Volume 1 Issue 3 December 2016 8808 Columbia Ave. | Munster, 46321 | http://alumni.munster.us/

Front Row: Kelly Collins, Chloe Jancosek, Anu Arora. Back Row: Mitch Walsh, Robert Wente, Elliott Fus Six MHS Students to Sing in All-State Choir Munster High School students ary 2017 in Fort Wayne. This performance, in were selected as participants conjunction with the Indiana Music Education Sixin the 2017 Indiana All-State Association (IMEA) Professional Development Choir. Freshman Mitch Walsh, sophomores Conference, is the culmination of months of Anu Arora and Kelly Collins, juniors Chloe Jan- rehearsals. Both required group rehearsals at cosek and Robert Wente, and senior Elliott Fus area high schools and personal preparation is were chosen from Area 1A (Lake, Porter, and open to the general public. LaPorte Counties) to represent our region! The Indiana All-State Choir is the top honor choir addition, sophomores Ben Peters in the state of Indiana. Sponsored by the Indi- and Lilly Therault were selected ana Choral Directors Association (ICDA), high In as All-State Choir alternates. school singers from all across Indiana are cho- Munster High School is incredibly proud of all sen based on their score from a live audition. singers who auditioned and pleased at the great They will learn and memorize eight challenging results our students had at the September audi- choral works which will be performed on Janu- tions. Congratulations, Mustangs!

More than 150 Guests Enjoyed MHSAA Board of Directors A Beautiful Project MHSAA salutes 13 chosen President Hal Lusk MHS ’82 Thank you to Nina Arzumanian for Alumni/Staff Hall of Fame Event [email protected] as ’17 national merit finalists organizing the beautification event Officers By Mike Wells are expected to attain Final- Hal Lusk the pavers to be installed on Sept. 24 at Munster High School- Principal ist standing, and about half President MHS ’82 the Pathway to Excellence Treasurer Athena Svolos and Wilbur Wright Middle School. Ms. Arzumanian brought togeth- The 2017 National Merit of the Finalists will win a Hello fellow alumni and in front of the high school. Superintendent Dr. Jeff Hendrix National Merit Scholarship, er 47 volunteers who worked from 9 Semifinalists have been an- friends of Munster High After the banquet, I had Assistant Superintendent Steve Tripenfeldas nounced and Munster High earning the Merit Scholar a.m. to 3 p.m. to clean up the land- School! the honor of introducing Editor Nancy Coltun Webster MHS ’79 School is proud to have 13 title. It’s hard to believe another each inductee to the crowd scaping. students chosen as semifi- The MHS students chosen school year has begun and during halftime at the MHS [email protected] Group members brought their nalists. These academically for this honor are: Tessa A. winter is upon us. On Aug. football game against the own supplies and spent the day talented high school seniors Bales, Ajeyo De, Anna M. 26 we hosted our second an- Chesterton Trojans. pulling weeds, edging and removing have an opportunity to con- Gambetta, David M. Green, tinue in the competition for Madhuri Kesani, Matthew nual Alumni Hall of Fame All in all, it seems like ev- School Updates and trimming small bushes. to im- C. Kvasnica, Saveda Majety, Superintendent Hendrix keeps us informed about all prove the grounds of Munster High some 7,500 National Merit ceremonies as well as our eryone involved had a great Michael J. Marich, Nirav G. the building updates with the Monthly School! Scholarships worth about inaugural Faculty and Staff time. $33 million that will be of- Patwari, Adam G. Richter, Mustang Express and his Superchat Podcast. Both Thank you for your continued sup- Hall of Fame Ceremonies. I encourage every MHS fered next spring. About 90 Anna B. Whitney, Patrick can be accessed online www.munster.us port of Munster High School and It was great meeting all alumnus, former faculty & percent of the Semifinalists Wu, and Jacob L. Yalowitz. Please check out the “Pride in Excellence” video on of the inductees and their staff, and friends of MHS to Middle School! the home page. It’s AMAZING!!! guests. I enjoyed the oppor- attend next year’s Hall of You may also see some familiar faces... tunity to catch up with old Fame Banquet. It makes for Reunions Two high school teachers classmates and teachers as a really fun and rewarding well as talking with class- evening. Get Pinned receive prestigious awards Show your Mustang Pride. Send us your reunion plans and we mates from different years. I would like to especially The Munster High School the S’Park Media Mentor Pins are available in the high school office. will help you get the word out to The day was full of ac- thank a few individuals that your classmates! Alumni Association offers Award. After a nationwide tivities starting with a tour were responsible for orga- congratulations to two high search she received this of the high school where nizing the event. They are school teachers for their ac- award that recognizes high many of the inductees were Principal Mike Wells, Athe- Where Are You Now? complishments. school teachers and leaders amazed at the numerous im- na Svolos, Dana Ziel, and We hope to reach out to graduates Recently, Michael Gordon of organizations dedicated to provements that have been Bill Melby. Thank you all for all over the U.S. and the world. If was selected to be a member igniting a passion for media made to the facilities since a great day! You can read you would like share news of what’s of the Harvard Teaching Ad- and communications in all they left. The tour included more about each inductee in new in your life, please send a note visory Council. its form in high school stu- an inductee lunch and was this newsletter (see P. 4). to let us know where you are and This prestigious council dents. followed by an all-school as- I encourage you to visit what you’ve accomplished since focuses on teaching through Ms. Lanman was recog- sembly where the students the alumni web page to stay graduating from MHS. case studies. This method nized at an award ceremony and faculty enjoyed hearing up-to-date on MHS and Send your updates has been proven to be an ex- at Ithaca College in October. speeches from each of the alumni association activi- to [email protected] cellent way of teaching civic and given the opportunity inductees. ties. skills necessary for democ- to meet with other teachers Later that evening a ban- Please consider purchas- racy. who received the honor this quet and reception took ing a personalized brick on Sarah-Ann Lanman was year and in years past. recently honored by the Roy The Munster High School place at the Center for Visu- the MHS Pathway to Excel- H. Park School of Commu- faculty is extremely proud al and Performing Arts with lence for yourself or to honor nications at Ithaca College of recipient, Sarah-Ann Lan- over 150 guests in atten- a friend or loved one. in Ithaca, New York with man. dance. The inductees where I hope you enjoy the rest of presented with engraved the year and… Go ’Stangs! memorial pavers identical to Hal Lusk

