Plainfield Magazine December 2019 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

DECEMBER 2019

MAGAZINE

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DECEMBER WRITERS

Carrie Petty / Christy Heitger Ewing Jamie Hergott

DECEMBER PHOTOGRAPHERS Amy Payne / PCSC Cheryl Carlton

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A Sure Sign of the Giving Season Salvation Army Bell Ringing

10 Smiling Back: Local Billboard

18 The Truth About Cigarettes, E-Cigs,

Vapes and JUULS

21 She Wood Know: Brownsburg

Celebrity Ricky Hull Raises Money for the National Down Syndrome Society

14 The More You Know: Hendricks

25 Santa Loves A Garden 26 Quaker Pride: Plainfield Athletics

County Solid Waste Management District Teaches Proper Recycling Techniques & Getting Rid of Household Hazardous Waste

Woodshop Owner Creates Unique, Custom Pieces & Hosts Workshops For All Skill Levels

Offers Students Multiple Leadership Opportunities

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A SURE SIGN OF THE GIVING SEASON SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING Like twinkling lights and joyful carols, it simply wouldn’t be Christmas without the familiar ringing of The Salvation Army bells. For six weeks each fall, The Salvation Army asks the public to remember their neighbors in need by dropping spare dimes and dollars in its iconic red kettles. These donations help fund programs and services long after the Christmas trees come down and the last of the snow has melted. From after school programs and summer camp to food pantries and utility assistance, The Salvation Army serves tens of thousands of men, women and children

in central Indiana. One of these individuals was Phyllis, who is rebuilding her life at the Ruth Lilly Women and Children’s Center, located on The Salvation Army campus in the heart of downtown Indianapolis dubbed the “Block of Hope.” Phyllis has no illusions about how dire her situation had gotten. “If I’d sat out there another day, I’d be gone,” she shares, shaking her head at the memory of her last days on the street. Phyllis had been homeless and living at a local bus station,

suffering from hyperglycemia because she didn’t have access to medications to treat her diabetes. She weighed only 86 pounds and had stopped eating when she walked through the doors of the Ruth Lilly Women and Children’s Center. Phyllis was immediately admitted, given food and looked over by a doctor. It wasn’t long before she was back on her medication and sharing her harrowing tale with the shelter staff, which included the sudden death of her husband from brain cancer and the loss of her house. She’d always been taken care of as a wife and

PlainfieldMag.com / DECEMBER 2019 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 7

didn’t know how to seek employment, handle personal finances or get the psychological care she needed to deal with the loss of her husband. “This is a place where you can get help,” Phyllis smiles as she gestures at the walls of her new home at the Women and Children’s Center. “They’re helping me through things. I’ve never been homeless before, and it’s really hard. They have a lot of options here. I’m grateful for it because it’s getting me on my feet.”

Doing The Most Good® The Salvation Army Indiana Division Phyllis is now tackling a list of goals, both large and small. From getting her body healthy again to finding employment and saving money for her own apartment, she works every day to get closer to independence. That work includes weekly meetings with her case manager and social worker, sessions with a psychiatrist, money management classes and a new job at a local restaurant. After just two months, Phyllis already looks like a different woman. She proudly tells anyone she meets that she’s up to 120 pounds and has her diabetes under control. While Phyllis will sheepishly admit that she

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still isn’t “street smart,” she’s learning how to make smart decisions for her future. “They set you up for success – that’s what they do,” Phyllis explains. “I give thanks to The Salvation Army. I thank God every morning that I’m here.” So when you drop a quarter in a red kettle this month or search out the clear ringing of a bell in a crowded shopping mall, remember the thousands of Hoosiers like Phyllis who know The Salvation Army is more than a red kettle at Christmas. It’s hope for tomorrow.

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Local Billboard Celebrity Ricky Hull Raises Money for the National Down Syndrome Society Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography / Amy Payne & Cheryl Carlton

Over time, advancements in medical technology, not to mention the enlightenment of the general population, has meant that those who are born with Down Syndrome can live beautiful and enriching lives. Just ask Hendricks County resident, Cheryl Carlton and her little brother Ricky Hull. According to Carlton, when Hull was born 59 years ago, her parents were pressured to institutionalize their son because he was born with Down Syndrome. “We already had this large family as Ricky was number seven out of nine, so we had a built-in support system,” Carlton says.

