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Getting Fired Up: Mrs. Gwiaza to Explore Ceramics and Art in Italy
Congratulations to Jennifer Gwiazda, an art teacher at Bishop Noll Institute, who has been selected for the prestigious 2025 Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program. This program provides grants to educators to support personal and professional renewal projects.
Gwiazda will use her fellowship to pursue a deeply personal project that combines her passion for art and travel. Her project will allow her to purchase a kiln for her home and visit Italy to further hone her skills. There she will spend a week at a ceramics retreat in Sicily and another week in Rome, immersing herself in architecture, art, and culture by visiting iconic sites like the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and more.
“I hope my experiences will inspire my students not only to deepen their understanding of ceramics and art but also to realize that if they are passionate about something, it’s worth dedicating themselves to achieve it, no matter how big or ambitious their dreams may be,” Gwiazda said.
Gwiazda will use her fellowship to pursue a deeply personal project that combines her passion for art and travel. Her project will allow her to purchase a kiln for her home and visit Italy to further hone her skills. There she will spend a week at a ceramics retreat in Sicily and another week in Rome, immersing herself in architecture, art, and culture by visiting iconic sites like the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and more.
“I hope my experiences will inspire my students not only to deepen their understanding of ceramics and art but also to realize that if they are passionate about something, it’s worth dedicating themselves to achieve it, no matter how big or ambitious their dreams may be,” Gwiazda said.
“This opportunity is truly life-changing,” she continued. “This journey is not just about renewal but a celebration of perseverance," she continued. “Being chosen for this fellowship is such an affirming moment, and I'm beyond grateful to see this dream come to life.”
I can't wait to share this experience and continue growing both as an artist and an educator," she added.
A grad of TF North High School in Calumet City, Ill., Gwiazda pursued a degree in secondary education biology at DePaul University. After graduation and student teaching, Gwiazda taught science and art at Seton Academy in South Holland. At Bishop Noll, she teaches integrated chemistry and physics, and ceramics, in addition to sponsoring the Art Club.
Ceramics is a popular course at Bishop Noll and students get to create pinch bowls, coil pots, slab boxes and more. Students then apply all of the techniques they learn throughout the course with a final project of their choice. Firing of projects is done in a new Skutt brand kiln in BNI's state-of-the-art STREAM Lab. The high quality kiln even features a wi-fi feature that allows Gwiazda to check the temperature and firing status from her phone elsewhere in the building.
The Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program supports Indiana K-12 educators with grants of up to $15,000 to fund personally designed renewal projects. The Endowment believes these experiences will revitalize educators and enhance their teaching.
Gwiazda is one of 129 Indiana educators selected for the 2025 fellowship. Other projects include exploring nature, learning new languages, and engaging in creative pursuits.
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I can't wait to share this experience and continue growing both as an artist and an educator," she added.
A grad of TF North High School in Calumet City, Ill., Gwiazda pursued a degree in secondary education biology at DePaul University. After graduation and student teaching, Gwiazda taught science and art at Seton Academy in South Holland. At Bishop Noll, she teaches integrated chemistry and physics, and ceramics, in addition to sponsoring the Art Club.
Ceramics is a popular course at Bishop Noll and students get to create pinch bowls, coil pots, slab boxes and more. Students then apply all of the techniques they learn throughout the course with a final project of their choice. Firing of projects is done in a new Skutt brand kiln in BNI's state-of-the-art STREAM Lab. The high quality kiln even features a wi-fi feature that allows Gwiazda to check the temperature and firing status from her phone elsewhere in the building.
The Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program supports Indiana K-12 educators with grants of up to $15,000 to fund personally designed renewal projects. The Endowment believes these experiences will revitalize educators and enhance their teaching.
Gwiazda is one of 129 Indiana educators selected for the 2025 fellowship. Other projects include exploring nature, learning new languages, and engaging in creative pursuits.
Bishop Noll Institute, a diverse, Catholic college preparatory school, partners with local faith communities to empower young adults to live their faith in Christ through ministry, scholarship, and leadership.