-M is the only public school district that not only has artifacts from the space program, but also has items that have been on the Moon. Click here to watch a video of Klinger talking about the importance of space exploration.

Klinger served as Director of P-H-M’s DVT, Planetarium Space Museum for 35 years retiring in 2015 after working at P-H-M for 45 years.

Dr. and Mrs. Thacker donated $10,000 to the Penn-Harris-Madison Education Foundation to rename the Planetarium the Arthur M. Klinger Planetarium.

This $10,000 donation is among four donations to PHMEF that Dr. and Mrs. Thacker have made as part of the Naming Rights Campaign. All recognize 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 
• Al Rhodes Kingsmen Court, $10,000 donated in October 2023 
• P-H-M Arthur M. Klinger Planetarium, $10,000 donated in January 2024
• Yeoman Family Plaza, $10,000 donated in March 2024 (dedication still to come)

Per PHMEF’s Naming Rights fundraising initiative, 80 percent of the donation will go into 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 the School Corporation.

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.

Penn was recognized by the Indiana Association of School Principals as a Triple State Finalist for students winning the Spell Bowl, having two teams (Fine Arts and Math) win the Academic Super Bowl State Championship, and a finalist team in the Quiz Bowl.

Congratulations to all our students and coaches.

This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week and Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker is making his rounds to surprise a couple of P-H-M’s best educators with some good news.

Today, Dr. Thacker with the help of Penn High School Principal Dr. Sean Galiher and Assistant Principal Jeanie Mitchell (a former PHM Teacher of the year herself), Jeremy Starkweather was taken off guard with the news that he had won P-H-M’s 2024 Secondary Teacher of the Year honor! Local TV stations were on hand to capture it all! Mr. Starkweather’s wife, Ally who is also a teacher at Penn, was told ahead of time so she could participate in the surprise. Along with the students, a big group of fellow Penn teachers and PHM District Administrators were in the classroom to congratulate him. Click to watch the video below.

Mr. and Mrs. Starkweather are both 2013 graduates of Penn High School. Mr. Starkweather attended P-H-M’s Moran Elementary School and Grissom Middle School.

Click here to see the full photo gallery below.

Jeremy Starkweather is wrapping up his 7th year of teaching at P-H-M; but including his time as a student, student-teacher, and now a teacher, he’s been at Penn for a total of 12 years! He’s even still on the Speech & Debate Team just like he was while in school, except now he’s the coach! Mr. Starkweather is everywhere; he serves as the Assistant Coach for the Boys Cross Country Team, Coaching Consultant for the Education Foundation’s Running is Elementary, and Vice President of the Penn Building Trades Board of Directors.

Mr. Starkweather’s interests have carried over from his student days into his teaching career. Along with teaching English, Mr. Starkweather also teaches Debate, and has been serving as Penn’s Speech and Debate Coach since his first year of teaching. Prior to Mr. Starkweather at the helm, the team struggled to attract student participants; now Mr. Starkweather has made it cool to be on the Speech and Debate Team! The 2023-2024 school year both teams did extremely well. The Speech Team has 20 students advancing to the national tournament this summer; and the Debate Team not only won the State Championship, but a couple of the students even broke a record previously held by Coach Starkweather when he was a student!

For the first time in Penn history, the Debate Team won a State Championship. Additionally, out of all five state championship debate categories, three Penn students came in 1st place in two categories (one team and one individual) adding two more State Titles to the list. One of those wins was a student duo in the Policy category. Policy received a traveling trophy that has been around almost a century (in existence since 1928); and the last time the trophy was in Penn High School’s possession was when Jeremy and a teammate won it back in 2013 (his senior year)! How’s that for full circle? 

Until recently, Mr. Starkweather was known for his big bushy, blonde afro. However, thanks to Jeremy’s topnotch debate coaching skills, his team captains convinced him last summer, when the team was at the national competition, that if they won the State Championship, he would allow the students to shave his head. Jeremey Starkweather is a man of his word! He didn’t just allow his students to cut his hair, he let ALL the Speech & Debate students, Speech teacher Mrs. Danielle Black, and Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker get in on the action. It took over an hour to cut off 9 inches of his golden locks! Now that’s showing commitment and dedication to your students! Click here to see that video and full photo gallery.

Speech and Debate has become so popular at Penn that Mr. Starkweather enlisted the help of his top students to see if they could create the same interest at the middle school level. Not only was there interest, there’s now Debate teams at all three middle schools with over 80 students. The past few summers Jeremy has also been offering Summer Debate Camp.

