Spring 2025 GE FAM Tour – Fourth Stop: La Lumiere School, Indiana

tony65993
Jun 5
4 min read

The fourth stop of the 2025 GE Spring FAM Tour brought us to La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana.

Founded in 1963, La Lumiere School ranks as the #1 Catholic high school and #2 private high school in Indiana. The school is widely recognized in the region for its strong academic reputation and close-knit faculty-student relationships. Notably, the school has earned a national championship in basketball.

La Lumiere is nestled in the northwest corner of Indiana, just a one-hour drive from Chicago and only five miles from the beautiful Lake Michigan. At the heart of its 180-acre campus lies a serene lake fed by natural springs, adding to the school’s picturesque charm. The campus is just 20 minutes from the prestigious University of Notre Dame and is also surrounded by top-tier institutions such as the University of Chicago, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the Illinois Institute of Technology.

La Lumiere feels like a private and peaceful community, with both students and faculty living on campus. This shared environment fosters a sense of warmth, connection, and belonging.

Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Stephanie, the Director of Admission, who guided us to the school’s dining hall. There, we were treated to coffee and desserts thoughtfully prepared by the school in advance. Stephanie opened the visit with a brief welcome speech and introduced her colleagues. The Head of School also gave remarks, highlighting the background and roles of several key staff members and expressing strong enthusiasm about building a partnership with GE.

In a lovely gesture of hospitality, the school presented each visiting educator and GE staff member with custom souvenirs bearing the La Lumiere logo.

Our campus tour then began, led by a group of Chinese international student volunteers. We first visited the academic building, where we were able to observe several classrooms in session.

The student guides also introduced La Lumiere’s mobile phone policy. The school implements a “no phone during school day” policy—from morning meeting until the last class of the day, students are not permitted to use phones. If an emergency arises, students may request to contact their parents through a teacher or staff member. This policy is designed to foster a learning-focused environment and encourage face-to-face interactions among students, minimizing distractions from phones and social media.

We then visited the college counseling office, where we saw a wall filled with past college admissions success stories. Inside, there’s a photo wall featuring every current student. Dr. Campbell, the college counselor, meets weekly—sometimes twice a week—with students during their application process to help build personalized college plans. The guidance is structured in phases and includes identifying school lists, reviewing course selections, test prep, essay writing, and overall application strategies to enhance competitiveness.

Next, our tour took us to the library, where we found quiet study spaces and a display honoring alumnus John G. Roberts, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court—the highest-ranking legal position second only to the U.S. President.

We then visited the chemistry and biology labs, as well as displays of awards from various academic competitions. La Lumiere offers strong programs in math and the natural sciences, with unique courses such as environmental studies, medical science, and physics. The labs meet national standards and offer students access to modern, interactive technology. Outside the classroom, students can participate in hands-on research projects. The school’s Science Olympiad team has received awards across multiple levels, emphasizing teamwork and innovation in cutting-edge scientific exploration.

After touring the academic areas, we visited both the boys’ and girls’ dormitories. There are five dorms on campus, and each has a faculty member living on the first floor as a dorm parent. Most dorm rooms are doubles, but singles may be available depending on space, granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Currently, there are 65 boarding students, with about 45 to 50 staying on campus each weekend.

Our student volunteers shared personal insights into boarding life. They emphasized the importance of being open-minded and confident—embracing their own culture while learning from others. Living on campus has made them more self-disciplined, allowing them to fully engage in school life through sports, reading, and other community activities.

After leaving the dorms, we walked about 10 minutes (in the rain!) to the fitness center and indoor basketball court. The gym includes dedicated areas for washing sports gear and water bottles. Although heavy rain prevented us from visiting the full indoor sports complex, we learned that the gym operates on a structured schedule with both coach-led and open training sessions, always supervised by trained adults. Students here are passionate about athletics, especially strength training. The school also employs a professional athletic trainer who offers physical therapy and injury prevention support, in addition to a full-time nurse.

Next, we visited the student activity center, where volunteers explained that La Lumiere hosts a wide variety of fun activities tailored to student interests. These include karaoke nights, card games like UNO, and frequent basketball tournaments in winter. Events are designed to bring boarding and day students together, fostering a strong sense of unity.

We also visited the school’s small chapel, where Catholic students and faculty gather for Sunday Mass each week at 8 AM. Adjacent to the chapel is a large assembly room used for school-wide meetings and major events.

Toward the end of the visit, we had the opportunity to participate in a student panel discussion. Three student representatives joined us, including Horace, a 9th grader from Shenzhen, China. Horace lives in the dorm and shared that he has developed a strong sense of belonging at La Lumiere by building friendships across cultures. He plays ping-pong with his Vietnamese classmates at SACE, bonds with other Chinese students, and enjoys the school’s warm and inclusive atmosphere. The diversity of the student body has made his transition smooth and enriching.