The Galva News
May 7 , 2008
Teen Performers Impart Life Wisdom To Galva Students
By Carol Townsend
Galva students in grades 5-12 were entertained, but also received excellent messages, from the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe in assemblies May 5, 2008, at Galva High School.
The traveling troupe of teenagers, ages 8-18, from the Chicago and Rockford areas, addressed issues regarding cultural and racial diversity, teenage bullying, abusive and controlling relationships, and the use of alcohol and other drugs. For each of the two 90-minute performances, the teenage troupe focused on real-life drama, hip hop dance, and songs written and produced by its members.
School counselor Vicki Conner had seen the troupe at a Quad Cities area youth conference and felt it would be excellent for Galva students. She noted that Galva students had taken an Illinois Youth Survey which revealed that a high number of upperclassmen drink alcohol. Bullying was also reported in the survey.
The MWAH! troupe (acronym for Messages Which Are Hopeful!) referred to a true story in which five of eight teen passengers in one car were killed in an alcohol-related crash in Oswego, Illinois.
The troupe also focused on physical and emotional abuse and of the need for victims to talk to someone they trust about such incidents.
An example of cyber-bullying was given in which a young teenage girl from suburban St. Louis committed suicide because of a MySpace hoax directed towards her.
“No-one deserves to be emotionally hurt,” a troupe member said.
The group also said that everyone needs to be proud of who they are – both on the inside and the outside – and to respect one another. A pantomime of the Kenny Rogers song ‘The Greatest’ involving a young baseball player conveyed a message that negatives (a batter who keeps striking out when he tosses up the ball) can be turned into positives (batter realizes that he’s a pretty good pitcher).
Other messages depicted through drama and song were that violence should never be the answer to teenage issues of jealousy and control and that those with relationship problems need to seek out help from trusted friends and to find positive alternatives instead of such negative ones as alcohol and other drugs.
Officer Matt Baker of the Galva Police Department participated in the presentation and talked about a longtime friend of his whose life was taken over by drugs. He told the Galva students that beer cans and bottles he has seen on his night shift confirms the youth survey results and shows a need for some changes in Galva youth behavior.
The two assemblies, for grades 5-8 in the morning, and for grades 9-12 in the afternoon, were sponsored by the Lambda Nu Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi in Galva.
Galva High School students (seated, from left) Andrew Reading, Kirsten Speed, Chelsea Thompson, and Matt Pankau are treated through song as 'heroes' by the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe (acronym for Messages Which Are Hopeful!). The four high school students were invited to the GHS stage during an afternoon assembly May 5, 2008. Four students in grades 5-8 - Feryl Cutkomp, Beverly Scott, Chris North, and Dani Gibbs - received a similar honor during a morning assembly.
Photo: Carol Townsend for the Galva News
MWAH! troupe members Chris Oechsel (left) and Blake Pitney hoist the
banner with the troupe's name during the closing of the special 90-minute issues-oriented performance for Galva High School students.
Photo: Carol Townsend for the Galva News
MWAH! troupe members (from left) Christian Rodriguez and Whitney McDermott become avid Galva Wildcat supporters during the troupe's visit to Galva High School on May 5. 2008.
Photo: Carol Townsend for the Galva News