The Times Record
November 26, 2008
MWAH! wows Rockridge students
By Robert Blackford, Editor
MWAH! (Messages
Which Are Hopeful!)
The MWAH! performance
started with a bang.
The introduction of
Yusuf Taraki as a visitor
from Afghanastan by
Rockridge counselor Anne
Bohnsack led to an outburst
from Nathan, a
member of the MWAH!
troupe, who called Yusuf a
"terrorist" who needs to
"go back where he came
from."
Troupe member
Michael Todd then came
on stage to state "Hatred
and bigotry have no place
here at Rockridge."
The skit ends in a reconciliation
of the Yusuf
and Nathan and an audio
clip from Dr. Martin
Luther King's "I have a
dream" speech.
For the next hour the
members of MWAH!
mixed skits, song and
dance with "Messages
Which Are Hopeful."
After a gradual warming
up period the
Rockridge student body
came around and joined
the troupe in song, standing
and clapping their
hands to the beat of the
music.
The troupe deals with
bigotry and hatred, underage
drinking, cyber bullying
and excessive teen
weight loss, as some of its
subject matters.
The outburst was
staged with Solaiman
Rashid playing the part of
Taraki. Rashid is a Muslim
student who attends
Plainfield High School in
Illinois. The student performers
of MWAH! range
from age eight to 18.
The massacre of students
at Virginia Tech was
remembered as was their
killer, a young man who
suffered from bullying
himself while a high
school student.
"We all have hopes and
we all have dreams," said
one MWAH! troupe member.
The cyber bullying of a
13-year-old girl from
O'Fallon who later hung
herself was mentioned as
was the woman who did
the bullying. She now
faces 20 years in prison.
Students are reminded
that the Internet is not a
black hole.
The deaths of four students
from Oswego was
brought up, along with
photos from the fatal
crash.
Illinois State Trooper
Jason Wilson spoke to the
audience reminding them
that four years ago during
MWAH!'s last performance
a Rockridge parent
spoke about her son who
had recently died because
of the choices he made.
Wilson said, "She can't
come back here and sit in
these stands where she
used to sit with her son."
The reality of child
abuse is brought home to
the audience with the song
"Alyssa Lies"" by Jason
Michael Carroll, who
wrote the song based on a
true story.
Alex Oeschel, 13, is in
her second year as a member
of the MWAH! troupe.
She is from Naperville.
"My older sister was in the
group and they asked me
to join in. I like it because
it teaches a great message.
It's a fun way to teach
kids."
Oeschel's younger sister
Taylor, 8, is also in the
troupe. She has been dancing
for four years. "I like
the dance mix where we
all dance together," said
Taylor about her favorite
part of the show.
Wilson reminded the
audience. "The consequence
of your actions are
your own."
Four students from Rockridge (Colton Parchert,
Alex Pollito, Jim Hary and
Jamie Mueller) were introduced as being heroes for a
number of reasons, including being members of mission
teams, for knitting hats for a neonatal unit and for
a tremendous food drive collection.
Members of the Rockridge High School volleyball
team were recognized and saluted and Chelsey
Widdop came on stage while Michael Todd sang
"Letter to Me" to her.
Ray Moffitt, a graduate of Reynolds High School, is
the director of the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe.
Rockridge Principal Clayton Naylor said, "We don't
have a lot of assemblies. It's hard to reach teenagers
but they (MWAH!) do."
Naylor said the program was part of its "Character
Counts" program which started at Rockridge this year.
"We are trying to make a difference with character.
Our teachers are doing things in the classroom each
week."
After the performance Naylor said he would be
happy to have them return. "We have a lot of people
come and watch."
"He's (Ray Moffitt) a hero to me for what he is trying
to accomplish," said Naylor. "It's hard to be cool
and care like these kids."
Naylor added, "I think the message gets through
because they are hearing it from other kids. It's one of
the reasons MWAH! has credibility with the students."
For more information about MWAH! check them out on the web, www.mwah.net.
MWAH! performers Morgan Pitney (left) and Michael Todd Emery focus on Rockridge
senior and volleyball star Chelsey Widdop with Michael Todd's customized version
of the Brad Paisley song 'Letter To Me.' Chelsey has been named a 2008 Wendy's High
School Heisman finalist in Illinois. She was one of 20 chosen from 34,000
applications from scholar-athletes throughout the state.
photo by Robert Blackford, editor of The Times Record.
MWAH! troupe member Holly Pitney ruffles Colton Parchert's hair during the performance
on November 19. Colton, who was honored as a Rockridge hero during the show, traveled
to Brazil last summer as part of a mission to help a group of poor school children.
photo by Robert Blackford, editor of The Times Record.
Alex Oechsel of the MWAH! troupe sings to Rockridge seventh grader Alex Polito, who
was honored as a hero for bringing more than 140 items to the local food pantry during
the school's fund drive.
photo by Robert Blackford, editor of The Times Record.
MWAH! performer Whitney McDermott, a sophomore at Christian Life High School in
Rockford, tries out some dance moves with Jim Hary, one of several Rockridge
students recognized as heroes for special accomplishments.
photo by Robert Blackford, editor of The Times Record.
Illinois State Trooper Jason Wilson speaks to Rockridge students about the dangers
of drinking and driving. His comments followed a segment by the MWAH! troupe about
five teenagers who died in an alcohol-related crash in Oswego, Illinois, in February of 2007.
photo by Robert Blackford, editor of The Times Record.
MWAH! performs at Rockridge High School
MWAH!'s eight-year-old Taylor Oechsel dances in front of the crowd at Rockridge.
photo by Robert Blackford, editor of The Times Record.
Besides being a winning wrestler as a freshman at West Aurora High School,
MWAH! member Nathan Pealstrom plays fiddle as part of the troupe's bluegrass band component.
photo by Robert Blackford, editor of The Times Record.
Nathan Pealstrom as a dancer - not just a fiddler. He also was the 'bigot' who
harrassed Solaiman Rashid as Yusuf, the visiting Muslim exchange student.
photo by Robert Blackford, editor of Times Record.
The elder statesman of the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe at the age of 18,
Michael Todd Emery is the only current member who appeared with the troupe at
Rockridge during the fall of 2005. That was Michael Todd's first performance with
the troupe. His plans following high school are to continue pursuing a country music career.
photo by Robert Blackford, editor of Times Record.
