#1StudentNWI: Glowing Minds at Gavit High School

#1StudentNWI: Glowing Minds at Gavit High School

Teacher Spotlight
Mrs. Osan is a social studies teacher at Gavit. She has been teaching at Gavit her entire career. Osan was inspired by her mom and other history teachers to pursue a teaching career.

“My mom was a teacher, and I was able to see firsthand how much she adored her job and students,” Osan said. “I wanted to have a passion and joy like that. While she was still teaching, I was able to teach social studies in middle school with her and it was great.”

In addition to being a social studies teacher, Osan also sponsors Gavit’s National Honor Society, Natural Helpers Retreat, and the Class of 2019 with Ms. Smolar. Osan said, “The Class of 2019 will forever hold a special place in my heart.”

She was able to teach some of the seniors as middle schoolers and then as freshmen. Osan said she couldn’t pass up “the opportunity to spend time with this amazing class and work with such a wonderful teacher, Ms. Smolar.”

Through the National Honor Society, Osan has the opportunity to spend time with Gavit’s “stellar seniors.”

“It’s wonderful to work with students that are academically driven and committed to supporting everyone around them,” she said.

The Natural Helpers Retreat teaches students skills for different situations. Osan works with Mrs. Rycerz to facilitate this retreat.

“An important component of the retreat is for students to see how their words and actions have the ability to influence those around them,” Osan said. “My favorite part is when we see our students being mindful and positive in their actions.”

Osan wants her students to know that they are capable of anything and everything.

“You are capable of so very much, and I wish that students could see their true potential the way we, as teachers, do.”

Student Spotlight
Shamari Walker is a senior at Gavit High School. Walker is involved in many extracurricular activities. From starting his own business, to playing the trumpet, to being the founder and director of the Computer Science Institutes of Hammond, Walker is a busy student.

Walker’s passion for computer science started in the sixth grade when he discovered drag and drop game builders, which led to Walker’s unquenchable thirst to learn more about programming languages. Computer programming is Walker’s creative outlet.

“I can let my creativity run wild,” he said. “To be able to take something from my mind and place it in the hands of millions through lines of code is truly astonishing.”

AscuniaTech™ is Walker’s business. AscuniaTech™ offers many services and products, such as software, hardware, websites, and tech support, at low prices. Walker started his own business because other companies wouldn’t hire him as a freshman in high school.

“I had an amazing talent in my hands and I realized it could be used to make so many lives easier,” he said. “I sought out technology companies far and wide, yet every company I spoke to rejected me due to my age. So I started my own business instead.”

Walker is the founder, director, and instructor of the Computer Science Institutes of Hammond (CSIH), which provides computer science education to high school students in Hammond. Walker founded CSIH to give back to his community.

“With money not being on my side, I felt the best thing I could give back to my community was knowledge,” he said. In February 2018, Walker won Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He was one of three finalists and calls it the most meaningful award he has received.

“My competitors were college graduates and had storefronts across the country, while I was only a high school student with an online business,” he said. “I ended up winning the award and $5,000 in prizes that came with it. One of the prizes was a year of office space in Chicago, which I declined and offered to the kids of Chicago to use as a place to work after school.”

Walker’s advice to students like him is perseverance.

“It is going to be difficult at first and people are going to doubt you, but you have to put in the effort and I promise you it will be worth it in the end. Whenever you feel like giving up, just remember why you started in the first place.”

What Recently Happened?
The start of 2019 is a time for new beginnings.

For the Gladiators, returning to school on January 7 was the start of the second and final semester of the year. This second semester allows the Gladiators to start anew and improve any grades they want. The start of the second semester also starts the countdown to summer. The seniors are finishing their college applications and counting down the days to graduation. The finish line is in sight and the Gladiators are eager to reach it.

What’s Coming Up?
On January 26, the Gladiator Chess Team will travel to Elkhart for the Scholastic Chess of Indiana Individual State Finals. Eighteen Gladiators qualified for State after competing in Regionals on January 5 at Morton High School. Good luck to the Chess Team!

February 2 will be a busy day for the Gladiators.

The Gladiator Wrestling Team will compete in their sectional competition at Calumet High School in Gary. The middle school and high school choir members will compete in the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) solo and ensemble competition at Munster High School. The Gladiator Chess Team will compete in the Greater Chicago K-12 Championship at the McCormick Place in Chicago.

The night will end with Gavit’s annual Winter Formal. The theme this year is “A Night Out of This World.” Student Council has been planning Winter Formal and the Gladiators are excited to see the decorated hall and to dance the night away!