Illinois Valley teenagers (left) Lauren Simone and Gina Lopez of Lincoln Junior High in La Salle, Chelsea Higgins and Madalynn McFadden of Bureau Valley High School, and Brenda Dimas of LJH, sang on stage with MWAH! (Messages Which are Hopeful) during the 31st annual Teen Showcase at the IVCC Cultural Centre on Thursday. Students learned to ask for help and how to combat bullying in their schools.
(NewsTribune Photo/) Scott Anderson
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Students from across North Central Illinois gathered Thursday at the 31st Teen Showcase at Illinois Valley Community College's Cultural Centre in Oglesby.

This year's program, "Start with your selfie," focused on the changing face of bullying and how it impacts kids in and out of school. Program organizer Tracie Mazzorana of North Central Behavioral Health Services said social media plays a big role in bullying today and is part of the reason it is a growing problem.

"You can't turn it off," she said. "It's not like it used to be when it stopped at the end of the school day … Someone takes a picture or sends a text and there's no stopping it."

The program opened with a talk by keynote speaker Gail Sullivan. She discussed how bullying is changing appearance, how it looks different than it may have in the past and how it doesn't go away once you get a diploma.

"It's important to learn about bullies now because they aren't going away," Sullivan told the group.

Students also saw a performance from MWAH! (Messages Which are Hopeful!), a troupe of teenagers from around Illinois. Through a series of short vignettes, often accompanied with music or singing from troupe members, the teens told stories of overcoming adversity. The range of topics was wide, including losing a parent and the stories of Nelson Mandela and Whitney Houston. Jennifer Higgins of Geneseo gave a talk that encapsulated the idea of the performance: ask for help.

After describing the effect losing her son, Joshua Wilson, to suicide had on her, Higgins told the crowd, "It's a sign of strength that you can ask for help."

Some students in the audience said they teared up during Higgins' story.

"I tried to hold it in, but I couldn't," said Hannah Johnson, an eighth-grader from Dalzell.

The MWAH! segment ended with a dance number that students in the crowd thought was a good way to finish.

"It was entertaining," said Sasha Piotrowski, an eighth-grader from Dalzell. "It brightened up the mood."

Other students said that, while the program was good, it didn't apply to them or their environment as much.

"We don't get much bullying," said Casen Cherry, an eighth-grader from LaMoille. "We're a small school."

The organizers say they believe they've had an impact, however.

"We see the T-shirts out in the community, which is nice," said Brittney Moriarty of St. Margaret's Health and another showcase organizer. "It's nice to see after all the work we put in."

Marcus Winn, an eighth-grader from LaMoille who said this was his first year at the performance, said it would leave an impression.

"It makes you think," he said.

Kevin Solari can be reached at (815) 220-6931 or countyreporter@newstrib.com.