OTHS Counselors

08/18/2026

Listen to what U of I has to say about admissions!

📈 83,045 first-year applications. That’s how many Illinois received for fall 2025.

How does an admissions team navigate application volume at that scale, especially as admissions and enrollment trends continue to shift?

Join Sara MacKenzie, Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions, on Aug. 25 for a closer look at the trends shaping admissions and enrollment at Illinois, insights from her first two years at the university and the evolving higher education landscape.

📅 Tuesday, Aug. 25
⏰ 6 p.m. CT
💻 Online via Zoom

Register today: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kM6oL-tzQLGYIXKDzyUiYg #/registration

08/07/2026

Welcome Back Pirates!

2026-2027 Counselor Assignments

Ms. Kate Pillen
Class of 2030
Phone: x2400
Email: [email protected]

Ms. Heather Dorton
Class of 2029
Phone: x2412
Email: [email protected]

Mrs. Lauren Yates
Class of 2028
Phone: x3319
Email: [email protected]

Mrs. Jenny Rios
Department Chair
Class of 2027
Phone: x2501
Email: [email protected]

Mrs. Emily Pytel
9-12 Special Needs
Phone: x2448
Email: [email protected]

Mrs. Blair Theissen
Secretary
Phone: x2494
Email: [email protected]

We encourage you to save your student's counselor's contact information for future reference. Our counseling team looks forward to partnering with you to support your student's academic, college and career, and social-emotional success throughout the school year.

Thank you, and we wish you and your family a wonderful school year!

08/06/2026

07/10/2026

Class of 2026 Grads…if you’re headed to IVCC in a few weeks have you signed up for Get Set?

https://www.facebook.com/share/1JFYe4vR2C/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Are you ready for college? If you are, great! If not, you are like a lot of other people who start at IVCC – nervous and doubtful, but hopeful that this will be the start of something life-changing.

05/08/2026

📢 Heads up, tonight's the June ACT registration deadline! Sign up by 11:59 PM CT to avoid late fees: https://hubs.ly/Q04f_d2k0

05/05/2026

It's College Decision Day! Congratulations to all seniors! Your hard work, perseverance, and dedication have paid off. We are excited to hear about your next chapter after high school. ⁣
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If you will be the first in your family to earn a college degree, consider joining ISAC’s First Generation Scholars Network. Get support and resources from ISAC, peers at your college, and colleges across the state. You can also connect with a First Generation Scholars Network mentor to answer your questions and help you as you transition to college. Learn more and join today! studentportal.isac.org/FirstGen ⁣
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05/04/2026

04/28/2026

Mrs. Pytel held a Military Panel for OHS students interested in enlisting after high school. Thank you to the Army, Army Reserve, Marines, Navy, and Air Force for speaking to our students!

04/26/2026

STORY (Small Town Outreach, Recruitment, and Yield) College Fair

This event is a great opportunity for students to connect with admissions representatives from a wide range of highly selective colleges and universities from across the country. In addition to the college fair, the program will include a 40-minute admissions information session focused on holistic admissions, building a college list, and navigating the application and financial aid process.
Event Details:
Date: April 28, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Putnam County High School
402 E Silverspoon Ave
Granville, IL 61326
The evening will feature:
A 40-minute admissions info session
An 80-minute college fair
Participating institutions include (but are not limited to):
Barnard College, Brown University, Caltech, Columbia University, Cornell University, Duke University, Harvard College, Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, Princeton University, Rice University, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame, University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University, Yale University, and many more.

Students and families can register in advance:

https://tinyurl.com/54xun5ds