ALUMNI AND FACULTY HALL OF FAME

Christina Nzinga Blake Munster High School Alumna 1999 Nancy Hastings Munster High School Faculty 1972-2010 After graduating with high- co-starred on the TV pilot He Said, She Said and guest starred on For 38 years, Nancy Hastings de- Association with Pacemaker Awards, by Quill and Scroll with Gal- est honors from the UCLA Showtime’s Barbershop and ABC’s What About Brian. Ms. Blake veloped Munster High School’s lup Awards, and by the Indiana High School Press Association as a School of Film, Television was part of the 2007 Emmy-winning team as a writer, host, and pro- journalism program as Publica- Hoosier Star. In additional, she was also honored as the Ella Sen- and Digital Media in 2003, ducer for Current TV. Her most recent projects include producing tions Director for the Paragon genberger Indiana Journalism Teacher of the Year in 1983 and as Ms. Christine Nzinga Blake and co-directing World AIDS Day public service announcements yearbook and Crier newspa- the Inland Steel Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 1987. In 1997, has served as a producer, for the United Nations International Labor Organization and the per. In addition to managing Mrs. Hastings was honored as the National Yearbook Advisor of the writer, actor, and TV host writing and directing of “End Ebola Now,” a PSA that has aired her teaching responsibilities, Year by the Journalism Educator Association, and she was inducted with a true penchant for social throughout West Africa in an effort to help educate and inform the Mrs. Hastings served on the into Ball State University’s Journalism Hall of Fame in 2004. She ac- tivism and human rights. She has public about the Ebola crisis. In conjunction with Doctors Without School Improvement Com- was a recipient of Ball State University’s Marilyn Weaver Excel- hosted TV shows, including Culture Click, Borders and UNICEF, the End Ebola Now PSA has resulted in a mittee and the National Honor lence in Journalism Education Award in 2010 and also received the shown re- cently on ABC, and Cartoon Network’s #ShakeEbolaOff viral campaign that is helping to fund the only Society Selection Committee. Journalism Education Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award Fridays, where she was one of the first live humans to be broadcast fully functioning hospital in Sierra Leone. Ms. Blake continues to She also sponsored Munster’s Quill in that same year. Currently, Nancy Hastings continues to instruct on the predominantly animated network. Further, she has been a promote youth empowerment in Africa and other developing na- and Scroll Honorary Society. Under the students and teachers at summer journalism workshops and confer- correspondent on various television networks including BET, TV tions through entertainment, media and the arts. leadership of Mrs. Hastings, the Munster High School journalism ences across the country, and she also serves as the state director for Guide, and Net- work 10, an Australian/ABC affiliate. Ms. Blake program was honored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Associa- Indiana’s Journalism Education Association. tion with Gold and Silver Crowns, by the National Scholastic Press