“Dad said, ‘No, we’re taking him home and putting him in with the rest of them!’ I honestly don’t ever remember a time when we were told Ricky was different or that there would be things Ricky couldn’t do. As kids, he was just one of us.”

trainable,” Carlton says. “We weren’t told that he can’t learn to read or write so before long, he was reading and writing.”

Hull’s mom never wanted Ricky living anywhere but at home with her. She had no interest in putting him in a group As the children grew, his siblings took him home. So, he lived with her until she under their wing and taught him different passed away 11 years ago, at which time things. Carlton recalls coming home from his brothers and sisters discussed where school and getting out her books to tutor he should reside. Three brothers live her little brother in reading. locally (Raymond in Danville, Jesse in Martinsville, and Alan in Cicero) while “Back in those days, children with Down Roberta is in Arizona and Jerome is in Syndrome typically weren’t taught to read Las Vegas. (Siblings Ronnie and Joe have or write. If they were even lucky enough passed away.) to be enrolled in a school, they had to be at a level that teachers felt like they were “At first we thought perhaps he could DECEMBER 2019

divide his time living with me and my husband, Kenny, and my brother, who lives in Danville, but we wondered if that would be too disruptive to his routine,” Carlton says. “So, instead we just asked Ricky where he would like to live and he said with me and Kenny.” So, he moved into Carlton’s home and occasionally spends weekends with another sibling. The local brothers and sisters also gather once a month for a breakfast at Cracker Barrel where all the waitresses know Hull’s drink order by heart: decaf coffee.

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Hull works five days a week at Sycamore Services, which trains and employs those with disabilities to improve practicing skills of independence. Hull adores his coworkers. “He hates to miss a day,” Carlton says. “Even to get him to go on vacation is hard because he doesn’t like to miss a single day of work.” Hull has also joined a walking club at Sycamore Services that provides exercise and socialization. Usually, the group treks through neighborhoods or around Avon Town Park. On Monday evenings, Hull gets together with friends from Sycamore Services to grab a meal and go bowling or engage in some other fun social activity. Five years ago, Hull and his family began participating in the annual Buddy Walk, which takes place each October and raises awareness and funds for Down Syndrome. Established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society, the walk brings together

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communities to advocate for those with Down Syndrome. Each year, Hull’s number of supporters has grown, as has the dollar amount he has raised. “We started with 10 family members that first year, and this year we had 70 people walk with us,” Carlton says. This included brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, friends and a bunch of supportive community members. Hull has always set a goal to raise 10 times whatever his current age is so when he was 55, he hoped to raise $550.

“Usually we end up raising that money with mostly just our family contributing, but this year Ricky got support from the Hendricks County Fraternal Order of Police, along with other donations from Avon, Danville and surrounding areas,” Carlton says. All this support took Hull well past his mark. He raised more than $8,200. Buddy Walk coordinators even erected a billboard with Hull’s smiling face as a thank-you for his commitment to all he does for the Buddy Walk.

DECEMBER 2019

“In his life, Ricky has done 10 times more than what anyone would have expected of him,” Carlton adds. “We always felt like we were helping and teaching Ricky, but looking back at it now, he taught us more.” Perhaps the most important lesson learned is to take time to stop and smell the roses. He also recognizes that hugs heal the soul. “He’s always sharing a hug and a smile,” says Carlton, who notes that he seems to have a sixth sense about knowing when

Ricky working at Sycamore Services

somebody needs a listening ear. One time, a few years back, the family was attending Old Fashioned Days, strolling by the booths making small-talk with vendors. Out of nowhere, Ricky told a woman that he had a girlfriend but that she passed away. Tears immediately sprang to the woman’s eyes and she shared that her husband had died recently. “She just started opening up and sharing all of this personal stuff with us because Ricky let her feel safe enough to let her guard down and share her grief,” says Carlton, who suspects that her brother’s

intuition goes back to his ability to be in tune with his surroundings, focusing on one thing at a time rather than getting distracted by a hundred things at once. “He shows us that it’s good to slow down and take life easy. Nothing’s ever too serious,” Carlton says. It’s a lesson we can all learn if we want to relish life. “We go through the stores and often people are off in their own little world, hurried and frustrated as they try to get up and down the aisle,” Carlton says. “Ricky is usually smiling, though, and when they see him, they smile back. It’s as if his smile DECEMBER 2019

resets their mood.” Though his mom used to worry about what life would be like for Ricky when she was gone, Carlton says she would be pleased to see what’s become of him now. “If she could see now all of the tremendous support from this community —the attention and hugs and love he’s getting, she would be thrilled,” Carlton says. “She would also be proud to see that he’s one of the largest Buddy Walk donators. I wish she could be here, but I feel like she’s looking down and seeing it all.”

