What’s recently happened?
All current Penn Harris Madison School Corporation (PHM) elementary school students had the opportunity to participate in Penn High School’s yearly visual arts camp either July 8 -12, Jul 15-19, or Jul 22-26. This program is run by the school’s collection of fine arts teachers with the help of dozens of high school art students.
The program is free of charge and allows future students to explore the world of arts Penn High School and its community offers.
“It gives kids an opportunity to learn about the importance and beauty of the art within our community, as well as exploring their own artistic abilities,” Eliza Wright, a Penn photography student said.
At the end of each week, all children enrolled took a field trip to University of Notre Dame’s Raclin Murphy Museum of Art.
After 24 years at Riley High School in South Bend, award-winning Swim & Dive coach John VanDriessche has been announced to be Penn’s new head coach.
This change follows former Head Coach Jess Preston’s decision to take a job offer at Noblesville High School.
Recent Penn Graduate Bella Bauer was named 2024 Indiana’s Miss Metropolitan Teen. Bauer’s younger sister, Lily Bauer, was a Top 11 Semi-Finalist, and fellow Penn Graduate Gabby Mammolenti placed first Runner-Up.
All three contestants participated in Penn’s Competition Dance Team and Mishawaka’s Legacy Dance Studio.
The Penn Marching Kingsmen started its treacherous weeks of summer practice in mid-July. The theme of this year's half-time performance is yet to be revealed, but Drum Major and Clarinet Enthusiast Julie Rice is beyond excited about it.
“It’s definitely more abstract than we’ve had in years prior, but the show and music are super cool,” Rice said.
What’s coming up?
What’s either dreaded or anticipated for all Penn students takes place on August 21: the first day of the 2024-2025 school year.
On August 17, students of all grades will be walking the halls of the school to mimic their schedules (which were sent out at the end of July) for the upcoming school year.
The start of the Kingsmen’s football season ramps up on the third day of school, August 23, against Valparaiso High School. This season is the team's first without Cory Yeoman as head coach, as former assistant coach Pete Riordan has taken the role.
Before the opening game, the Penn Harris Madison Education Foundation is hosting its annual Community Tailgate at the South Zolman Concessions Stand at Everwise Freed Field.
One week after that, the team is at the home of its long-time rival, the Mishawaka High School Cavemen, for the long-awaited ‘Backyard Brawl.’
Tickets to all Penn sporting events are available on the Hometown Ticketing website or at the gate. All Sports Passes are also available on the Ticketing website, with prices ranging from $23 for current Penn High School students to $203 for a family pass.
In other sports’ worlds, every fall sports team is getting ready to dominate this season. Boys and Girls Cross Country teams have both been practicing since early June, with their first meets beginning in early August.
Boys Soccer kicks off against La Porte High School on August 15, and Girls Soccer starts with a scrimmage against Homestead on August 13.
Chestnut Hills Golf Club will host the Girls Golf team for the Homestead Invitational on August 5, and Plymouth High School will host the Boys Tennis team on August 19.
Community member spotlight:
Education foundations take a lot to maintain - a lot of resources, support, and staff. At the core of each foundation, there is the executive director. The executive director plans and organizes all of the events and fundraisers for the corporation while being its spokesperson. Jane Wright is just that person for the Mishawaka Education Foundation (MEF).
While Wright isn’t currently associated with the Penn Harris Madison Education Foundation (PHMEF), her history with it runs rampant.
After graduating from Indiana University Bloomington in 1972, Wright taught at Walt Disney Elementary School as a kindergarten teacher for four years. After 14 years of being a stay-at-home mom, Wright ran for the Penn-Harris-Madison School Board.
The same year her daughter Ann was student body president, she began her first year as the school board president. She stayed in this position from 1994 to 1998, resigning after the graduation of her son Scott.
“One of the proudest moments for me was always giving my diplomas out,” Wright said.
After her resignation, Wright continued to support the Mishawaka community by taking part in local committees and organizations, such as First United Methodist Church of Mishawaka and Junior League of South Bend.
On the side, she and her husband Roger created several businesses to benefit the area.
Phun Food was a drive-thru restaurant that served carnival foods (like elephant ears, corn dogs, and soft pretzels) located near Granger. After that, the Wrights ran a kiosk at University Park Mall that sold luxury, Venezuelan-made shoes for toddlers.
In the 2000s, Wright was officially employed by the MEF as their executive director.
During her time as MEF’s executive director, Wright took part in the making of Penn’s formerly annual Silver Mile 5k. From 2006 to 2023, the event took place after the Kingsmen’s football homecoming and used revenue from the event to support Penn in all types of ways: teaching grants, student scholarships, and other community based events.
In 2010, Former Mishawaka School Board President Jen Zimmerman presented Wright a job as the other schools executive director, claiming that Wright “bled maroon.”
In her past 14 years with the MEF, Wright has upped the annual granted amount for the foundation from $8,000 a year to $315,000.
“We are providing funding for things that never could happen in Mishawaka schools, like elementary robotics programs and academic competitions,” Wright said. “We make a huge difference. People, staff - they love what we do.”
As hard-working as she is, Wright is only committed to the MEF for two more years. Even after that, the legacy she has left on the city of Mishawaka will continue to affect the hearts and minds of many.