Todd Donoho Munster High School Alumnus 1973 Todd Donoho graduated from and LA’s Monday Night Live, an NFL postgame show that was the Phil Lengyel Munster High School Alumnus 1967 the University of Missouri highest-rated local program in LA. Mr. Donoho is a recipient of Phil Lengyel was part of the mestically as it created two new theme parks, 5,000 resort hotel in 1977 and then embarked five television Emmys, three Golden Mikes, and three AP awards. first graduating class of Mun- rooms, three convention facilities, and dozens of new attractions. on a storied career in sports Mr. Donoho also appeared as a sportscaster in the movie Blue ster High School. After earn- Internationally, he led the worldwide marketing strategies team to journalism. Working as a Chips, which starred Shaquille O’Neal and Nick Nolte. In 2004 ing a bachelor’s degree in open global marketing offices in London, Toronto, Paris, Tokyo sports anchor and reporter, Mr. Donoho added author to his resume as he wrote and published telecommunications at Ball and Munich, which set the stage for Disney theme park expansion Mr. Donoho was the play- three books affiliated with the University of Missouri. He penned State University, he became around the world. In 2005 Mr. Lengyel joined the Indianapolis by-play voice for NBC’s radio a coffee table book (MizzouRah! Memorable Moments in Missouri a leader in branding and mar- Motor Speedway as its Executive Vice President of Marketing, coverage of college football, col- Tiger Football History), a children’s book (Hello Truman!) about keting for companies such as where he provided brand leadership and strategic counsel for the lege , Minor League , University of Missouri Mascot Truman the Tiger, and its sequel Walt Disney, the Indianapolis Indy Racing League. This attracted new sponsors and a multiyear , and the National Football (Hello, Truman: Show Me Missouri!) in which Truman the Tiger Speedway, and Dick Cook Stu- television agreement. Most recently, in 2014, Mr. Lengyel became League. In the 1980s Mr. Donoho became nationally recognized visits popular tourist attractions throughout Missouri. Currently, dios. While working with Walt Disney the Executive Vice President of Marketing for Dick Cook Studios, for the critically acclaimed sports trivia show Time out for Trivia. Mr. Donoho hosts a University of Missouri basketball postgame World, Mr. Lengyel rose from publicist to pro- a California-based international media content company that focus- Because of this show’s television success, Mr. Donoho was fea- show on the statewide Tiger Radio Network while serving as the motions manager to director of marketing, and he became the Vice es on commercial, multi-generational family entertainment. There, tured in Sports Illustrated. Mr. Donoho later became the sports sports voice on both Los Angeles’s Heidi and Frank Show and Mc- President of Alliances in 1999. During his 23-year tenure with he continues to increase brand awareness and market availability. voice of the nationally syndicated Mark and Brian radio program Intyre in the Morning. Disney, he led the Walt Disney World marketing organization do-

