What’s Happened?
Homecoming week at MCHS included quite a few changes that resulted in participation being higher than ever before.
The week started off with the traditional spirit days in which students could dress up according to the theme of the day. This year, however, the students were not limited by their ‘“Dress for Success” uniforms. They could wear anything they wanted as long as their outfit followed the guidelines of the theme. Millionaire Monday came first, followed by Tropical Tuesday, then USA Wednesday, followed by Sports Thursday, and the week finished up with the traditional Class Color Friday. On Thursday, the annual Fall Class Olympics were held on the soccer field. A new game was added to the traditional line-up of Powder Puff Football, Ultimate Frisbee, and Tug-of-War. The game consisted of typical “mom” activities including carrying groceries and sweeping. The catch to the game was that four boys from each class had to participate in the relay while wearing a dress and heels. The game left the crowd in hysterics, but the seniors were able to pull off the win.
After the games were finished, a first-ever school bonfire was held on the JV baseball field. A firefighter lit and managed the fire while students hung out and danced to music. MCHS plans to keep hold the bonfire again next year, and they might even include food, a DJ, and burning of the homecoming rival’s jersey to encourage even more student participation.
The big finale to student activities ended up with 92.3 performing at the pep rally. It seemed the entire student body had fun as they rushed the gym floor and danced to music. The night ended with the crowning of Brittney Adams as homecoming queen and a win over the Merrillville Pirates.
What’s Coming Up?
This week, seniors will have the chance to attend a scholarship fair along with college preview day luncheons at MCHS.
The scholarship fair will be located in Gary, Indiana and put on by the Urban League of Northwest Indiana and the Infinite Scholars Program. In order to attend, seniors must sign up with Mr. Martin in the guidance office as well as hold a 3.0 GPA or better, have scored a 21 on their ACT, have a college resume, two letters of recommendation and a 250 word essay detailing why higher education is important to them.
This is not the first time MCHS has offered this fair to students, but this year a lot more students are supposed to be attending in hopes of learning more about college scholarships and hopefully earning some on-spot scholarships. All high school seniors are encouraged to attend.
Also this week, seniors have the option to preview Purdue University Fort Wayne and Valparaiso University during their lunch hours. There will continue to be preview days throughout the weeks leading up to College Go! Week.
MCHS, as always, is giving students the opportunity to be college and career ready.
Teacher Spotlight
Kendall Martin, the new K-12 College and Career Readiness Coordinator at MCHS, has a new energy and a lot of ideas and resources that he is bringing to students to ensure that they graduate high school with a plan for their future.
Martin graduated from Merrillville High School in 2000 and bounced around to different colleges, picking up several different degrees along the way. He is currently finishing up his Doctorate Degree. He was not sure of what he wanted to do when he started college, and it cost him time, money, and opportunities. Martin does not want other students to go through the same struggles as him, and that is why he is excited about this new position that he is filling at MCHS.
Martin said, “My long-term goal is to use the new energy that myself and the new administrative team is bringing to MCHS and channel it into making the district have a college-going culture. My favorite part about my job is the student interaction, and I want to help them in every way I can to succeed in the future.”
Martin started putting his plan into action before school even started with a college summer camp for upcoming seniors. The camp consisted of four days of essential college information and even a campus tour of DePaul University in Chicago. Martin plans to keep this program going each year along with other great resources for students at MCHS.
Martin plans to stay at MCHS for quite a few years in order to meet his goals as a the K-12 College and Career Readiness Coordinator. He would also like to participate in coaching at MCHS, and eventually retire to become a professor at a university. MCHS welcomes Martin and is excited about what he has in store for students.
Student Spotlight
Riley Shreve, a junior at MCHS, is another stellar student that balances his grades alongside multiple sports and other extracurriculars.
Shreve participates at the Varsity level in football, as the kicker, soccer, as a center-mid or striker, and as the shortstop in baseball. He also is involved in yearbook, Spanish club, and steering committee all while maintaining a 3.7 GPA.
MCHS has been a positive atmosphere for Shreve to be a student-athlete.
He said, “MCHS has great teachers, like Mr. Gillman, that care about their students’ success and have a genuine knack for teaching. The school allows be to be myself and express my emotions through my sports.”
Aside from involvement through school activities, Shreve also volunteers with his grandma and participates in baseball camps for kids throughout the summer.
“I love the brotherhood that sports allows me to be a part of as well as the connection I get with the community through fans that support my teams and through helping children practice and improve their own game,” Shreve said.
“There are so many benefits to not being a two-fifteener. Yes, I’ve had to work hard and pay attention in the classroom to balance my grades with all of my extracurriculars, but at the end of it all my social life is better, with sports I stay in shape, and I have meaningful friendships from everything that I have participate in," Shreve said.
Shreve is undecided on where he would like to attend college, but he knows that MCHS has him on the right track.