Mustang News - September 24, 2021

Recognition

Senior Class gifts student-made mural to Mundelein High School

Mundelein, IL --  A gift to Mundelein High School from its graduating senior class is a genuine masterpiece. The class of 2021 is installing a 20’ x 15’ mural on an interior wall designed by one of its own members.

After polling the class to find out how to spend money raised for a senior gift, the students recognized  that their high school days were a radical departure from the typical experience with homecoming, theme dances, theatrical and band productions and spectator events.  Senior Class President Sucely Marcos said her peers wanted their gift to symbolize significant events including the unprecedented pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement and heightened social justice awareness. 

“We brainstormed ideas, and the standard park bench didn’t seem to fit,” Marcos said. “We considered a large rock that each student could sign. But as we walked around our building we realized we wanted to put something new on the walls to reflect the challenges we’d faced.”

A talent search ensued to identify a student artist to create the mural, and the 500 plus-member class selected graduating senior Brian Carranza’s design. His 24” x 24” drawing, titled “Behind The Mustang,”  is now being  enlarged by Visual Image Photography (VIP), of Wisconsin, to fill an interior wall that serves as a gateway to the music department.

 

Carranza is an experienced, self-taught artist, having completed numerous “time travel” family portraits that have been featured in his zoom image when he would log on to classes. Despite the fact that many of his family members live in different places, and some have passed away, Carranza fills his canvases with stylized faces of his nearest and dearest.

Carranza’s style, what he calls “Bri Style,” is reflected in the design for the school mural. It features nearly 100 oval heads of real and imagined people connected to Mundelein High School. Front and center is Maverick the Mustang, MHS mascot. Carranza hopes viewers reflect on their appreciation for the people they encounter.

“I want them to see that here at Mundelein everybody is welcome because we are all human and unique,” he said. “Really appreciate these people that are around you growing up and see that you should cherish the memories in life.”

Principal Anthony Kroll explained that the senior gift  is a fairly new concept at Mundelein High School. He was impressed with Carranza’s design.

“There were a few details I never initially noticed, like how to wear a mask,” Kroll said. “I was overjoyed to see  his representation of what was important to MHS and the town of Mundelein. The individuals depicted included students, staff, cafeteria workers, custodians, himself and a board of education member. In his words, Brian expressed that these individuals represented the life and mission of the school.”

This is not the first wrap mural to be installed at MHS. A year-and-a-half ago, Mundelein High School became a national and international sensation when the English department placed oversized images of popular book titles on floor-to-ceiling wraps surrounding classroom entryways, creating the illusion that giant books supported the walls.

Carranza’s mural was installed on Thursday, September 23, 2021. For more information about Carranza’s artwork and the installation, please contact info@d120.org.

Brian's self portrait

Announcements

 Activities

The MHS Slam Poetry club is hosting an Open Mic outside the main entrance in the grassy picnic area on September 30, Periods 4-7.  Students can come to share their poetry, excerpts from short stories, music, art during those periods. Students may sign up for this event through the QR code, with the club sponsors, or English/Fine and Applied Arts teachers. Slam Poetry Club meets Wednesday mornings at 7:10 am in Room A105. 

College & Career

Northwestern Medicine Discovery Program accepting applications

We are excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for students to the Northwestern Medicine Discovery Program at Lake Forest Hospital! The Discovery Program is a local effort to expose students to careers in healthcare. Throughout the Discovery Program, high school sophomores and juniors are exposed to a broad range of activities designed to encourage their interest in healthcare careers. Topics vary by month and program activities may include tours, guest speakers, group discussion, and hands-on projects. In addition, the program fosters character and professional development, cultivates life skills, provides community service and leadership experience, and offers mentorship and networking opportunities. 

Click HERE to apply!  The application is open until October 1 and is completed entirely online.  Please contact Seth Kidder at 847-535-7073 or at Seth.Kidder@nm.org. 

College Representative Visits

College representatives from across the nation are coming to MHS to meet YOU! You can look at a list of upcoming visits by going on Naviance. After you log into Naviance click on the “Colleges” tab at the top of the screen and select “Colleges Home”. Scroll to the bottom of the page where it says “College Visits” and click on “Show More”, then find and click on “Register” to attend the visits of your choice. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about college life on multiple schools’ campuses. The more you know about the schools you want to go to, you’ll be able to stand out among the crowd of other college and university applicants.

Click HERE to see what schools are visiting MHS next week!

If you want to see what’s new for 2021/2022, come visit us @ https://bit.ly/MHSCCRC

MHS College Planning Guide

The MHS College Planning Guide is a comprehensive guide through the college planning process. It covers where to get started, financial aid options, scholarships, timelines, college athletics, the College Planning Workbook, and more!

Check it out HERE! 

 

Connect with us!

Website: https://www.d120.org/activities/college-and-career-resource-center/

Instagram: mhsccrc

Twitter: @mundycollege

Also check out our Twitter and Instagram accounts for upcoming events.

As a reminder, if you have not yet done so, please take a moment to review and bookmark the Virtual College and Career Resource Center. (Virtual CCRC)

Athletics

GoFan is here! 

Mundelein High School Athletics is excited to announce a mobile payment ticketing option at all home athletic events in which a gate fee is charged!  Tickets can be purchased ahead of time on the GoFanApp and can be accessed through the GoFan mobile app. Tickets will be redeemed directly from your phone upon entry into an event.

Girls Volleyball

Coaches Corner: Steve Rossini

The Freshman A Girls Volleyball Team has completed another 2 1/2  perfect weeks with wins over Waukegan, Antioch, Stevenson, and Woodstock North. They are on an 8 Game win streak and their overall record is 10-1. 

Coaches Corner: Dressen & Willis

After a tough loss to Stevenson last week, the Varsity girls had their first team dinner outdoors at Tina G’s on Thursday to refuel and refocus before tackling Woodstock North and Libertyville at home for Homecoming week. Both freshman teams soundly beat Stevenson Thursday night -- their volleyball futures are bright! Please come support the girls volleyball program as they host a Chipotle fundraiser on Monday, September 27 from 5-9 pm. Mark your calendars, bring your friends and your appetites! Then cheer on the girls as they take on Grayslake North at home on Tuesday, September 28th. Go Mustangs!

First swim meet all together!

Girls Cross Country

Coaches Corner: Carsyn Rodriguez

September 18th: Amazing day at Warren Invitational today! We finished with 8 Season PRs and 9 Lifetime PRs! At the Varsity level, even being down one of our top runners, we finished 9th out of 18 teams on a very competitive field. Great job by all of our ladies!

September 18th: These two walked away with some hardware at the Warren Invitational! Alea Sweet finished 18th in the Fresh/Soph race, an amazing accomplishment for her first high school race! Jocelyn Gomez also led the way for our Varsity, finishing 13th & a new season PR!

Alea Sweet & Jocelyn Gomez

Congratulations to this week’s Runner of the Week: ‘22 Monique Dirzo! Monique always has a smile on her face & always finds a way to stay positive! She’s hard-working & a great leader to others. She truly cares about everyone around her & we are lucky to have her on our team!

Monique Dirzo '22

Girls Golf

Coaches Corner: Tom Kuhn

Congrats to Kellie Shanahan (15th place, All-Conference Honorable Mention),  Natalie Altenhoff (18th place, NSC All-Conference) and McKenzie Begg (NSC Sportsmanship Award) for their efforts today at the NSC Conference Invite. Next up Regionals next Thursday @ Veterans Memorial GC. MHS Mustang Booster Club #fab4seniors