Castle High School brings home both Warrick County Lilly Scholarship winners for the class of 20221/24/2022 The Lilly Scholarship is awarded annually to one male and one female from each county in Indiana and covers all tuition and other select expenses at any Indiana college or university. The Warrick County winners this year were recently announced to be Logan Ellis and Jenny Donnelly, both seniors at Castle. With this scholarship now in their hands, both Ellis and Donnelly have a variety of choices and decisions to make regarding their academic future. When asked about their college plans, Donnelly stated that she plans to attend “Ball State most likely, or possibly Notre Dame.” Donnelly also continued that she plans to study architecture, putting her Lilly Scholarship to good use. Meanwhile, Ellis has specified that he plans to attend either Purdue or Indiana University and hopes to begin medical school afterwards. It is hard to comprehend how impressive it is for both of these talented students to come from Castle High School. Speaking on this topic, Donnelly stated that the Lilly Scholarship “isn’t something you can compete for in the process. It is mostly about what you’ve done leading up to the scholarship.” Ellis later added that “there are so many qualified and bright applicants who applied for the scholarship, which made it very stressful when I was waiting for the results.” The Lilly Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships in the state of Indiana and these students have continued to be grateful for their good fortune. This scholarship is only awarded to two people from each Indiana county and is filled with dozens of applicants, providing a tough competition for those who seek it. “I am very honored to be selected for this scholarship,” said Donnelly. “Everyone who was a finalist should be proud.” Donnelly has put in a lot of hard work over the course of their time in school and it has finally paid off. The same can be said for Ellis, as he also had the added challenge of completing his scholarship interview with a concussion. “At the time of the interview, I was still medically concussed from a cycling injury a few days prior,” says Ellis. “Somehow though I was able to make it through and do a good job.” With their final semester of high school approaching its end, both Donnelly and Ellis have a lot of great things to look forward to. The two winners have excelled in numerous activities and clubs all around the school and have shown themselves to be great role models for future generations of Castle students. With the time to move forward into college rapidly approaching, Donnelly hopes to “represent both Castle and Warrick County well in the future!” Gavin J. Wood
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While many are just enjoying the day off this January 17, the holiday is a lot more than just a Monday away from school. Dr Martin Luther King passed away nearly fifty eight years ago, and the day was enacted as a federal holiday just thirty-three years ago. On January 17th the country celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King was a revolutionary in the civil rights movement. He protested for nonviolent change on issues of segregation and the treatment of African Americans and the betterness of society. At thirty nine Dr. King was assassinated for his beliefs, but his fight for change and progress led us to society today. Celebrations of his life and legacy rang throughout the country yesterday. In California there were parades throughout the streets. There were marathons for reconciliation and celebrations of Dr. Kings life and legacy throughout the country. Throughout Memphis this year, where Dr. King was killed, people gathered at the national civil rights museum. Speakers urged to stop the epidemic of violence that Memphis, and the country is facing. Something Dr. King fought so strongly against. Families of multiple victims of police gathered together and pleaded for the stop to the violence that has plagued the nation. Society is progressing, evolving, and learning everyday. Dr. King was a visionary that dreamed of a world where everyone is treated equally. A world where the character of a person determines how they were treated. It’s hard to argue if what he dreamed of has manifested yet, but everyday that passes that dream comes closer and closer to being accomplished. Grace MullensCastle High School’s annual Santa Switch Christmas dance took place on December 11th. Organized by Castle’s student council members, Santa Switch is looked forward to since the first day of school. After a year off due to Coronavirus limitations, the Knights return to the south gym for a night they will never forget. The senior class was over the moon about being able to attend their final Christmas dance. Throughout the beginning of the year, rumors swarmed the halls about the dance being canceled or rescheduled because of increased levels of Covid-19. Thinking ahead, the Castle High School administration made plans in advance to ensure their kids would have a safe night. The school planned a date in January in case the December date was too premature. The members of Castle’s student council decided to prepare their big show anyway. Luckily, students and staff continued to make safe decisions and keep health their number one priority. Jenna Mesker, a senior at Castle High School, said that the line to get into the dance “wrapped all the way around the building.” There were over one thousand tickets sold. The dance took place in the south gym, where several volunteers handed out water and checked jackets right outside. A specially hired DJ played music requested by the students and staff all night. Seniors naturally packed in the front, juniors behind them and so on. Lainey Browning, a senior student council member, says that she “found herself in the middle of a dance circle” at one point in the night. Thank you to Castle High School’s student council, staff, and students for making Santa Switch 2021 a night to remember. We will see you at prom! Lauren Matuscak |