A Night of Honor
Every year, La Porte High School hosts the Pride Banquet, a dinner held to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of the top ten percent of the senior class. Each student brings his or her parents and invites one educator or mentor who has impacted his or her life.
Senior Josh Long shared, “I was very excited to be honored and felt like my hard work had finally paid off! I took Mr. Mrozinske because I really connected with him and enjoyed having him as a teacher and friend.”
The students were also required to make speeches explaining why they brought their respective educators. Some included funny jokes, and some pulled at the heartstrings, but all were extremely touching. Along with a speech, each student was also to provide a thoughtful and heartfelt gift to the teacher. Some gifts were bought, but the students were encouraged to find their creative side and try to make gifts.
Along with the top ten percent of seniors, the LPHS Outstanding Students were also honored. Freshmen were Jack Boardman and Nichole Flowers, sophomores were Scott Cooper and Bayli Lebo,
juniors were Matt Otwinowski and Maddy Watterson, and seniors were Michael Varda and Zoë Potter. Overall, the night was a successful evening of full of honor, pride, and immense joy.
La Porte Students are Champions Together
Before La Porte High School let out for Spring Break, it hosted a school-wide assembly to kick off its new Champions Together Unified Track program. In the state-wide organization, the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) partners with Special Olympics Indiana to promote collaboration between student athletes and students with intellectual disabilities.
Mitch Bonar, a Noblesville High School senior with cerebral palsy, was the main speaker at the assembly. He spoke to the students about how Champions Together has impacted his life and why they should become involved with Unified Track, and although the students were jittery from being less than an hour away from their break, the gymnasium remained completely silent and attentive during Bonar’s presentation.
LPHS’s Unified Track team is already underway with practices, and the athletes are preparing for their meet against Michigan City and Crown Point, two other DAC schools with Unified Track programs.
“I love being in Unified Track because it makes me feel connected with the special education kids,” sophomore Natalie Aragon exclaimed. “And I can see how happy it makes them that we are out there having fun with them. I think this program is one of the best that have come to the high school, and I hope it continues to grow over the years!”
College Scholarship Awards
Seniors all across the school were busy during most of February and March filling out applications provided by the school to win scholarship money for local organizations. Many of these scholarships also required essays, forcing the students to really think about what is important to them and why they need the scholarship money. On April 30, LPHS hosted its annual local scholarship night; representatives from the local organizations came, shared brief speeches about the scholarships, and presented them to the winning students. With the increasing cost of college tuition, every bit of money helps these seniors, and all are extremely grateful for what they have received.
Senior Capstone Experience
With each passing snow day this past winter, the seniors of LPHS were praying more and more for the snow to stop so that the make-up days at the end of the year would not surpass Commencement. Sadly, this was not the case. It had already been stated that extended days used the previous year were out of the question, so it seemed as if all hope was lost and that the seniors would have no choice but to attend school after graduating in order to receive their diplomas.
However, LPHS staff members Jen Hunt and Janie Ulmer did not like the idea of disappointing the seniors. They devised a plan in which seniors could be excused for the last two days of school if they perform a certain amount of tasks or activities that would prepare them for life after high school.
Each senior wanting to use this program as a way of getting out of school after Commencement was required to choose an advisor and design a plan. Activities of community service, late-night study sessions at the school, job shadowing, and online resumes were a few of the options available for the plan, along with teacher-approved ideas from individual students.
Teachers Erin Parker and Holly Wireman planned a trash pick-up day at two different locations in town as a community service activity for the seniors, and even some underclassmen showed up to help. Senior Kim Childress was excited to use this event for her hours.
“I really love the Capstone idea for the seniors,” she stated. “It allows us to get more prepared for college and our future careers with job-shadowing and community service. I also love helping the community, and I am so thankful for the experience I gained working with everyone on cleaning up La Porte.”
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Batter Up!