HCSWMD Director, Lenn Detwiler

The More You Know Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District Teaches Proper Recycling Techniques & Getting Rid of Household Hazardous Waste Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

sadly they don’t always do it properly.

When you think of the Solid Waste Management District, trash likely springs to mind. One of their top priorities, however, is to educate the general public about recycling — what it is, what it involves and why it’s important.

“People want to do the right thing. They just don’t have the right information. Plus, things change over time,” Detwiler says.

“Our mission is to divert waste from landfills and incinerators,” says Lenn Detwiler, Executive Director of Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District. “We do that by encouraging waste reduction, reuse and recycling.” Though many people have the best of intentions when it comes to recycling,

For years, the focus on recycling revolved around quantity. Single-stream recycling means that everything goes into the same bin — paper, glass, cardboard — in an effort to make it more convenient for the public. Now, however, the focus has switched to quality because when people recycle the wrong materials, it causes a plethora of problems. “Someone would think, ‘If it’s plastic, it must go in the bin,’ so those sorting the recycling are finding toys, plastic lawn DECEMBER 2019

furniture, hoses, Christmas lights, bowling balls — crazy stuff!” Detwiler says. “It’s amazing what people put in a recycling bin because they think it must still have some value to it.” The problem is that by chucking an improper item into the recycling bin, it only serves to bog down the system, thereby compromising the integrity of the other items that really do have recycling value. So, it’s crucial for the public to educate themselves on the specific rules for their area. “What you can recycle in Muncie is likely going to be different than what you can recycle in Greenfield versus what you can recycle in Brownsburg,” Detwiler adds.

He says that if you’ve got something in your hand and are standing over the recycling bin, unsure of whether it’s recyclable, it’s better to throw it in that trash than to do what he calls “wish cycling.” “Some of the most ardent recyclers really struggle with this, but just because you want it to be recycled doesn’t necessarily make it recyclable in that particular program,” he says. It doesn’t help that some of the packaging on things causes confusion. For instance, even though grocery sacks say, “recycle me,” Detwiler says they should not go in a curbside recycling program because once they get to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), everything gets dumped onto a conveyer belt where the grocery sacks get tangled, creating a terrible mess. “Now, if you take those sacks back to Kroger, Walmart or Kohls and put them in the recycling boxes, that’s helpful,” says Detwiler, noting that the top three contaminants MRF operators see are grocery sacks and other plastic film (e.g., the wraparound kind that envelops a case of Gatorade or package of paper towels), tanglers (e.g., hoses, cords, and chains), and food waste (e.g., not properly rinsing out a ketchup bottle). In general terms, when it comes to plastics, curbside and recycling programs will take bottles, cans and jugs that held food, beverages, detergents or shampoos. Plastics are perhaps the most confusing material because it’s ubiquitous. Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District fields calls daily to help the public figure out next steps. For instance, Goodwill, Staples or Best Buy may take an old computer. For other items, the best bet may be donating to the Habitat ReStore or the Salvation Army. Besides educating the public, the Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District also offers Tox-Away Day to help folks rid their homes of hazardous waste such as chemicals, bulbs, batteries,

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2020 Tox-Away Days April 4, 2020 @ Brownsburg High School

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medicines, oil-based paints, pesticides and herbicides. “It’s basically all those jugs, bottles and cans in your garage or workshop that you can’t dump down the drain or set out with your regular trash,” Detwiler says. Tox-Away Day is generally held five times a year in April, May, July, September and October for residents of Hendricks County. Detwiler notes that not everything they collect on Tox-Away Day has a recycling component to it. They do, however, make sure to properly dispose of the items such as prescription and over-the-counter medication. “If you have four Vicodin left over from back surgery, you can drop it off at a ToxAway Day. [These addictive medications] are causing a big issue in our country. Look at the opioid crisis,” Detwiler says. “The partnerships that allow us to collect unwanted medicines are a cool intersection of law enforcement, public health and environmental health that we get to be a part of.” At one point, the public thought that flushing old meds down the toilet was the safest way to get rid of them so they wouldn’t get into the wrong hands. “Researchers started finding trace amounts of antibiotics in our ground water,” Detwiler says. “They also noticed that fish were growing with weird stuff going on and it may be due to people flushing meds.” There are also six drop boxes around Hendricks County where people can drop medications — Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg and Danville Police Stations, Hendricks County Sheriff ’s Office and IU Health West Hospital. In addition, Hendricks County has a Safe Sharps Disposal Program for those who need to dispose of their medical syringes. “People can go to the Health Department with their full syringe box and get an empty one,” Detwiler says. DECEMBER 2019

