Students from several organizations at Winamac Community High School took time to volunteer for the Salvation Army during the holiday season. Principal Rick DeFries says they raised a significant amount of money for the organization during their annual bell ringing campaign. Of the $5,600 raised, the students brought in $2,500. DeFries told the Eastern Pulaski School Board an estimated 10 groups raised that amount of money in 20 hours.
The Kankakee Valley boasts some of the best high schools in the state, according to recent rankings by a national publication. John Glenn High School in Walkerton ranks 17th on the 2014 U.S. News and World Report list. The magazine awarded the school silver medal. Students there have an opportunity to take advanced placement tests, and 36 percent do. Of the school’s 611 students, 85 percent are proficient in English and 84 percent are proficient in math. Knox Community High School earned a bronze medal from U.S. News and World Report. The publication notes 25 percent of the 606 students enrolled take AP courses and tests, 77 percent are proficient in English and 69 percent are proficient in Algebra. Continue reading
A Winamac Community High School Senior has been named the recipient of the 2014 Pulaski County Community Foundation 2014 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.
Eric Newman will receive a four year full-tuition scholarship to an Indiana college of his choice. He will also receive a $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.
Newman has been involved in Student Council, Shakespeare Club, Key Club, FFA, National Honor Society, and the Robotics Team. He was also involved in sports and volunteered in the community. He has also received the DAR Good Citizen Award, Presidential award for service, Hoosier Boys State delegate, Distinguished Honor Roll, and the Hugh O’Brien award.
A former Winamac Community High School valedictorian and basketball star is making a name for herself in another country.
WKVI’s Harold Welter recently caught up with Tonya Small, who was a guest on his Saturday SportsLine Live program. She’s now in South Africa after continuing her education a bit closer to home.
The Winamac Community High School will soon present Tarzan the musical, and the socialtorium stage has recently undergone a transformation into an African jungle as parents, students, and staff work diligently to bring the bigger-than-life legend of Tarzan to the stage. The production stars Winamac junior J.T. Garnett in the title role and includes co-stars Taylor Smith, Emerald Blankenship, Andrew Brandon, Ralph Thomas and Joshua Tankersley.
The event was first planned four years ago when choral directors from Rochester, Caston, and Winamac sought to introduce students to guest conductors with an afternoon of singing and educational fellowship. Caston Choral Director Michelle Byrn and Winamac Choral Director Patrick Schuttrow will be back again this year, welcoming Rochester’s new choral director, Autumn Dalton, who will accompany the performance.
Mary Perren
A Winamac hairstylist is sporting a new hairdo for a good cause. Emily Larkin agreed to shave her head once she raised $3,000 for Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. That’s where her sister, Christina, also a hairstylist, was treated as a teenager when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Larkin said her bold new haircut was inspired by the Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders who shaved their head in support of Coach Chuck Pagano’s leukemia diagnosis inspired Larkin to “take it off.” She nearly doubled her fundraising goal, thanks to generous support from the community. Her sister Christina did the honors during the halftime show of last night’s Winamac Community High School basketball game. Larkin said she “kind of likes” her new short locks, which she will be sporting for Christina’s wedding next month.
Mary Perren
A Winamac hairstylist is sporting a new hairdo for a good cause. Emily Larkin agreed to shave her head once she raised $3,000 for Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. That’s where her sister, Christina, also a hairstylist, was treated as a teenager when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Larkin said her bold new haircut was inspired by the Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders who shaved their head in support of Coach Chuck Pagano’s leukemia diagnosis inspired Larkin to “take it off.” She nearly doubled her fundraising goal, thanks to generous support from the community. Her sister Christina did the honors during the halftime show of last night’s Winamac Community High School basketball game. Larkin said she “kind of likes” her new short locks, which she will be sporting for Christina’s wedding next month.
The Pulaski County Junior Leaders and the Winamac Community High School Sunshine Society will be doing a different kind of trick-or-treating on Thursday, Oct. 25.
Members of both organizations will be trick-or-treating for canned goods for the Pulaski County Food Pantry. They will be traveling around the Winamac, Francesville and Medaryville communities picking up canned food items from residents between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET, so leave your items outside on the step if you wish or you can give your donation to the volunteers when they come to the door.
If you know you will not be home that night and would like to donate, you may drop off your canned goods at the Pulaski County Extension Office by Oct. 26.
Last year, over 1,000 pounds of food were donated to the Pulaski County Human Services food pantry.
The Singing Hoosiers show choir will perform in concert in Winamac at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 13th at the Winamac Community High School Socialtorium. Several Winamac High School singers are, or have been, a member of this choir. The Singing Hoosiers have a 60 year history and the group has appeared with such legendary entertainers as Bob Hope, Alan Sherman, Red Buttons, Tony Bennett, Duke Ellington, and Indiana’s favorite son Hoagy Charmichael.
We’re coming to the close of the school year and many graduation activities are scheduled at our local schools. The Knox Community High School Senior Awards Day will be Friday, May 20th at 8:00 a.m. CT in the High School Gymnasium. All parents and students are welcome to attend. Graduation will be Friday, June 3rd at 7:00 p.m. in Weinberg Gym.
The Winamac Community High School Robotics team, coached by Brad Moore, will be competing in a National competition.
“This year, they will be going to Orlando, Florida for the competition,” said Superintendent, Dr. Robert Klitzman. “They’re able to do this by getting Corporate sponsors so we appreciate our community in helping support this. The kids build robots and then go through competitions and maneuvers with the robots and get points for how they do their different techniques during the competition. The numbers on the team have doubled from a year ago. Mr. Moore had a very successful run with our Supermileage team and now he’s taken that same flair to the Robotics Team and they’re doing quite well.”
