GreatNews.Life Student Voices: Marian shines with spirit and heart

What’s recently happened?

Marian High School celebrated its Homecoming week from September 15 – 19. Each day of the week had a theme for students to dress in accordance with. 

“My favorite day was the Dress as the Teacher Day because we all dressed as clones of our English teacher,” Delaney Nitz, a junior, said.

Students weren’t the only ones dressed up for Homecoming. Decorations lined the hallways and lockers. The atmosphere was electric. 

School spirit was high all week leading into Friday night’s football game. The Knights took on Penn High School, and though they lost, the game still held high-energy. Beforehand, the annual Marian Family Tailgate was held, where food, games, balloons, and face painting awaited all who attended. 

“There were fun things for kids of different ages to do. The Marian students were hospitable and made my younger kids excited to be a Knight someday,” said Marian Mom Nicole Rutecki. 

During halftime, the Homecoming Court paraded around the track in old sports cars. The court included Freshmen Sam Keefer and Cece Bonadies, Sophomores Cecilia Haley and William Adamson, Juniors Kathryn Rivas and Jackson Briones, and Seniors Leila Galicia, Luis Garcia-Sanabria, Karle Mousaw, Maurizio Varacalli, Rylee Rapp, Vincent Chavez, Teresa Kovach, and Joseph Ahlersmeyer.

Karle Mousaw and Maurizio Varacalli were crowned Homecoming King and Queen. After the football game, students were invited to a “Flick on the Field.” Blankets were spread, popcorn was made, and a huge projector was rolled onto the football field.

“They showed ‘Rudy.’ The screen was huge,” said Freshman Ruth Hepner.

This year’s Homecoming week was a smashing success, complete with fun outfits, colorful decorations, and school spirit.

What’s coming up?

Every Wednesday at Marian is a Shadow Day, meaning Marian’s feeder schools from around the local area take turns each week visiting the school. The eighth graders come for a day and are each assigned to a Marian ambassador.

“I love being an ambassador. It helps me get a new perspective of my classes because I see them through someone else’s eyes,” Junior Paytin Mason said.

The Shadow Day experience is intended to model to the eighth graders or possible transfer students what a day as a Marian student looks like. Hopefully, they want to come to Marian for high school.

“While going on my search for schools, Marian really stood out to me with the way the kids come around and say hi and make you feel really welcomed,” said Recent Shadow Nathan Palmer.

On Shadow Days, there is often frozen yogurt in the cafeteria, with fan favorites being flavors such as cake batter and strawberry. Shadow students each get a free lunch from the cafeteria and some Marian merch. 

“The way they post your name up on a TV around the school when you shadow makes you feel kind of special.” Palmer said.

Students and staff alike love Shadow Days at Marian. It’s an opportunity to show-off Marian spirit and pride. It’s the school’s unique way of welcoming students, even if they aren’t enrolled. 

Staff spotlight:

Deb Powell is one of Marian’s administrative assistants, better known as a secretary, and is beloved by all. Students visit the main office just to talk or laugh with her, and coworkers have nothing but praise to offer.

Powell has been married to her husband for 43 years, has three sons who all graduated from Marian, and five grandchildren. She loves to scrapbook, do crafts, and spend time with her grandkids.

“Life is good,” she said.

Powell worked at Marian for 14 years, left for four years, and has been back for the past four years. 

“The things I missed most while being gone for four years were my coworkers because it’s kind of like extended family,” she said.

Powell’s job includes safe environment tasks, running the spirit store, principle tasks, and a little bit of everything. Creating a safe environment includes safety training and running background checks for all coaches, teachers, and adults involved with Marian.

“Its such an important factor – I sometimes get really stressed about it,” said Powell.

Her favorite part of her job is the students she is able to interact with. Any time of the day, whether it’s lunch, before or after school, or in the middle of day, is always precious to her if it involves students.

“There’s just something about seeing all the different faces and different personalities; it really rejuvenates me and makes me happy,” she said.

Powell hopes to stay at Marian until she retires.

“I don’t want to go anywhere else,” she said.

Andrea Nitz, Marian’s other administrative assistant, describes Powell as caring, hilarious, outspoken, always ready to help, and family-oriented.

Powell’s commitment and love for her family, coworkers, students, and all she comes in contact with is evident in just a conversation with her. She has a smile that brightens the halls of Marian. 

Student spotlight:

Kathryn Rivas is a junior at Marian and was voted by her classmates to be on the 2025 Marian Homecoming Court. She has been on the Varsity Dance team for the past three years and is avid about volunteering in her community. She has volunteered for 4-H and Stand Down, a local effort to support veterans. 

Outside of school, Rivas loves to go to the gym or run. Inside school, her favorite classes are English and Science, mostly because of the teachers. 

“They provide a bunch of help and motivation for me to be better,” she said. 

Rivas shows her gratitude for both the smaller and larger things in life, such as her teachers. She was also excited to be chosen for the Homecoming Court.

“I felt really honored because my entire class voted for me,” she said. “I was really happy.”

On the special night, Rivas’ family and friends came to support her. She was congratulated and coerced into many pictures. During halftime, the Homecoming Court was announced and paraded around the track in cars.

“Once everything was set in motion it was really exciting,” said Rivas, “It was such a thrill.”

Rivas sat with Jackson Briones, the other junior elected for the Homecoming Court, in a black truck. They waved and threw candy to the crowd. 

“A bunch of little kids were yelling, ‘Pass it over here, pass it over here!’ It was really cute,” said Rivas.

Rivas wants to make an impact, and her dreams are big. She is constantly thinking of others.

“My goal is to at least set a legacy at some point in my life so that I have something to be remembered by,” she said.

She wants to help people and hopes to improve in the best way she can. Above all, Rivas trusts in God and His plan for her life.