GreatNews.Life Student Voices: Bishop Noll Institute seniors say their final goodbyes

What’s recently happened?

Before the school year ended, Bishop Noll Institute (BNI) kickstarted a club. Dedicated Disciples Club (DDC) was initiated by Junior Alina Plascencia and members of Campus Ministry. The club was thought of in February and the first meeting was held in March during student resource time. The student-led club wanted to start this because they wanted to give students fundamental knowledge of the Bible to grow a relationship with God. 

Each meeting starts with a prayer and turns into a Lectio Divina, a Catholic tradition method to study the Bible. Students share what a specific verse meant to them and end the meeting with a prayer. DDC also tried to spread the word of God before the summer by making notecards of Bible verses and hanging them on students’ lockers. 

“It brought students together like a family to help each other and share our incites and experiences to be more wise to unlock a fruitful relationship with God. I encourage other schools to make a Bible study group because it is life changing,” Junior DDC Member Jesus Urbina said. 

Seniors have officially graduated. From starting with online learning during freshman year, students got to grab their diplomas and celebrated together. The Baccalaureate Mass was held on June 5 at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels celebrated by Bishop Robert McClory. Later in the evening, graduates, families, and friends gathered in the BNI fieldhouse for the graduation ceremony. 

“I enjoyed graduation, it was bittersweet. I’m so happy I got to attend BNI and I am grateful for the person I have become due to the impact of the staff and students there,” Senior Diana Torres-Cruz said. 

What’s coming up?

The BNI Speech Team is leaving on June 15 for a week in Des Moines, Iowa for its fifth appearance at Nationals. Junior Jolette Luna is competing in informative speaking. Junior Kimberly Padilla is competing in supplementary events impromptu and extemporaneous commentary (EXC). Junior Abigail Buksa is competing in supplementary events storytelling and EXC. 

The team has been working hard to not only compete well in the upcoming tournament but also be able to compete in out-of-state tournaments in the upcoming school year.

“There is no substitute for hard work. We are excited to go and show what we have to offer,” Luna said.

Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) camp is back for fun and education for kids entering kindergarten through eighth grade. Earth and life science week is from July 7-10 and technology and art week is on July 14-17. Both weeks will include BNI student-led activities and lessons that focus on science. Students will also be able to embark on field trips to see STEM in action. 

BNI’s new band director, Kirk Hickman, is ready to start the band in the summer. The band is set to perform in the Independence Day parades in Highland, Whiting, and Munster. Along with that, he is excited to welcome in new students who want to see what the BNI band is like. Band camp starts on July 28 at 8 a.m. for two weeks. With new leadership, incoming seniors are thrilled to welcome in new students to continue the BNI band legacy. 

“I’m excited for my senior year with a new band director, and to see what changes he brings,” Junior Sara Seleb said. 

Staff spotlight:

Mark Miller has been teaching Algebra 2 and Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus at BNI for 17 years. He went to Columbia College Chicago, where he studied radio and later went to Purdue University Northwest for teaching. Miller was interested in music which was his inspiration of wanting to go into radio but decided teaching was for him. 

Miller got a call from his student teacher supervisor that BNI was looking for a teacher. He automatically felt good when he walked into the building and had a great interview. 

“BNI chose me. I thought that this place was for me and 17 years later, I’m still here,” Miller said. 

Miller always enjoyed and excelled in math which is why he chose that subject. He loves how there is always an answer for each question and how there is more than one way to go about it. 

His favorite things about BNI are the friendships he’s made and the true family atmosphere. BNI bends over backwards for the whole school and you can’t find that in many other schools. 

“BNI makes sure the teachers feel appreciated,” Miller said. 

Miller has helped with the Student Council. He took over the Scholastic Assessment Test coordinator position for the weekend test dates. Miller also helps in the finance office and the supervisor for after school tutoring. 

In his free time, he enjoys watching horror movies. He also likes to collect vinyl and play the guitar. Miller’s favorite genre is ‘80s and ‘90s rock but likes all kinds of music. Miller also plays with his 12-year-old dog. 

Student spotlight:

Hailey Wojtaszek is a recent graduate from BNI. She is going to Purdue University West Lafayette to study anthropology focusing on food and health science and agriculture. She finds learning about the culture of people interesting, especially why some people eat certain things and how we evolved to get where we are today. 

Wojtaszek played golf, ran track and field, was in Biology Club, National Honor Society (NHS), Spanish National Honor Society, speech and debate, and acted and was in the crew for theater. She felt accomplished after being inducted into NHS because she didn’t get in the first time she applied. She was also a graduate of distinction. 

“I am so happy I played golf. I didn’t want to at first but I had friends who joined, and it ended up being fun. I got to be a caddy at Briar Ridge Country Club for two years and went through an interviewing process where I later became a Chick Evan Scholarship recipient. The scholarship pays for my college tuition and I get housing at the Evan’s Scholar Chapter House on campus,” Wojtaszek said. 

Some of her most favorite times at BNI were going to football games at the new field, going to prom, Senior Field Day and dress up days, and graduation. She was excited to have her last moments with her friends that she met through her time at BNI. Wojtaszek is ready to pack up her things and start a new chapter of her life in the fall. 

AP Environmental was her favorite class she has taken. Rosalie Schmidt, who retired at the end of this school year, taught that class and was one of Wojtaszek’s favorite teachers. 

“Although it was challenging at times, I enjoyed learning about the earth and the environment,” Wojtaszek said. 

In Wojtaszek’s free time she likes to bake Crumbl Cookie inspired lemon glaze cookies. She also enjoys going to the beach and shopping at TJ Maxx and Marshalls.