“It’s all designed to keep medical sharps out of the normal trash so that waste haulers won’t get stuck with a needle sticking out of a trash bag.” Electronics are one of the most popular items to recycle. Most electronics, like laptops and cell phones, have some intrinsic value. Televisions, however, are a different story as the leaded glass is expensive to recycle. According to Detwiler, there are only two leaded glass smelters on the globe. Therefore, recycling a TV costs $20-25. “Sometimes people are reluctant to pay money to recycle something so they let their television sit in their basement,” Detwiler says. “The thing is, regular garbage collection is not going to pick it up, nor are you going to be able to take it to the landfill. It’s never going to get cheaper to recycle than it is now.” Some fees are required for appliances and tires as well. Tox-Away Day cannot take heavy items like couches, entertainment centers, mattresses or rolls of carpet. Nor are they set up to shred documents. If you are unsure about what’s allowed, call the Solid Waste Management District for guidance. Though the Yard Waste Recycling Centers in Brownsburg and Plainfield are generally open from April-November, they allow Christmas trees to be dropped at either location during the holiday season. Plainfield’s is located at 7020 S. CR 875 East and Brownsburg’s is at 90 Mardale Drive. “We think of ourselves as a clearinghouse for environmental information for Hendricks County,” Detwiler says. “If you have a question about anything you can or should do, call us.” For more information or to subscribe to the email newsletter, the ReSource, call 317-858-6070 or visit hendrickssolidwaste.com

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The Truth About Cigarettes, E-Cigs, Vapes and JUULS It is often assumed that the tobacco found in cigarettes is what makes them harmful and bad for you, however, that is not entirely accurate. Dana Toussant, nurse practitioner at IU Health West Hospital’s Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Office, is breaking down the misperceptions surrounding e-cigs, vapes and JUULS. E-cigs, vapes and JUULS heat a liquid cartridge that contains nicotine, flavoring and other harmful chemicals that is then inhaled as vapor. They appear to be smokeless because it is a liquid that is heated instead of tobacco. “While tobacco is harmful, it is the nicotine naturally found in tobacco that makes cigarettes addictive,” Toussant says. “Because vapes, JUULS and e-cigs are marketed as being tobacco-free products, they are viewed as being healthier than cigarettes. Many people don’t know that e-cigs, vapes and JUULS are just as harmful as cigarettes. These devices contain a laundry list of harmful chemicals, many of which are also found in cigarettes.”

The devices come in different flavors, such as mango, mint, creme brulee and many more. Just one JUUL pod contains 20 cigarettes worth of nicotine. The majority of young people are unaware that they are inhaling nicotine because they believe they are only inhaling flavoring. “It is never too late to quit,” Toussant says. “The sooner you stop, the sooner your body can regulate itself to get healthier. Even within the first 20 minutes of quitting, you’ll see an improvement in your heart rate and blood pressure.” Toussant recommends the following advice when setting a quit date: 1. Allow yourself time to prepare and feel confident in your decision to quit. 2. Pick a date that is no more than a week away to decrease the likelihood of changing your mind. 3. Remind yourself that you’re in control of your quit time. Leave time to set yourself up for success when preparing to quit. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking tobacco products (including cigarettes and cigars) causes almost nine of every 10 cases of lung cancer, but no matter how long you have smoked, quitting can reduce your risk for cancer and other chronic diseases.

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Brownsburg Woodshop Owner Creates Unique, Custom Pieces & Hosts Workshops For All Skill Levels Writer / Jamie Hergott Photographer / Amy Payne

throw around when they can’t figure out a DIY project: “Ask Mary. She would know.”

Mary Perrin never dreamt she would own a woodshop. However, when she and her husband built a house for their family of three kids, she couldn’t find the exact pub table she wanted for the basement. Growing up as the daughter of a staunch do-it-yourself mother, Perrin decided to make it herself.