Helen Engstrom Munster High School Faculty 1965-1995 After three years of teaching at ten state titles for speech and 1 for debate. Further, the Speech and Pat Premetz Munster High School Faculty 1979 to 2015 Arlington High School in In- Debate Team was twice named a Team of Excellence at the nation- After earning both her bachelor’s Premetz mentored student teachers and served on a host of com- dianapolis, Helen Engstrom al finals. Mrs. Engstrom was honored twice as the National Speech and master’s degrees from Pur- mittees, including the Gifted and Talented Committee, Textbook began a storied career as an Coach of the Year, and she was honored with the Diamond Award due University, Patricia “Pat” Adoption Committee, and the Faculty Committee on Grades. Mrs. English teacher and foren- from the National Speech and Debate Association five times. Mrs. Premetz devoted 43 years to Premetz was a member of Munster’s first School Improvement sics coach at Munster High Engstrom was elected to both the State and National Speech and her teaching career. After sev- Team in 1990 and remained committed to its work throughout her School. For 30 years, Mrs. Debate Halls of Fame. Mrs. Engstrom was honored by the Al- en years of teaching at Morton tenure, chairing the committee from 2005-2008. Mrs. Premetz’s Engstrom taught English and pha Chi Omega Society as an inductee into their inaugural class High School, Mrs. Premetz served commitment to curriculum design is evident in the sheer number guided Munster’s Speech and of Real. Strong. Women. of Distinction, and she was awarded the 36 years in Munster High School’s of workshops that she attended. In addition to attending, Mrs. Pre- Debate program to national ac- Sagamore of the Wabash by the State of Indiana in 2016. Helen math department, where she became metz also shared the information she learned with district teachers. claim. Mrs. Engstrom coached two National Engstrom remains a valued contributor to Munster High School’s the depart- ment chair in 1997. Throughout her career, Mrs. For 36 years at Munster High, Pat worked tirelessly to improve Speech Tour- nament champions and numerous state and na- Speech and Debate program as mentor to its current director and as Premetz taught students of every ability level and devoted efforts instruction, and her students are evidence of her success. tional finalists. Under her leadership, Munster High School earned volunteer coach for its talented students. to expanding pedagogical knowledge for her colleagues. Mrs.

