GreatNews.Life Student Voices: Hammond Central turns a late start into board game magic

What’s recently happened?

Hammond Central High School’s (HCHS) fall semester started later than usual this year. A severe storm tore through the Region on August 11, with damaging straight-line winds that knocked out power to over 300,000 NIPSCO customers across Northwest Indiana. The School City of Hammond postponed the first day of school in response, pushing the start date back to August 26.

“Missing two weeks right at the start of senior year was really tough,” Senior Alejandria Bustos said. “I had mentally geared up to begin on time, so pushing everything back completely threw me off and left me feeling drained before day one started.”

Despite the rocky start, HCHS’s fall semester is now in full swing, bringing energy to classrooms, athletic venues, and community events across the city. Students and faculty have spent the opening weeks embracing long-standing traditions while celebrating early achievements.

Senior traditions officially commenced as the class of 2027 gathered on the football field for Senior Sunrise on September 4. Students watched the sunrise over the stadium, shared breakfast, and took group photos to mark the start of their final high school year. Class officers organized the early morning event to build unity among the senior class.

“Senior sunrise was an amazing start to the senior year. It was a fun time for all the seniors to come together and enjoy themselves. We had bags, footballs, and Polaroid cameras. It was a fun time for everyone,” Senior Christopher Buckley said. “I’m really looking forward to senior year because the class of 2027 at Hammond Central has a lot of spirit and is willing to do what it takes to make it the best senior year.”

The athletic department celebrated Boys’ Soccer Senior Night on September 17, honoring senior student athletes for four years of dedication to the program. Escorted across the field by their families, the players received heartfelt recognition from coaches, teammates, and spectators alike. That deep connection carried onto the pitch, where the team’s strong chemistry reflected the leadership built throughout their high school careers.

“It was an emotional night having my family there for my final season,” Senior Jacob Munoz said. “Out on the field, I felt deeply grateful to share the moment with my fellow seniors and be part of this team.”

To support team travel, equipment needs, and academic competitions, student organizations held several community fundraisers. On September 5, the Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer teams hosted a car wash in the main parking lot, drawing steady support from residents. On September 10, the HCHS Academic Teams partnered with BIBIBOP Asian Grill in Munster for a dine-out day, earning a percentage of sales toward tournament entry fees.

What’s coming up?

The autumn calendar at HCHS is filled with important dates for students and families, with Homecoming standing out as the season’s biggest highlight.

This year’s Homecoming theme centers on board games, setting the tone for a full week of school spirit. The Homecoming football game will take place on October 9, followed by the Homecoming Dance on October 10.

“We want to include fun and unique activities in our events,” Class of 2028 Sponsor Sra. Garcia said. “A lot of themes can be repetitive at times and often include the same styles, so we want to allow students to enjoy the night and hang out.”

The student council built spirit week around the premise of having fun, and giving students a unique way to show school pride each day. Suggested dress-up days include a Western theme, Adam Sandler Day, Preschool Day, when students dress as their younger selves, and White Lie Day, when students write a good-natured white lie on a t-shirt.

As part of the theme, each class will also decorate a display case in the school hallways, with every case designed around a different board game.

This year’s Homecoming Court includes nominees for king, queen, prince, and princess, and tickets for the dance are set at $20 per person.

School picture days will take place in the main gymnasium during late September. Seniors and freshmen will take portraits on September 28, and juniors and sophomores will complete their sessions on September 29. Order forms will be distributed during homeroom periods before photo day, and students can also place orders at inter-state.com.

Staff spotlight:

HCHS Social Studies Teacher Larry Keilman views education as much more than delivering classroom lessons. Now in his eighth year teaching in Hammond schools, his path into the classroom was shaped by years of hands-on life experience.

After graduating from Munster High School in 1990, Keilman spent his twenties working at a local lumberyard, serving as a firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT), and caring for his grandmother. At 24, he enrolled as a non-traditional student at Purdue Calumet while working as a one-on-one special education aide. Balancing work and part-time evening classes, he spent eight years earning his degree on his own dime, a journey that built his strong work ethic and passion for helping others.

Keilman began teaching in Hammond in 2014 and became a full-time district employee in 2018, serving at Clark High School, Hammond High School, and now HCHS. He currently teaches U.S. History, Indiana Studies, and Civics & Citizenship, with a strong focus on providing an authentic look at local Calumet Region history.

Outside his main classroom duties, Keilman stays actively involved across the school and local community. He serves as an assistant instructor and MC for HAPA’s rock band and guitar classes, assistant coaches the Academic Super Bowl and Spell Bowl, and lends his voice as the athletic PA announcer for home games.

“I feel I’m here to serve and to help others as best I can,” Keilman said.

His connection to the area extends to media and local culture. A former WJOB Radio personality, Keilman recently returned to the airwaves to host The Lake Effect Drive weekly show on 1230 AM / 104.7 FM. In his free time, he hosts a monthly trivia night at Byway Brewing, collects vinyl records, plays guitar, and stays active to manage his natural high energy.

Drawing from his own unconventional path, Keilman continually encourages his students to stay motivated, embrace their individuality, and pursue their goals without letting others limit their potential.

“Everything you do leads you to where you are right now,” Keilman said. “Do what you’re doing, make good decisions, and don’t let anybody ever tell you that you can’t.”

Student spotlight:

HCHS Senior Angelica “Angie” Soria approaches her final year of high school with relentless energy, strong leadership, and a deep commitment to serving her school community. From competing on the track to planning student activities, Soria has built a dynamic high school journey defined by active involvement, creativity, and faith.

Soria’s athletic focus centers on distance running as a member of the Cross Country and Track and Field teams, where she competes in the 800-meter and one-mile events. As the lone returning senior on the Cross Country roster, she naturally stepped into a mentorship role, leading team stretches, keeping workouts on track, and maintaining high team morale. In addition to running, Soria serves as a manager for the Hammond Central Football team, overseeing game-day hydration, organizing equipment, and designing custom promotional posters for home games.

Beyond athletics, Soria maintains an extensive list of extracurricular commitments, including Student Government, National Honor Society (NHS), and Bible Club. Through Student Government, she advocates for student-led initiatives and works to elevate school spirit for her class. In NHS, she channels her passion for community outreach into volunteer work, while Bible Club offers her a space to deepen her spiritual growth and personal values.

“I love helping people, so that’s why I do NHS, not just because it looks good, but because I genuinely love giving back,” Soria said.

Balancing multiple sports, organizational roles, and academics requires strict discipline and proactive communication. Soria stays on top of her responsibilities by coordinating closely with coaches and teachers, prioritizing her commitments, and maintaining personal discipline, often completing three-mile runs on her own when club meetings overlap with scheduled practices.

Outside of school and sports, Soria stays creative through baking, drawing, painting, bedazzling, and going on spontaneous “side quests” with her close circle of friends. She credits these shared moments and school traditions as some of the highlights of her high school experience.

Looking ahead, Soria aims to break her personal records in track this season before transitioning to higher education. Driven by a passion for human anatomy that began in early childhood, she plans to complete a two-to-four-year college program to become a certified ultrasound technician specializing in cardiac or obstetric sonography.

As she prepares for graduation, Soria hopes to leave behind a legacy of unity, positive expectation, and encouragement for underclassmen starting their own high school journeys.

“Watch who you surround yourself with, speak up for yourself, and make sure you have fun,” Soria said. “Go on side quests, make new friends, and just enjoy the time you have.”