A woodshop wasn’t always her plan. Perrin taught fourth grade in Brownsburg for eight years before leaving the teaching profession to start a website design business with her husband. As she was raising their three kids and running the business, she and her husband built a house and finished the basement themselves, acquiring tools and learning skills along the way. The pub table she built sparked an interest in tinkering, building and creating.

“When I built that first table, I was hooked,” Perrin says. “I’d walk around the house and think, oh, I need a media center, or I need a coffee table. Once you do one, it’s addicting. I’m always thinking, what else can I build?”

In 2017, Perrin’s daughter suggested they build some chevron arrows as home décor projects to sell. They sold plenty more than she anticipated. Her daughter off-handedly suggested she start a business.

That thirst to learn and create inspired her to start her own business designing custom woodworking pieces for clients. Her business is With the encouragement of her husband and friends, Perrin did just called She Wood Know, named after the phrase her family and friends that. She began building and selling custom pieces in October 2017. DECEMBER 2019

After overrunning the garage and house with her tools, supplies and projects, and after putting a screw through the hardwood floor in their entryway, her husband finally suggested it was time to find a space. Perrin opened She Wood Know in Brownsburg’s industrial area off Northfield Drive behind Hoosier Trainer, constructing and building out of that space since February 2018. Perrin’s custom pieces include tables, desks, shelving, media centers and small home décor. Her claim to fame is she designed and created pieces for Rush Off Main in Brownsburg, including the pub table, bar shelves, hostess stand, a giant Connect 4 game, signs throughout the restaurant, as well as a giant 4.5 x 4.5 foot cube that hangs from the ceiling with hand-painted sports logos on each side. Her very first client, Adam Cloyd, still raves about the desk Perrin made for him two years ago. As a financial advisor, Cloyd needed a nice-looking standing desk for his office that was both functional and made a statement as he met with clients. “I wanted something very specific in terms of something that looked nice and professional,” Cloyd says. “And she delivered. The comments I still get on this desk blow me away.” The standing desk has a base made of pine painted black with a solid maple top with a mahogany stained finish. Cloyd had shopped around and realized he’d have to pay quite a bit for a desk that was good quality. Not only that, but many of the designs weren’t what he wanted. He met with Perrin and explained his needs, and Perrin helped him design the perfect desk for what he was looking for. “Her attention to detail blows me away,” Cloyd says. “She is so kind and very easy to work with. She genuinely listens to what you want and is a very hardworking person.” As much as Perrin loves the creating part, she especially loves to see her pieces in use. “People are sitting at the table I made for Rush Off Main,” Perrin says. “They’re meeting up with their friends and families. They’re relaxing and listening to music and playing trivia. It’s the community those pieces bring once they leave here that I love.” When the landlord let her know the space right in front of her existing space was open, Perrin snatched it up to open the Creative Studio side, a space for her to finish her projects as well as teach workshops. Perrin describes herself as a perfectionist when it comes to most things in life. While she gave up perfecting her home and kids a long time ago, she keeps her edge when it comes to her business. DECEMBER 2019

“If it’s not perfect when it goes out my door, it won’t be perfect in their home or office,” she says. Perrin is already using her work to give back to the community. She’s involved with Habitat for Humanity by participating in their Women’s Build program, where a group of women build a home for other women. With the recent expansion of her business, Creative Studio by She Wood Know, Perrin couldn’t commit to helping with an entire house but desperately wanted to contribute and asked for a smaller project. The woman selected to receive the home had recently lost her mother and wanted a bench on her front porch in memory of her. “I told them I’d be honored to make that bench,” Perrin says. “That’s my why. That is why I do what I do. It’s not for the sawdust and sweat or what is back here in my shop. It’s the way it makes people feel when it’s out there.” Perrin doesn’t just keep her skills to herself. She hosts workshops for the community, teaching others how to use tools, read plans, and most of all, gain confidence in themselves when facing a new challenge.

