MWAH! Student assembly focuses on seeking help
Register–Mail GALESBURG, Illinois.
Posted: October 5, 2015 in Register–Mail
Angie McCarthy, left, stands near a photo of her son, Tyson Twitchell, as she speaks to students, faculty and staff assembled for the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe presentation Monday in Galesburg High School's Hegg Auditorium. McCarthy spoke about the effects of the loss of Tyson, who was killed in a 2013 traffic accident, on his family and friends.
Photo: STEVE DAVIS/The Register–Mail
Galesburg High School guidance counselors Ben Bredemeier, far right, and Cathy Shenaut, right, stand near a photo of GHS students KaLee Pringle and Kylie Allen as they speak during the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe assembly Monday morning in Hegg Auditorium. The counselors reflected on the girls, who were killed in a car accident August 29.
Standing to the left of the counselors is MWAH! troupe member Landon Ballard, who also spoke about the car crash.
Photo: STEVE DAVIS/The Register–Mail
Angie McCarthy of Galesburg speaks to students, faculty and staff assembled for the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe presentation Monday in Galesburg High School's Hegg Auditorium. McCarthy spoke about the effects of the loss of her son,Tyson Twitchell, who was killed in a 2013 traffic accident, on his family and friends.
Photo: STEVE DAVIS/The Register–Mail
Rep. Don Moffitt, R–Gilson, speaks at the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe assembly Monday morning at Galesburg High School.
Photo: STEVE DAVIS/The Register–Mail
Story by Ben Zigterman
The Register–Mail
Posted October 6, 2015 at 9:43 PM
GALESBURG –– At Monday's assembly at Galesburg High School, a performance group discussed several recent fatal car crashes through music, skits and story telling. The Messages Which Are Hopeful (or MWAH!) Performing Arts Troupe addressed a wide range of issues, including gun violence, diversity and bullying, with a focus on the recent car crashes.
GHS counselors Ben Bredemeier and Catherine Shenaut spoke about senior KaLee Pringle and sophomore Kylie Allen, who died in August in a car crash near Lake Storey. Pringle had been hoping to attend the University of Tennessee and already applied, and at the time of the accident, Bredemeier had begun his letter of recommendation. "I had decided since KaLee had fulfilled her part and submitted her application, that despite the accident, I was going to submit my letter of recommendation on her behalf,"
Bredemeier said. He then read from the letter, and described her accomplishments and interests, which included roller skating. "On a personal level, my 6–year–old daughter attended the roller skating rink that KaLee worked and trained at," Bredemeier said. "KaLee helped my daughter learn to roller skate."
Pringle was also the only female in her fire science class. "She was currently enrolled in our fire science and law enforcement classes here. She was the only female in the fire science class and the equipment barely fit her," Bredemeier said. "But nonetheless, she came to me a week after the class and shared with me how much she was enjoying fire science."
He praised Pringle for living a full life.
"Even though 17 is a small number, she lived a full 17 years," Bredemeier said. "She truly made the most of all her opportunities, valued all the people who came through her life, and made the most of each day."
Shenaut described Kylie Allen as encouraging and a strong friend.
"I've heard from so many students that remembered her as the one person who always told them good morning and started off their day in a positive way," Shenaut said. "She never forgot her friends' birthdays, often requiring a run to the store late the night before for a card, a gift and a treat."
Allen was also a strong member of her church family.
"Her joy for life extended to her church family, whether it was her students in her youth group or the older population of the church," Shenaut said. "The members of the church mentioned often how they watched her grow from a little girl to a beautiful young lady who knew where she was going in life."
"Understand that it was a truly horrible accident that took her life, but it wasn't anyone's fault," Shenaut said. "Both Kylie and KaLee were really truly good girls. They stood true to their values at all times."
The students also heard from Angie McCarthy, the mother of Tyson Twitchel, who died two and a half years ago at the age of 18 in a rollover car accident near the former Aldi.
She described how she struggled after her son died. She overcame this with running and prayer, and eventually decided to start a memorial run in Twitchel's honor. She encouraged the students to find someone to talk with if they need help.
During the bullying portion of the assembly, the students heard from Jennifer Higgins, Geneseo, whose son Josh Wilson committed suicide at the age of 12 after being bullied.
She also encouraged students to talk with someone they can trust.
Throughout the 90–minute assembly, MWAH! performed various songs and skits and interacted with the students. GHS choir and dance groups also performed with MWAH! The MWAH! performers range in age from 9 to 16.
At the assembly, state Rep. Don Moffitt, R–Gilson, spoke about a law to prevent excessive police force that recently was signed by Gov. Rauner.
Further information about the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe may be found on its website at www.mwah.net