Student of the Month
Senior Angelic Tillman has taken French all the years she has been in high school. She fulfilled her childhood dream this past summer by studying abroad in France.
“When I was little I watched “Rugrats in Paris” and I always wanted to go to France,” Tillman said. “Then, freshman year we had a student that went to France and that struck my interest.”
Tillman stayed with a French family that lived in a city called Brest, which is about six hours away from Paris.
“At first it was awkward and it was hard to understand in the beginning because a few hours before I was speaking English, but then I had to transfer into speaking French,” Tillman said.
The first two weeks were not easy for Tillman to understand the language and engage in conversation.
“They spoke really fast and it was hard to understand and I had to tell them to slow down,” Tillman said.
She enjoyed her host family and said that it was nice to experience how other cultures live. Tillman gained a memorable relationship with her host father especially.
“We would cook together and he helped me with my homework,” Tillman said.
Tillman was in France from June 11 to July 27. She said family dinner is important to them and they cooked every night. Tillman was full every night from dinner whether she was at her host family’s house or her friend’s host family’s house.
“My host mom only brought home McDonald’s once,” Tillman said.
The trip to France was expensive and Tillman is appreciative towards her teachers, family, and friends.
“I’d like to thank my French teachers for encouraging me to do the programs and all the support from my family and friends,” Tillman said. “If it wouldn’t have been for my family and friends I wouldn’t be able to go.”
Sports Highlight
Senior Jorge Osorio has worked his way to the top from last year on the boys’ soccer team. This is Osorio’s third year of playing on varsity, but being on a team full of seniors and upperclassmen, it wasn’t as easy to be a standout.
Osorio is now the captain of the Merrillville Boys’ Soccer team
“If they are doing something wrong, I’ll tell them how to do it and what they are doing wrong,” Osorio said.
Granting that Osorio has many goals for the team, Coach Past says he is never selfish on the field and he is always looking to give his teammates assists.
“To be honest, he might be one of the best-kept secrets in Northwest Indiana in terms of soccer talent,” Boys’ Soccer head coach, Coach Brian Past said.
The varsity girls’ soccer team is off to a rough start with many injuries on the team. The team is gaining a few things from this downfall.
“We’ve come together as a team,” Varsity Girls’ head coach, Coach Daniel said. “I think we’ve begun to trust each other and I think that’s going to open up some things when we get everyone healthy.”
The girls also have a new addition to their team who they have grown a strong relationship with. Junior Raegene Thomas decided to step off the basketball court and join the soccer team on the field to be their goalie.
“In a soccer sense, she is someone we can depend on and always work hard,” Coach Daniel said. “And she adds a little of comic relief to the team.”
Teacher of the Month
Mr. Mike Knocke, a U.S. History and Government teacher at Merrillville High School, is not only a teacher, but he has many hobbies outside of school.
“I help out with the alternative program, enjoy playing fantasy football and enjoy reading up on politics,” Mr. Knocke said.
Many people do not know that Mr. Knocke has a love for animals.
“I have two dogs and a cat,” Mr. Knocke said. “I got all three from the humane society and I go the humane society to take the dogs for walks and some fresh air.”
Mr. Knocke has taught at Merrillville High School since the summer of 2005 and this will be his 11th year.
“My favorite part is building relationships with students and knowing I played a small role in helping to build their character and watching them succeed after this,” Mr. Knocke said.
Mr. Knocke said he does not like talking about himself, but he does want to thank and admire teachers and administrative workers at the high school.
“I am surrounded by many role models around the school and for the most part, I try to model myself after most of my colleagues,” Mr. Knocke said.
Orchestra
The Merrillville Orchestra will have their first concert of the year next month with all of the Merrillville schools joining them.
“I’m excited to see the incoming sixth graders perform because I want to see how good they are,” Junior violinist Lauren Stanley said. “Every year the incoming members sound better and better.”
The orchestras have been practicing their songs for about 3 weeks. There are going to be a variety of pieces performed by every level orchestra.
“I’m looking forward to nailing the pieces that we’re playing for the audience and seeing how much we’ve learned,” Sophomore violinist Bea Tamo said.
The orchestra concert will be October 15 at 7:00 p.m. in Reinhart Auditorium at Merrillville High School.