And just like that, it’s over. For some, the end of their first year in Whiting High, for others, just another year, but most importantly, the end of their final year in the halls they walked for so long.
But the story doesn’t just end for our seniors. The Oilers also say farewell to beloved art teacher, Ms. Mindas. For 27 years, Ms. Mindas has played a major part in sponsoring the Booster Club, creating scenery for the Drama Club, helping create floats for the annual homecoming parade, and overall teaching art and inspiring kids to be creative. A favorite of the students, she will be greatly missed and her classes will not fade from our memories anytime soon.
At the end of the year, it was officially announced that former advanced math teacher, Ms. Herochik, had officially retired. For 21 years, Ms. Herochik had taught junior and senior math courses and been a coach and sponsor to the Academic team, until late fall 2015 when she had a car accident injuring her and making her unable to return to the classroom. Her heart was with the students and she planned to return to the classroom eventually, but sadly never could. Although these outstanding teachers will be missed, all the new openings bring on a fresh, new, exciting page going forward for the staff of Whiting High.
Despite a large number leaving the school, school doesn’t really end for many Whiting students. For another week, students attending the area career center continued to make the drive out to finish their second semester. But even after that, many remained at Whiting to take extra classes like Economics or Government, and some were redoing courses for a higher grade. Other kids went off to Purdue Northwest, formerly known as Purdue Calumet, to participate in college level camps in engineering.
A Robotics account was held through the 5th and 9th. The week was led by Professor Akram Hossain and gave an introduction to the campus “mechatronics” specialized field of engineering. Circuitry, computer logistics, and programming a real Motoman robotic arm to complete tasks in the campus robotic lab were highlights. The second week featured both an electrical engineering camp and a camp based around cyber security and other aspects of working with computers. That computer camp had an extra session in the following week, which several Whiting students attended.
In the third week, Purdue hosted a mechanical engineering technology camp. The MET camp was led by Professor James Higley and featured programming of Lego Mindstorms robots as well as design and development of their very own fidget spinners that they had a machine cut out of aluminum blocks.
Hoosier Boys’ State, a week-long experience sponsored by the American Legion, had hundreds of high school juniors from around the stateparticipate in running a mock government. After being split into fictional counties and cities named after national commanders, participants created campaigns, attended specialized classes, and ran for offices at city, county, and state levels.
Dubbed “A Week to Shape a Lifetime”, it was exactly that, giving boys the chance to meet and befriend kids from all over the state, each with backgrounds and perspectives they might not see at home. They heard from real city mayors, veterans, national commanders, active undercover agents, college representatives, and more. Towards the end of the week there was a talent show featuring guitarists, pianists, cellists, saxophonists, a skit from Abbott and Costello, an impressionist, a singer performing a song from Hamilton, and a rendition of Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up, with much support from the crowd. The potential for the future was apparent after these kids spent a week working and learning together.
Whiting also sent one girl the following week for Hoosier Girls’ State, Class of 2018 Valedictorian, Julianna Scivinsky. Like the boys, her week consisted of campaigning and electoral processes, presentations, and meetings within the girls’ city and county levels, the party conventions, a talent show of their own and decorated the dorms they stayed in like the communities they were made into.
Julianna was also named “good citizen” of her county and won a scholarship through her involvement in the week, despite not taking an official office position. When asked if she enjoyed her week of activity in such a close-knit environment, she answered “Heck yeah”.