What is Mr. Starkweather’s secret to creating such an interest for Speech & Debate? It could be that he has the best and rowdiest student club floats in Penn’s Homecoming parade; but it’s also because he quite simply cares about his students and they know it. There’s no “debating” it!

During the week of May 6 along with surprising the Teacher of the Year winners, Dr. Thacker will also surprise the honoree of Classified Employee of the Year. Monday, May 6 Dr. Thacker surprised 3rd grade Northpoint teacher Nichol Mondy with the news that she was the district’s Elementary Teacher of the Year. All winners will be officially recognized at P-H-M’s Employee Recognition & Retiree Dinner on Wednesday, May 22nd. Along with a plaque, the two Teachers of the Year will also receive a grant from the P-H-M Education Foundation to use in their classroom. Both TOY winners will go on to compete for Indiana’s Teacher of the Year, which will be announced in early Fall 2024 by the IDOE.

This morning P-H-M School Board of Trustees members, Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, and P-H-M administrators were joined by representatives from R. Yoder Construction Inc., and Fanney Howey for the groundbreaking of Penn High School’s new 80,000 square foot Fieldhouse. 

Click here to watch the video animation of the features that will be included.

Click here to view a brochure with more details about what the new facility will include.

The new athletic and academic facility will be off McKinley Highway, less than a 10-minute walk from Penn High School for students who will primarily be utilizing the resources after school. This extension of Penn’s campus will be situated in the area between the new Culvers Restaurant and the Penn Fire Station. Penn-Harris-Madison already owned this property.

The groundbreaking took place on site where the clearing of trees had already begun. Construction is anticipated to be completed for the start of the 2025-26 school year. Click to see the full gallery from the groundbreaking below.

This project is years in the making. The need for expanded indoor space to better accommodate student extracurricular and co-curricular activities of Penn’s some 3,400 students was identified in the 2022 P-H-M District Master Facilities Plan. 

This investment for our students will NOT raise taxes for P-H-M residents. The administration and Board of School Trustees are committed to fiscal responsibility and the corporation is in excellent financial health. In fact, P-H-M has the lowest tax rate in St. Joseph County, along with delivering academic excellence for our students. 

Overall, the project will cost $15,926,745. A breakdown of the costs and bids can be found on the P-H-M website (click here to see).

On March 25, 2024, the Board of School Trustees voted to award the construction contract to R. Yoder Construction Inc. (Nappanee). This project is designed by Architect Mike Schipp of Fanning Howey and engineered by P-H-M parent Troy Madlem of Magnus Engineering. Fanning Howey has partnered with P-H-M on projects providing architectural and engineering services for over 40 years.

The multi-use facility will include practice and performance areas for Track and Field, Basketball, Volleyball, Baseball, Softball, Golf, Tennis, Wrestling, Dance, Cheer, Robotics, Marching Band and Color Guard, along with classrooms, a training room, locker and dressing rooms, student commons, and concessions. The Fieldhouse can also accommodate Physical Education classes, intramural sports, as well as PHM youth camps and athletic feeder organizations. For those family and community members wishing to watch athletic or other types of activities, bleacher seating will accommodate more than 800 people with plenty of event parking.

Below are listed those who were in attendance and participated in today’s event (Tuesday, May 7, 2024):

• Dr. Jerry Thacker, Superintendent of Schools, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation
• Dr. Aaron Leniski, Chief Operating Officer, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation
• P-H-M Board of School Trustees Members
• Dr. Heather Short, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction
• Dr. Tom Keeley, Executive Director of Business Services
• Joe Winters, Director of Facilities,  Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation
• Dr. Sean Galiher, Principal, Penn High School
• Jeff Hart, Athletic Director, Penn High School
• Nate Yoder, Director of Business Development, R. Yoder Construction Inc.
• John Emmons, Senior Project Manager, R. Yoder Construction Inc.
• Mike Schipp, Principal Project Manager, Fanning Howey
• Ed Sawa – Construction Administrator, Principal 
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

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Each year, the Ball State University School of Journalism and Strategic Communication hosts a “Media & Communications” conference for middle and high school students and teachers.

The conference is a great place to learn and share new ideas with other students and teachers from other school districts.

This year’s conference featured Keynote Speakers Adam White (Emmy Award Winning Cinematographer/Producer/Director) and Kara White (Emmy Award Winning Director and producer).

In addition to the learning that takes place, students also have the opportunity to submit their own works to be reviewed and judged. Out of thousands of media entries, PNN students stood out!