GreatNews Life Student Voices: From Parade Floats to Friday Night Lights

What Happened Recently?

The Labor Day parade is a tradition that has been in Lowell for 107 years, and is the longest, continuously run parade in the state. It lasts around three hours, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Tri-Creek School Corporation was float number 46 and included most of Tri-Creek’s staff. The marching band followed, and a majority of the high school sports teams came after. 

Voting season is coming up on November 3, and the Tri-Creek School Corporation hopes to remind the community of the 2026 operating referendum. The referendum aims to protect the foundational services every school should be able to provide. More information on the referendum can be found here.

What’s Coming Up? 

Friday Night Lights (FNL) took place the Friday night before homecoming. The football game was held at home, where the Lowell Red Devils faced off against the Hobart Brickies. During halftime, the homecoming court joined the field, along with the winning homecoming court from the lower and upper classmen. The winning senior couple was also crowned homecoming king and queen. 

The pep rally was also on Friday before homecoming, and included mini-games as well as the recently crowned homecoming court. 

Homecoming was on September 26, and the theme was, “Meet Me at Midnight.” The student council chose the theme and set up in the fieldhouse, where homecoming was held.

Staff Spotlight:

When you think of an artist, you may think of a fun, creative, or even bubbly person. Each of these words perfectly describes Veronica LaPage, the visual arts teacher and Fine Art team leader at Lowell High School (LHS). She is also one of the co-directors for the Peer Mentors, alongside fellow instructor Darryl Hebble. 

Coming with her 10th year of teaching, LaPage received her bachelors in fine arts with a concentration in illustration from Northern Illinois University in 2007. She later went on to get her teaching certification from Indiana Teachers of Tomorrow. 

LaPage has always gravitated towards visual art. It began at a young age, as her mother was also an art teacher and brought the love of creation home with her, influencing LaPage’s passion.

LaPage eventually stumbled into teaching without knowing what she wanted to do. Having a hard time with her work-life balance while working long hours in Chicago, LaPage needed more fulfillment. 

“This is my second career after having a career in commercial arts and advertising as a storyboard artist, illustrator, and animatic designer,” she said. “I decided to take a complete 180 and try something completely different in my life. Teaching high school art is about as different as it gets. But it turns out that this is what I was meant to do all along.”

LaPage loves to watch her students create, while also getting to know them as the year goes on. She might even teach some students all four years of their high school career, and getting the opportunity to see them develop as a student and a young adult is incredibly fulfilling.

The advice she wants the student body to leave with is that it’s okay to make mistakes in life to get better at what you are doing. 

“Live in the moment, don’t be afraid to fail and try again. Get messy, make mistakes. It’s the only way to get better. Most of all, know that your voice is important,” LaPage said.

Student Spotlight: 

Gavin Gutierrez is an athlete at LHS, playing for both the football and baseball teams, all while being involved with the National Honor Society (NHS). In his free time he enjoys playing golf, spending time with his girlfriend, and playing video games.

“Following the NHS is all about helping out for the community. Working to help the school be able to do good is important to me,” Gutierrez said.

When handling multiple extracurricular activities and including work on its own, he keeps a very well kept and balanced schedule.

“During the school day, I do what’s asked of me and get as much work done as possible,” Gutierrez said. “That way when I get home at night I’m able to relax and get homework or important stuff done as needed.”

When transitioning into high school and playing on varsity teams, having someone to inspire you has been a source of strength for Gutierrez. Since the beginning of his career, coach Lacy has been by his side.

Despite being retired, Lacy still has time to support Gutierrez.

“Even now that he’s not coaching we still talk. He supports me when I need it,” Gutierrez said.

Since Gutierrez is coming to the end of his high school career, he wants people to savor their high school experience.

“Enjoy these years. because they come to an end fast. Always do what makes you happy and don’t worry about other people,” said Gutierrez.