Warmer weather means that sports, as well as intramural sports, are able to move outdoors. Many LPHS students enjoy getting involved with the intramural sports provided at the high school, and softball is no exception. Some students get pretty intense about it; wacky team names are created, and some teams even make matching shirts.
“I really enjoy getting to spend time with friends in the fresh air,” senior Olivia Cannon said. “It’s a great way to make fun memories with friends before the year ends.” Intramurals are a great way to keep students active while letting them have fun at the same time. Softball teams were due on April 30, and games will be starting soon.
Prom 2015: LPHS Kentucky Derby
For the majority of high school students, Prom is seen as one of the most important nights in their lives so far. (For the most part,) Dates have been asked, dresses and tuxes have been bought or rented, and hair and nail appointments have been made.
This year, the LPHS prom will be held on Saturday, May 16, with a theme of “Kentucky Derby.” In conjunction with the theme and the real Kentucky Derby, LPHS hosted a hat day on May 1, with donations going to the LPHS students who will be participating in the Special Olympics at Indiana State University this year.
“I’m ecstatic for prom,” senior Storm Shortt exclaimed. “I can’t wait to spend the whole evening with my wonderful girlfriend and awesome friends, and I can’t wait to bust a move on the dance floor.”
The countdown to prom is on as students make the finishing touches on their outfits, decide how to arrive to the dance, and create plans for the day after.
Student Shout Out: Grace Hooley
When it comes to going above and beyond for a school project, LPHS senior Grace Hooley takes the cake. She has taken her Senior Capstone Experience opportunity and has run with it. She has decided to choose a project that pertains to her future plans of being a missionary.
Through the organization BlinkNow, Hooley has started a local fundraiser called Pocket Change for World Change to pay for the education of a child in Nepal. It costs a total of $360 to pay for five-year-old Pawan Singh’s schooling for a year, and Hooley is determined to raise that much in three weeks from only pocket change. She has collaborated with several local businesses and the mayor to allow her to set up “Pawan jars” in the work places and in City Hall so that the public can drop their pocket change into the jars as donations for Pawan. Otherwise, they can donate online.
“I am so thankful for these opportunities,” Hooley expressed. “I hope that this will spark something in someone else so they can make a difference as well. Maybe, even in a small way, this is how we can show that we have a positive impact on the world around us, no matter how far away it may seem.”
Hooley hoping to attend college with a double major in Journalism and International Studies, and after college she hopes to end up on the mission field while writing for various missionary magazines.
“My ultimate goal is to just be where God wants me sharing the good news of Christ with those around me,” she said. “All that I am and all that I have belongs to God, and as He leads me, I hope to change the world for the better.”
Hooley is a young woman driven to help others, and people like her are the reason that great, positive change is on its way to this world in the near future.
Teacher Shout Out: Mrs. Cooper
If you are looking for a smiling face in La Porte High School, look no further than room J.15, the classroom of English teacher and Creative Writing adviser Brenda Cooper. Whether it is with her students, other staff members, or even a stranger in the hallway, Cooper always has a smile or a joke to share with others.
About her positivity and friendly nature, Cooper shared, “It's important to be positive because there is so much negativity surrounding us. I want people to come to school and have fun while learning.”
An LPHS and Indiana University alumna, Cooper has been a teacher at LPHS for the past 21 years, and she has proved that one can, indeed, have fun while learning. She is preparing her sophomore classes for their end-of-course assessments, and her creative writing class is working on its annual Reflections literary magazine. She loves coming to work every day and getting to spend time with and know her students.
“I really love the students,” she said. “Every day is different, so it never gets boring (even after 21 years). It's fun being around high school age kids because they are so quirky and interesting.”
With her busy schedule and two actively involved teenagers of her own, Cooper’s free time is sparse. When she does find time, however, she enjoys running with her dog, reading, and watching movies. She also loves getting together and laughing with her equally goofy and fun friends.
Cooper has proved to be a fun teacher who students are thrilled to have. Before school, her classroom is usually found full of students wanting to talk to her or even just enjoying the positive atmosphere that seems to follow her wherever she goes.