Some serious messages mixed with fun from MWAH! at Moline middle school

(Quad City Times)

October 1, 2013.

By Brian Wellner of the Quad City Times

In a segment about the importance of accepting differences among people, MWAH! troupe members Taylor Oechsel (left), Chad Sype, Alex Oechsel, and Jacob Metoyer sing an a cappella version of the Lady Gaga song 'Born This Way' during an all-school assembly at Wilson Middle School in Moline, Illinois on September 30, 2013.

Participating with the teenage troupe was Moline Police Detective Matt Russell, who spoke about the current influx of heroin in the Quad Cities area and how the use of   'gateway drugs,' such as marijuana and prescription pills, by middle school and junior high age students can lead to the cheaper, yet more potent, oftentimes deadly, heroin. Examples of such tragedies were accompanied by enlarged photos of  'Glee' star Cory Monteith and a popular Quad Cities recent high school graduate. Detective Russell told the Wilson students that they need to stay strong and not let peer pressure get to them as they move into high school and beyond.

Other issues focused on by MWAH! (an acronym for Messages Which Are Hopeful!) included abusive relationships, child abuse, bullying, and the values of cultural and racial diversity.

A number of Wilson students and staff were recognized for qualities of leadership and perseverance in meeting some special personal challenges and for reaching out to help others.

The 90-minute presentation ended with a rousing hip hop flash dance involving nearly 40 Wilson students with MWAH! troupe members.

(photo by Larry Fisher of the Quad City Times)