ALUMNI AND FACULTY HALL OF FAME Mary Yorke Munster High School Faculty 1970-2005 Lt. Gen. Jeff Sorenson Munster High School Alumnus 1969 A graduate of Marquette Univer- and developed the school’s summer reading program with fellow A graduate from the United intelligence. Equipment improvements included enhancements sity in 1963 and Purdue Univer- inductee, Mr. Jack Yerkes. Mrs. Yorke served as a longtime coach States Military Academy of to night vision technologies and tactical missile systems for avia- sity in 1975, Mary Yorke has for the Speech and Debate team, she was honored nationally as a West Point in 1973 and North- tion. He has worked with Congress, the Department of Defense, shared her knowledge and pas- Diamond Coach by the National Forensic League, and she was in- western University’s Kel- and private sector contractors to re-program and re-direct over $3 sion for language and learning ducted into the Indiana Speech Coach Hall of Fame. After retiring logg School of Management billion in resources and work contracts to accelerate the delivery as a teacher and leader for the from her teaching position in 2005, Mrs. Yorke was elected and re- in 1983, Lt. Gen. Jeff Soren- of body armor for soldiers in the field and armor packages for School Town of Munster for elected to the Munster School Board where she served for 8 years. son served in the United States their vehicles. Lt. Gen.Sorenson was interviewed and quoted by over four decades. Mrs. Yorke During this time and following her tenure as a board member, she Army for 38 years. Capitalizing several esteemed publications including Defense System, Govern- served as a Munster High School helped develop the Teacher of Merit Award. Mrs. Yorke returns on his knowledge of defense acquisi- ment Computer News, and Federal Computer Week. He has been English teacher for 35 years. During to Munster High School frequently, where she continues to guide tions, he became the Army’s Chief Information honored with Distinguished Service Medals, Meritorious Service that time, she chaired the English department, speech and debate students as a guest judge and volunteer coach. Officer before partnering with A. T. Kearney in 2011. There, he Medals, and an Army Commendation in addition to being named helped create the Munster High School Student Writing Handbook, continues to provide expertise as a consultant for clients at the fed- the Program Manager of the Year in 1998. Currently, Lt. Gen. So- eral, state, and local levels. Lt. Gen. Sorenson successfully devel- renson serves as the president of A. T. Kearney’s public section and oped, procured, and delivered over 30 different military systems defense services entity in North America. including systems that improved communication for battlefield Jack Yerkes Munster High School Faculty1969-1995 After seven years of teaching the 7th, 8th and 9th grade teams before serving as the high school’s language arts in Hammond, varsity boys’ basketball head coach from 1979-1982. Mr. Yerkes Indiana, Jack Yerkes devoted served as the Middle School State Representative for Language Andrew Yerkes Munster High School Alumnus 1982 the next 26 years of his pro- Arts from 1967-1969, and he was the Inland-Ryerson Teacher of After earning a bachelor’s degree over 100 programs including episodes of PBS’s Space Racers and fessional life to the students the Year in 1995. In addition to his contributions to the school com- in literature and letters from Ball Arthur, Disney Channel’s Jojo’s Circus and Stanley, Mama Mira- of Munster High School. Mr. munity, Mr. Yerkes served as a longtime member of the Munster Li- State University in 1986 and belle’s Home Movies, and Nickelodeon’s Gullah Gullah Island. In Yerkes led in the classroom, on ons Club and as an educational leader at the First United Methodist a master’s degree in creative addition to his TV work, Mr. Yerkes has published several short sto- the court, and on the field. He Church. Mr. Yerkes served as admissions associate at his alma ma- writing from New York Uni- ries, including First Steps and Mayonnaise and produced plays such sponsored several classes for student ter, Wabash College, and as a board member of Campagna Acad- versity in 1988, Andrew Yer- as Henry David Thoreau Visits His Mother for Lunch, which has government, assisted in creating the first emy. During his retirement, Mr. Yerkes twice returned to Munster kes became a celebrated writer been performed in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Mr. Yer- computer- based writing lab at Munster High, redesigned a High School to assist with maternity leaves, and he chaired the Ref- of television programing, short kes was nominated for six Emmys, including three for Bear in the coherent writing program for Munster students in grades 9 through erendum Committee in 2013. He has worked with the Children of stories, and theater. He served as Big Blue House, a wonderful children’s show that teaches impor- 12, and twice chaired the English department. Mr. Yerkes, along Abraham, a pan-religious cooperative that has raised over 100 mil- department head for more than 500 tant social skills such as sharing and cooperation. Andrew Yerkes with fellow inductee Mrs. Mary Yorke, created Munster High lion dollars to provide school and medical supplies to the neediest televi- sion episodes that have appeared all over the is the son of two Munster teachers: Sue Yerkes, a retired 4th grade School’s summer reading program. Outside the classroom, Mr. countries around the world.. world. Some of these programs include Allegra’s Window for Nick- teacher who served with dedication at Eads Elementary, and fellow Yerkes coached eight seasons of both basketball and football for elodeon, The High Life for HBO, The Book of Pooh for the Disney inductee Jack Yerkes. Andrew currently resides in New York. Channel, and Word World for PBS. He has been the lead writer for

Pathway to Excellence You can show your support by purchasing a Bricks are available for individuals or busi- personalized, engraved 4 X 8 or 8 X 8 brick. nesses: A minimum donation of $100 is required for a • MHS student/family 4 X 8 brick and a minimum donation of $250 is • MHS graduate required for an 8 X 8 brick. Add up to four lines • Community member of text and symbols. • Business owner Symbols include a basketball, football, Honor the past, celebrate the present, or ac- ball, baseball, mustang logo, a painter’s pallete knowledge the future. and more. Visit our website: alumni.munster.us Select Support and Download an order form .

ClassClass ofof 20062006

The Class of 2006 enjoyed their recent re- union at Byway Brewing in Hammond.

Share your reunion photos with the Munster High School Alumni Association! email photos to: [email protected]