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Workshops coming up include a home décor farmhouse tote and a DIY coffee rack. Pieces in the past have even included ideas by customers themselves. If someone approaches Perrin with a custom piece idea, she may suggest simply building a workshop around it. “It’s about the confidence they build in themselves while they’re here,” Perrin says. “It forces you to work through things and to know you’re smart enough to figure it out. And worst-case scenario is you strip it and rebuild it. It’s try and try again.” Perrin draws on her teaching experience to create a workshop experience with flexibility, accommodating many different styles and approaches. Some people come and work solo. Others work in pairs. Some blow through the instruction and finish quickly, others are more timid about each step. Instruction comes in the form of a stepby-step packet and assistance from Perrin when needed. Beyond that, approaches vary. Perrin also rents out the studio space to other artisans who want to teach classes, such as macramé, floral arranging, painting or other

creative skills. It’s even for rent simply as an event space for parties, showers or get-togethers. Renters can cater their own food and drinks. The wide white tables Perrin made for her Creative Studio already have flecks of paint, gouges and nicks all over them. When a friend commented that her tables were getting ruined already, Perrin reassured her that this is exactly what she wanted. “Over the years, I want these tables to be a mosaic of messes,” Perrin says. “This is like a big-kid playhouse. It’s a creative outlet, a place where people in our community can come and make a mess.” For more information or to register for classes, visit shewoodknow.com.

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SANTA LOVES A GARDENER Writer / Carrie Petty

Gift giving can be hard. Don’t you think? But for the gardener or nature lover on your list, it is pretty simple. Make no mistake! Gardeners are always thinking about growing. Give a gardener a new shovel, and she’s happy. I promise. Christmas gifts for a gardener are always about quality and durability. Spend your money on the best tools, not a plastic handled, thin metal cheep-o. Your gardener will appreciate the quality of Felco Pruners or English made, wooden handled Haws Stainless Steel Garden Fork or Trowel. Gift sets are easy to find in the Gardening Centers. Some items are already wrapped too. These are great gifts and show your gardener that you get it. After all, gift giving is about understanding your recipient fully and showing your love through the well, thought-out gift that you have selected just for them. When the clock strikes midnight on New Years 2020, a gardener will be dreaming of digging. Planning tools and guides are some of the very best gifts for the gardening mindset. We are always looking for better ways to organize our seeds, sketch out our thoughts or study what grows best in the shade or full sun. Sketchbooks and quality drawing tools are a must. As well as reference books and growing guides A subscription to the Indiana Gardening Magazine is a gift that is, “Hyper Local” in the words of editor Michelle Walsh. It is a bi-monthly magazine, full of incredible local gardening content. CREATE YOUR OWN GIFT BASKETS

You can use a great terra cotta pot and fill it to the brim with seeds, tools, a journal and some good gardening gloves. And don’t forget the sunscreen and hat in your gift basket. Keeping your loved one protected. Gardening gloves with a packet of seeds tied up in ribbon make excellent hostess gifts for a gardening friend, (hint, hint!) Or they can make a great stocking stuffer too. Books and antiques for the garden are another great way to show your friends you understand their love for the green stuff. Make sure you sign the inside of any book. I have several that bring a smile to my face just remembering a friend’s gift. All a part of helping you, “Grow a Beautiful Life.” Merry Christmas to all of my green thumb people out there, keep planting.

26 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2019 / PlainfieldMag.com

QUAKER PRIDE Plainfield Athletics Offers Students Multiple Leadership Opportunities Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography provided by Amy Payne & PCSC

The world needs strong, passionate, competent leaders, and Plainfield High School (PHS) is doing its part to help create the leaders of tomorrow. They do so by providing students with numerous leadership opportunities throughout the year. For instance, every spring they take 10 juniors to the Mid-State Leadership Conference where they get to interact with 70-80 other area student leaders. Because of Plainfield High School’s central location and state-of-the-art facilities, each June for the past seven years, the school has hosted the IHSAA (Indiana High School Athletic Association) Student Leadership Conference.

For instance, they might choose to sit in on a session that highlights a career in sports marketing, sports management or athletic directing. “We’re proud to host it, and it’s a great leadership opportunity for our kids,” Rodkey adds. Shane Abrell, PHS Varsity Baseball Coach, is pleased by how these unique opportunities foster leadership skills that serve students in every aspect of their lives. “Attending the Mid-State Leadership Summit and the IHSAA Leadership Conference allows student-athletes from high schools all across the state to have discussions with coaches, school administrators and IHSAA commissioners,” Abrell says. “This empowers the student-athletes and gives them a voice that is welcomed by those in attendance.”

