On February 22, Whiting High School held their turnabout dance, hosted by the sophomore class. The theme of this dance was Northern Lights, and the decorations beautifully defined it. There were lights strung around the entire cafeteria, which lit up the night. At first, students were a little wary to attend due to the fact that it was placed inside a smaller cafeteria. However, the event turned out to be lovely.
The decor along with the music made it a highly memorable dance. In fact, the DJ for the dance was art teacher Brandon Fentress who kept it upbeat and fun. Students arrived dressed in their formal attire and the cafeteria worked as a splendid venue, despite concerns. It goes to show that the location does not make a difference in the chances of having a fantastic time.
Another important event held on February 28 was Senior Night for the boy's basketball team, band, and cheerleading squad. Despitethe Oilers loss, the seniors did not let it dampen their spirits. They were presented with gifts for the appreciation and devotion they had shared during their high school years. The seniors were also walkedonto the court by their friends and family, who have had an impacton their lives. The night acknowledged the seniors at their last home game, and disclosed how much they will be missed.
Coming up:
Directly after regionals ended, the Whiting Science Olympiad team returned to their studies. In fact, in just one week after the competition, they were at another invitational competition, using it as a preparation tool for their A-team prior to the state competition. They earned second place at the Purdue University Northwest (PNW) Regionals, and are hoping to make it to the national competition. The 2020 state competition will be held at Purdue University in West Lafayette. They have prepared with many late night practices.
The state competition will occur on March 21. The team plans to spend the night before the competition studying for their events in hopes of earning a trophy. However, regardless of the outcome,Whiting High School will be proud of their efforts. We applaud our Oilers who spent all year preparing and practicing. It is their heart and dedication that truly makes us proud.
Student Spotlight:
Carmen De La Torre is one of the most hardworking students atWhiting High School. She is focused and active in numerous school activities. Now a senior, she has participated in science olympiad, academic team, one-acts, band, National Honor Society (NHS), student council, softball, and several other sports during her four years. She is the type of student who shows results and not excuses. De La Torre proves this by being one of the top ten students in the class of 2020 and by also serving as a NHS officer. She has taken five AP classes in just this year alone, and many more in her previous years in high school.
De La Torre works through problems until she solves them. She is the type of student who continues to ask for help when she does not understand something. De La Torre also knows the importance of education. She aims to study political science in college and then further her studies in law school at the University of Michigan. She is a fighter and is very strong-willed. Her hard work and perseverance makes her a great student.