What’s recently happened?
The Blazers are back on campus after a much needed and restful Thanksgiving break. Just before break, Marquette Catholic High School (MQT) was collecting food for a food sculpture. The drive concluded on November 22, but MQT is still awaiting the winners to be announced on December 4. It was a great success in the MQT’s first year of participation. A big thank you to Anthony Holt for organizing and to all who donated.
The MQT Performing Arts had its annual fall play, with this year’s feature being “The Crucible.” The show had three performances, with numerous people attending on opening night.
“I already knew the story of the play before seeing MQT Performing Arts’ rendition, and I was blown away with how well they told the story! I was impressed by all the actors’ portrayals, the set designs, the lighting choices, and the music choices. I think that ‘The Crucible’ was able to showcase how talented everyone in MQT Performing Arts is!” said Senior Alexandria Sierra.
Sierra is a senior taking Dual-Enrollment Theatre Appreciation, where the class learns the behind the scenes aspects of productions. Although she was not an actor on stage, she assisted with the public relations aspect and media work. She created the poster for the play, as well as the “Meet the Cast” posts on social media.
What’s coming up?
The MQT National Honors Society (NHS) is trying to deck the halls of MQT with Christmas spirit! NHS members will be bringing in Christmas decorations and putting them up around the school to bring some Christmas cheer to the students and staff. This is a great opportunity to find joy in this season as final exams, projects, and papers loom in the not so distant future.
In addition, NHS will also be hosting their annual Cocoa and Crafts event where attendees will be able to create their own unique ornaments. This is a creative way for people to come together for some fun. Edwin Shelton, the art teacher at MQT, has been working with students to prepare for this event after school as well as volunteers coming in during their lunch or free periods.
“Cocoa and Crafts will be an evening of seasonal creativity and fun,” Shelton said. “People can make distinctive ornaments at their skill level with an assortment of materials. Students have also fabricated ‘starter’ ornaments that can be used with a personal approach to complete them like painting, glueing, glittering, or a family photograph added to it.”
Going along with the Christmas theme, MQT will also be hosting its annual Lady Blazer Lock-In on December 13 overnight into December 14. This is an opportunity for Lady Blazers of all grades to come together and enjoy a fun filled night and get to know each other a little better. This will take place in the Scholl Center and gym area. Dinner will be served, games, and social activities will be available.
The MQT Girls basketball team’s season is in full swing. With a record of 4-2, the 2023 State Runner-Ups are competing and working hard in practice, showing out for games, and preparing for the long season ahead. With many returning players and a few new additions to the team, the Blazers look towards another winning season.
Alongside the girls, the boys basketball team begins their season shortly. With their first game of the season on December 3, the Blazers look to showcase their hard work and dedication in the upcoming season.
Staff spotlight:
Edwin Shelton is the art teacher at MQT, teaching two and three dimensional art classes, painting, ceramics, and Dual-Enrollment Art History. He started nine years ago.
Shelton attended Hermitage High School in Richmond, Virginia before attending Virginia Commonwealth University. There, he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in sculpture in 1978. Finally, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned his Master’s degree in Fine Arts in 1980. He completed his credits at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Skowhegan, Maine.
Throughout all of his schooling, Shelton met numerous famous artists, some of which visited his universities for presentations. The art department became an adopted family to him. He also met his wife, Laurel Izard, through the art department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Along with in person art experience, Shelton travelled for work in Paris, where he experienced the fabulous art in the city. The couple moved to Michigan City, Indiana after living in Chicago for some years.
Shelton worked at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts for five years, where he was a program and education director. He also taught as a substitute teacher at local grade schools in Michigan City, before moving on to take his wife’s position as the MQT art teacher. Shelton also added onto his traveler experience by teaching art in Zibo, China for four weeks at a middle school.
Some activities Shelton is involved in is sponsoring Art Club at MQT after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, was in the Big Brother/Big Sister Program for 10 years, volunteered at the Indiana State Prison in the religious groups for eight years, as well as rent a studio at Saint Mary’s, the building next to MQT, where he assembles his art everyday in the mornings and after school.
“I enjoy my creativity, adventures, and teaching. I make chaos for myself pretty regularly. I am very grateful for all the teachers, artists, mentors, and healers that I have encountered on this life tour,” said Shelton.
Shelton has a vast amount of teaching experience, considering his experience in multiple countries. His mission is to encourage and enhance the creativity of others. No matter what career field a student pursues, they will need to solve problems in innovative and creative ways. He also always incorporates visual literacy and critical thinking in his lessons, such as field trips to the Art Institute of Chicago.
Shelton plans to continue teaching until his brain or body wears out. He is a lifetime learner, which has come in handy for him as he started his teaching career later in his life. He intends to pay it forward.
Shelton’s best piece of advice comes from his professor Harold North at Virginia Commonwealth University. This was displayed on his desk in 1975, “Know Yourself.” This resonated with Shelton ever since.
Student spotlight:
Alexandria Sierra is a senior at MQT. She is a very active member of the MQT community. She balances academics as well as numerous extracurriculars mixed in. Some of these extracurricular activities include NHS President, Captain of the Academic Super Bowl Fine Arts team, Girls Basketball team manager, varsity softball player, DECA member, part-time employee at Sand Creek Country Club, and a volunteer at Making a Kid Smile (MAKS).
“From these activities I have learned the importance of listening to other people’s input, as well as becoming a team player. I have also learned that sometimes you can’t predict every situation but as long as you keep your composure and think through it, you’ll ultimately arrive at a solution,” Sierra said.
Sierra’s family and friends have influenced her and become her biggest supporters, including her two older siblings, Talia and Nick, who are also her role models. She credits her parents and grandparents for the important life lessons she has learned and keeps in mind when making a decision.
One of Sierra’s main interests is learning languages. She knows Italian fairly well, and has now moved on to learning Croatian. She also likes to watch Formula 1 with her dad on the weekends, listen to jazz music, attend jazz clubs, and hang out with friends after school.
After high school at MQT, Sierra plans to attend university, but is still undecided regarding location. She wants to continue to explore her interest in languages by majoring in International Relations or International Law with a minor in Translation and Intercultural Communication. Her ultimate goal is to become a Foreign Service Worker in the future. Further down the road, she would really like to go onto law school and receive her Juris Doctorate after finishing her undergraduate studies.
Throughout her numerous activities and interactions with others Sierra has come to know the bottom line and uses it as advice for others.
“The worst thing that you can do is not try. I understand being worried about joining a club, applying to a scholarship, or trying something new. However, you’ll never know if you were able to succeed or even if you’ll like those things if you don’t try,” Sierra said.