When Hailey DeWolf and Jacob Herr entered Bishop Noll Institute as freshmen, the choir had 22 students. As they graduated this weekend (June 3), the choir had grown to more than 70 students thanks to leadership and enthusiasm from students like them.
In honor of their dedication, both students received the Rev. John Winterlin Award, a monetary scholarship presented to a current member of the Bishop Noll choir. Winterlin served as chairman of the Fine Arts Department at Bishop Noll and taught music and theology from 1969 to 1988.
Although the scholarship is typically given to one student, this year Noll choir director David Herr awarded it to both. They received their awards during graduation Friday (June 3).
David Herr said scholarship criteria include: exemplary attendance in class and for performances at Masses and concerts at both Bishop Noll and throughout Northwest Indiana.
Recipients also must regularly display enthusiasm and positive energy in the classroom and at concerts as well as motivate and inspire others. “They have to set an example of leadership to the other choir students,” he said. “The biggest thing is that they have to be part of the creative process. They need to come in and present some of their own ideas and suggestions that help shape the curriculum of the choir.”
“Not only have Hailey and Jacob met all that criteria. They have spent all four years now in the Fine Arts Department helping to improve it and set a standard of excellence that Father Winterlin would be very proud of today.”
Both students plan to pursue the fine arts in college. David Herr said that regardless of whatever career they choose, they will continue to apply all the skills that they have obtained at Bishop Noll.
“Learning to be patient, learning dedication and commitment and inspiring others … they can take everything they learned here in the fine arts and use it the rest of their lives and I know that they will.”
DeWolf, of Hammond and a St. John Bosco School alum, wants to pursue singing and acting and is thinking about attending graduate school to study acting. She said receiving the scholarship was an absolute honor.
“It’s really nice to have support from the Fine Arts Department and from the choir to back you up. It was nice to know that the department believed in you so much to give you a scholarship.”
DeWolf said the Fine Arts Department has grown immensely since her freshmen year and credits that to current teachers “Mr. Herr, Mr. Carioto and Mr. Burgan as well as Mr. Cotey who gave me my start.”
“I’m very impressed with the progress – as is everyone in my family and everyone who comes here to see the shows – it’s a big difference from when we started,” she said.
DeWolf, who got her start in Bishop Noll’s theater, was recruited for choir after Herr saw her performance as Frau Blucher in “Young Frankenstein.” “Every time I saw her act, I was speechless. I thought she had what it takes. It would be a crime for her to not be in choir before she graduates,” he said.
DeWolf said her favorite choir memory was taking part in ISSMA competition her junior year.
“It pushed me to do something out of my comfort zone but I got a gold and it was a touching moment.”
Jacob Herr, of St. John and a St. Thomas More School grad, said, “By no means was being in theater my original plan. I wanted to be a musician because I was playing bass and was in a band.”
During his sophomore year, he performed in “The Breakfast Club” and was hooked after joining the cast of “Young Frankenstein.” He knew theater was what he wanted to do.
The Noll graduate now plans to major in theater and minor in history at Butler University.
“Jacob came into choir early – during spring semester of his freshman year,” David Herr said. “I spotted him in his first musical where he played both Bob Cratchit and Jacob Marley.”
For his best choir memory, Jacob Herr said it was when he asked Mr. Herr if the choir could perform “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay junior year.
“I remember hearing a few choirs online doing that. Its contemporary, people know it. Let’s give it a shot … we ended up doing it the whole year.”
Those who were inspired by Fr. Winterlin and who would like to contribute to future funding of this award, can send donations to the attention of Mary Ellen O’Neill, Director of Institutional Advancement, Bishop Noll Institute, 1519 Hoffman St., Hammond IN 46327. Checks should reference the “Winterlin Award” and be made payable to Bishop Noll Institute.</p