Running in Action
Saturdays aren’t always for sleeping in. The Morton cross country team has spent the last few months waking up early on Saturday mornings for their races.
Senior cross country runner Hannah Hammar stated, “It’s really hard to have a social life during the season, you can’t stay out on Friday nights with your friends but in the end- it’s worth it.”
Most Saturday mornings the weather is gloomy. This wasn’t the case on Saturday, October 7th as the team headed to IHSAA Gavit Sectionals. That morning they had one thing on their mind: qualifying for regionals.
In the end, senior cross country runners Hannah Hammar, Giselle Flores, Eberardo Azpeitia, and Oscar Lara qualified to advance, however, joining them on their road to regionals journey this year would be a newcomer, Aaliyah Clopton.
“Qualifying for regionals was a dream come true. It was like starting a new chapter in the season. My hard work paid off and encouraged me to do my best,” Clopton exclaimed.
After a week of preparing for regionals, the remaining team made their way to Lemon Lake for the IHSAA Crown Point regionals. After running the tough course, only one of Morton’s runners would qualify for the IHSAA New Prairie Semi-State: Eberardo Azpeitia.
At Semi-State, Azpeitia ran his heart out and managed a season personal record.
“It was a hard course, I’m glad to have beaten my regular time- I had to go all out for senior year,” the prideful runner remarked.
Student Spotlight
Most recently, the Hammond Academy for the Performing Arts put on their mainstage play, The Skin of Our Teeth. The show, directed by Dan Taube, the acting teacher at HAPA, featured the phenomenal talents of Morton’s very HAPA/Morton environment. Performing in the play was senior vocal major, Shauntell Harris.
“The play is about the human race, what we do right and what we do wrong,” Shauntell remarked.
As a vocal major at the Hammond Academy of the Performing Arts, Shauntell has participated in numerous productions such as the mainstage musicals Cinderella and Scrooge. At Morton, Shauntell is always seeking an academic challenge through taking several AP courses and being a member of the Science Olympiad team.
As a senior, Harris aspires to attend Indiana University-Bloomington next fall where she will double major in primary education and music therapy. Although being a performer and a student is often a struggle for many of our HAPA performers, Shauntell does not let the arts affect her success in the classroom.
“I try to time manage; when I get assignments, I complete them during any downtime that I have; remaining calm when I am overwhelmed is essential to this process. Knowing that other people are depending on me is my motivation to balance performing and academics,” Harris elaborated.
Recently, the existence of the arts program has been threatened by the upcoming Referendum in Hammond. In its short time of existence, the Hammond Academy for the Performing Arts has influenced the lives of many Morton students.
In regards to the Hammond Academy for the Performing Arts, Shauntell remarked, “Performing makes me happy, my favorite part is the adrenaline rush of it. Getting the opportunity to bring to life a character, that I’ve made my own and the roaring praise of the audience; gives me energy and reassurance, that I am something wonderful in a great form of self-expression. Without the arts my life is nothing- HAPA is a place where I am safe because everyone has my best interest at heart.”
Teacher Highlight
Becoming a teacher is one of the most altruistic jobs one can pursue. Teaching students the skills necessary to face life confidently is an important task. Recently, Morton’s English teacher, Chris Jagadich was granted the AP English teacher of the year award.
Jagadich has taught Advanced Placement Language at Morton for six years.
“Being surrounded by young people who are curious about the world as well as hard-working to achieve new insights is why I enjoy teaching,” Jagadich stated.
As an educator, Jagadich works diligently to ensure that his students get the most out of their high school experience and graduate with “the ability to think critically and make good decisions about the world they live in.”
Being nominated for AP Language Teacher of the year was shocking to Jagadich.
“Ultimately, I had feelings of validation for all of the good things that we do here at Morton,” Jagadich remarked.
Jagadich’s efforts to benefit his students is not confined to the classroom. As the boys soccer coach for Morton, he has worked diligently to help his players develop a strong work ethic and responsible character. In 2016, for the first time in Jagadich’s ten years of coaching, the team went undefeated- “each win was magical.”
For next season, Jagadich hopes to continue the team’s winning streak as they pursue another Conference Championship and Morton’s first Sectional Championship.
Upcoming Events
There’s always something going on at Morton High School. Whether it is a HAPA production or a sporting event- there’s something for everyone!
Hammond Academy for the Performing Arts events:
- HAPA Fall Piano/Guitar Recital November 2nd, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
- HAPA Fall Vocal Concert November 9th, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
- HAPA Fall Band Concert November 16th, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
Sporting Events:
- Varsity Girls Basketball Game v. Lake Station Edison HS November 7th, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
- Varsity Girls Basketball Game v. Munster HS November 18th, 2017 at 1:00 p.m.
- Varsity Boys Basketball Scrimmage v. Calumet New Tech HS November 18th, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.
- Varsity Girls Basketball Game v. Chesterton HS November 21st, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
- Varsity Girls Basketball Game v. Griffith HS November 22nd, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
- Varsity Boys Basketball Game v. Bishop Noll Institute November 24th, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
- Varsity Boys Basketball Game v. Chesterton HS November 29th, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.