#1Student NWI: Another Year Goes Out With a Bang at Portage High School!

2015PortageHSEndofYear1From Walls to Art Galleries

Senior Abbigail Peters’ creative talent won her the Best in Show award at Portage High School’s annual art show.

Peters has been interested in art since she was two years old.

“I would draw all over the walls and myself with markers,” Peters said. “I didn't start taking it seriously until eighth grade.”

Peters said that art was a normal activity for her because her parents were both very good artists. Though she dabbles in all art styles, she prefers to draw. Peters also said that she is pretty good at graphic design and really enjoys scratchboard art. She admires all artists and their different art styles; she cannot simply choose one as her favorite.

“Just about any artist can cause some form of admiration to stir inside of me,” Peters said. “Anyone can copy a photo, but it takes a strong imagination to produce art that will move your heart, and those are the artists I personally admire.”

Peters’ Best in Show piece, titled Shells and Flowers, was made using Prisma colors and took Peters about a week to create. She said that she rushed when making it and was surprised that it won the award.

2015PortageHSEndofYear3Claire Hagan Steals the Show!

The annual DYW competition took place on May 23 and Claire Hagan went home with the win. Hagan said that the girls practiced three times a week in the beginning and expanded to every day as the competition drew near. She admitted that she did not expect much going into the competition.

“I was doing it with all of my closest friends,” Hagan said. “I thought it would be a fun experience to meet new people, so that’s why I did it.”

Hagan said that she thinks it was her bubbly personality and confidence that won the judges over.

“My talent was another aspect that was different from anyone else’s,” Hagan said. “I did a ballet pointe routine because I’ve been classically trained in dance for 14 years,” Hagan said that she was surprised that she won and her first reaction was to cry.

“I just stood for a second and was like ‘oh my god!’,” Hagan said. “My face was really red from crying and I had to take a bunch of pictures, but I was thrilled.”

2015PortageHSEndofYear2Student Shout Out

This month’s student shout out goes to incoming senior Amber Nelson who will be Portage High School’s new #1 Student in the fall. Nelson said that she is very excited to have this experience.

“During the three years I have been at PHS, it has really become home to me,” Nelson said. “I can’t wait to showcase the amazing students, teachers, and events that truly represent the diversity and greatness present at Portage High School.”

Nelson is up for the challenge of being both writer and photographer and said that her experience as a writer and editor for PHS’s student newspaper, the Pow Wow, has prepared her for what is to come. Nelson has faith in her abilities as a journalist and is not nervous at all about becoming a #1 student. She is most excited about covering the fall play next school year.

“There are always interesting and talented people in the theater program,” Nelson said.

She also plans to cover some of the new and upcoming clubs that are arriving at PHS.

“I would love to be the first one to give them some recognition within the community,” Nelson said.

Teacher Shout Out

This month’s teacher shout out goes to guidance counselor Shirley Bustos. Bustos is retiring and is enjoying her last year as a PHS counselor. She has worked at PHS for 12 years but has worked in education for 36 and a half years. Bustos said that her fondest memory working at PHS was when the East and West buildings were connected.

“This was a beautiful addition to [the school] that provided better services for the athletes, gave us a state of the art media center, and also added needed computer labs and the LGI room,” Bustos said.

In her retirement, Bustos said that she is looking forward to a slower pace of life.

“[I’m looking forward to] spending time with my 92-year-old mother, visiting grandchildren, traveling and reading,” Bustos said.

With retirement comes a lot more spare time. Bustos said she is going to spend it musically.

“I have some writing and music composition projects lying around that I have been too busy to complete,” Bustos said. “I hope to complete them when I have more time in retirement.

In addition to writing music, Bustos plans to do a little traveling with her husband. She took a pre- retirement trip last year and she continues to travel this summer.

“This summer we will stay in the U.S. and travel to some national parks with our camper,” Bustos said.

Bustos leads a very active life, so she will not be sitting around during her retirement.

“There are so many places to volunteer,” Bustos said. “I hope I can connect with one of those wonderful places.”