GreatNews.Life Student Voices: Munster nights, school bells, and BBQ smells

What’s Recently Happened?

On August 4, many Munster residents gathered at the community pool to kick off the 31st annual National Night Out Against Crime (NNO). The fun-filled evening focused on safety, education, and community connection. This event is part of a nationwide effort to build impactful and positive relationships between community members and law enforcement.

Munster’s NNO has become one of the largest community traditions. Last year, the town’s celebration was ranked first in the United States within its population category. This year, the town’s event featured over 130 booths, which was made possible by the community’s endless engagement and support.

Additionally, as the new school year approaches, the Munster High School Link Crew worked hard over the summer to put together a helpful and fun freshman orientation. 

On August 4, incoming freshmen were able to see the school, meet new peers, and know what to expect during their first year. The student led orientation helped set the stage for freshmen to have a successful first-year experience.

What’s Coming Up?

With the new school year just around the corner, Munster students will return to the classroom on August 12. This year will also bring new leadership to the high school, as past Assistant Principal Robert Snyder embarks on his first year as the principal of Munster High School. All School Town of Munster employees have been working diligently to get ready for an educational and opportunity-filled year.

In addition to the new school year back on the calendar, it’s time to add another important date: the chicken barbeque. This year, the Munster High School Speech and Debate team will be putting on the 58th annual homecoming chicken dinner. This event has become a staple in the Munster community, bringing together great food and community support.

Tickets for the chicken barbeque are $15 and can be purchased at munsterchicken.com. All proceeds from the dinner will go to expenses for the speech and debate team’s tournament and travel expenses. 

Community members are encouraged to come out and enjoy the dinner on September 18, before the homecoming football game.

Community Member Spotlight:

Kristen Smith is a jack-of-all-trades. She is a fourth year Munster school board member, the board’s Munster park representative, a fitness instructor, and mother of four (or six, if you count her two dogs.) Beyond her titles, Smith is someone dedicated to serving the community she calls home.

Smith’s community involvement began after she adopted her eldest daughter, Zuzu. Given that Smith attended Catholic school, she naturally thought her children would follow a similar path. However, after seeing all the School Town of Munster had to offer, she decided that Munster public schooling would be the best choice for her growing family.

When Zuzu began kindergarten at Elliot Elementary, Smith and her husband vowed to get involved in any way possible.

“I volunteered for anything and everything I could at the school just so that I could be part of her day,” Smith said.

What started as a mother’s desire to stay connected to her daughter quickly spiraled into something much greater. After attending her first Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) meeting, Smith realized she wanted to do more. From there, she served on the Elliot PTO, Wilbur Wright PTO, Munster Education Foundation, Booster Club, and eventually the Munster School Board– a role she was initially hesitant to pursue, but ultimately embraced.

Despite holding many important positions, Smith believes her most meaningful role will always be as a parent.

“Being a parent is definitely my proudest role,” she said. “It’s also the hardest, but every day I hope I can do better and be the best mother I can be.”

This same mindset guides her work as a community leader. Smith identifies her main focus as always putting children first. She hopes to inspire younger generations to get involved in their community– the same way that previous Munster generations inspired her. Smith credits role models such as Trisha Shelton, Lori O’Day, Becky McKeever, Ingrid Schwartz-Wolf, and many others for encouraging her to be involved in the same ways they were. Now, Smith hopes to pay that same honor forward by inspiring others with her commitment to community. She believes everyone has something valuable to contribute.

“I would tell young people to find something they are interested in and just go and volunteer,” she said. “There are so many different roles to play in a community.”

For Smith, community is rooted in people, not positions. On top of her roles as a parent, volunteer, and school board member, she continues to show up for Munster in all ways possible. As she looks forward, Smith remains committed to giving back to the community that shaped her family, while encouraging others to find their own way to make a difference.