MWAH! educates students on social issues
Published by The Register–Mail – October 11, 2012
By Ariel Cheung
Galesburg High School senior Dani Teel, center, dances to Korean pop singer Psy's "Gangnam Style," in front of an all-school assembly to listen and watch MWAH! (Messages Which Are Hopeful) Performing Arts Troupe on Tuesday morning at the high school auditorium. The troupe discussed heavy subjects, including teen suicide, depression, racism, shooting-related murders and domestic abuse through sombrous speeches, as well as song and dance.
(Register-Mail Photo by Jake May)
Cindy Burns of Galesburg, left, tears up as she pauses during her speech to look onto the crowd along with Heather Briscolino of Galesburg, mothers of Dustin Frazier and Quinn Dombrow respectively, sharing their sons' story in front of an all-school assembly to listen and watch MWAH! (Messages Which Are Hopeful) Performing Arts Troupe on Tuesday morning at the high school auditorium. Frazier and Dombrow were 16-year-old sophomores at Galesburg High School and best friends who died in a car accident on Aug. 10, 2011 while speeding and "hill" jumping on back country roads.
(Register-Mail Photo by Jake May)
GALESBURG – Hardly a dry eye could be found in Galesburg High School's auditorium Tuesday morning as the mothers of two former students spoke about the morning they lost their sons.
Dustin Frazier and Quinn Dombrow, who would have been seniors as GHS this year, died Aug. 10, 2011, when their car flew over "Thrill Hill" on 650 Knox Road outside of Wataga and flipped several times. The boys were ejected from the car and died instantly.
The mothers spoke during a two-hour performance by the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe at GHS on Tuesday morning. The assembly focused on educating students about social issues ranging from suicide prevention to domestic violence.
"It was a really strong message," said senior Jennie Nichols, 17. "I needed this – it was a great break from the day, too." During the show, a dozen teenage performers spoke about the issues, danced and sang popular songs, including The Fray's "How to Save a Life" and "Born this Way" by Lady Gaga.
"I really like what the message is," said Rachel Plasch, 17, one of the performers with MWAH!, which stands for Messages Which Are Hopeful. "I want to make sure people never feel like they're alone."
State Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb, and Rhonda Brady, director of the Knox County Area Project, also spoke during the event. "Remember in your heart what is right, what is proper and, more importantly, what is kind," Hammond advised the students. "And whether you are 14, 16 or 80, the people that represent you are responsible to you."
But easily the most moving part of the show was when Dustin and Quinn's mothers spoke to their sons' former classmates about how the accident had impacted their lives.
"It has destroyed our families. It has torn things apart," said Quinn's mother, Heather Briscoelino. "We're here because we don't want any of your parents to go through what we had to. We don't want your parents to have to bury you."
Dustin's mother, Cindy Burns, implored the students to make good choices and stay safe.
"It's important to me to give a message to these kids that it's not just about drinking or other things they relate to death," Burns said. "Speeding was the only factor in my son's accident, and that one bad decision cost them both their lives."