“More than a thousand top student-athlete leaders from high schools throughout the state send their best and brightest to Plainfield In addition, several years ago, PHS staff High School for this conference,” says Torrey created the Athletic Leadership Council, Rodkey, PHS’s Athletic Director. “We pick designed to enhance the student-athlete 8-12 students to represent Plainfield as well.” experience by encouraging a positive student image, expanding school and community Participants hear inspirational speakers who relations, sponsoring and participating in discuss topics like unifying sports for students community service events and promoting with special needs, dealing with bullying and school spirit. The Athletic Leadership harassment in locker rooms, and excelling as Council is headed up by Coach Woodard, a college athlete. Students then disperse into Andy Weaver (PHS’s head basketball coach), break-out sessions on various topics. and Pat Cavanaugh (PHS’s Assistant Athletic Director). Prior to that, Chris Cavanaugh, “Kids can attend the topics that interest PHS head swimming and diving coach, was them,” Rodkey says. also at the helm.

“This dedicated staff of coaches have the right big-picture perspective when it comes to working with young adults,” Rodkey says. “Those guys got together and said, ‘We need to lift up our best kids in terms of leadership in the building, on the fields, and on the courts.’” The Council is made up of one to three students from each PHS sport. Students are recommended by a coach or administrator — and it’s not always the best athletes who are selected. “It’s not necessarily the superstar on the team but someone other kids can look up to,” Rodkey says. “Someone who does the right things inside and outside of school. He or she may be quiet but has good leadership potential.” They look for good athletes, good people and good representatives of the school who can take leadership to the next level. “We want people who will take the bull by the horns in good and bad times,” Rodkey says.

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Joe Hoffman, PHS Boys & Girls Cross Country Coach, maintains that studentathletes at PHS have developed lifelong leadership skills thanks to the leadership experiences offered within the school’s athletic department. “Several runners have participated in these programs over the last decade, and I’ve noticed the product of their experiences having a positive impact at our practices and competitions,” Hoffman says. Dalton Kane, a senior who runs for Hoffman, says these opportunities have helped mold him into an effective leader and a well-rounded person. “I’ve learned to not only be a better leader [but also a] better student and teammate,” Kane says. “As one of the top runners, a lot of people look to me for advice. At first, I didn’t know how to help. As I progressed as a leader, [however,] I have found that there are a million ways to be a good leader.” Rodkey is proud of the fact that all of PHS’s sports are highly competitive — from football, basketball, and swimming to cross country, tennis and golf. “In the mid-state conference, we are always at or near the top in our all-sports standings,” Rodkey says. Even the teams that aren’t listed as official IHSAA sports, like cheerleading, have improved immensely over the past few years. “They used to stand on the sidelines and cheer and now they are a competitive cheer squad, getting stronger every year,” Rodkey says. He also mentions the evolution of the soccer program. “A decade ago, we were nowhere close to being able to compete with Avon and Brownsburg in terms of soccer talent and skills, but in the last several years, we expect a win [against those schools],” Rodkey says.

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“Our natatorium is now used nonstop 12 months of the year, and we’re a top 15 in the state,” Rodkey adds. Last year they even had a student diver participate in the Pan Am games, placing second in the state. PHS has a total of 19 official IHSAA sports. That doesn’t include activities like cheerleading and dance. Rodkey and the rest of the faculty are thankful to have a community that supports them as well as parents who are super involved and invested in athletics, starting at a young age. “Plainfield has a lot of great youth programs such as swimming, baseball, softball, tennis,” Rodkey says. “And we have high school coaches who believe in running a program where they have an impact on what’s going on in the middle school and youth programs in the community.” According to Rodkey, although the PHS head coaches are all fiercely competitive and drive their athletes to go for the W, winning is not the end all be all. And they are sure to share that perspective with their students. “Winning is not life or death,” Rodkey says. “High school athletics should provide a valuable experience that these kids will remember for the rest of their lives. It should provide valuable people skills and leadership skills that they’ll take into college and their professional lives.” PHS coaches stress such things, acting as good role models as they devote countless hours to their craft. “To be a coach is a 12-month a year job if you want your team to be successful,” says Rodkey, who notes that PHS coaches talk a great deal to their athletes about the journey since, in sports, there really is no destination. “Every one of us would love to wind up with a state championship, but really, it’s those experiences learned along the way that count the most,” Rodkey says. He appreciates the graduates who come back to visit their coaches and reminisce about old times, whether that’s two years or two decades later. “At the end of the day, these athletes are not going to remember the wins,” Rodkey says. “They’re going to remember the friends they made and the lessons they learned.” 30 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2019 / PlainfieldMag.com

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