The Student Cast of 2011
Emyle
Emyle is a seventh grader at Springville Middle School and this is her first year in Human Rights Club. She will be playing Aung Sung Suu Kyi (also known as The Lady), who is a Burmese pro-democracy leader. “She reminds me of the American colonists who never gave up, and were willing to give their lives for their country, because they knew it could be so much more if it were a democracy.” says Emyle. She is also involved in Aquaponics enrichment, Student Council, and Star Society.
Rebecca
Rebecca is an eighth grader at Springville middle school, and this is her first year in Human Rights Club. She will be playing the role of Sakena Yacoobi, an Afghanistan school builder. "I love the fact that average people like you and me have the power to change the world," says Rebecca. Rebecca is also a member of SADD club and a tutor in Encore. She plays string bass in the middle school orchestra, and she enjoys playing many sports including lacrosse and soccer.
Elijah
Elijah is a ninth grader at Springville High School. He has participated in human rights group since eighth grade, in the year 2010. He will be playing the role of Frederick Douglass: an ex-slave and abolitionist author. “I’m really excited to play him,” says Elijah, “because he shows us that we can overcome everything.”
Colin
Colin is a ninth grader at Springville High School, and since his eighth grade year in 2010 has been involved in human rights organizations. Playing the role of William Wilberforce, an English abolitionist, Colin is an advocate of freedom of expression around the world. “If we all wait for somebody else to take a stand, nobody will ever make a change,” says Colin. Colin is also a member of the SADD club and NYS Science Olympiad.
Deborah
Deborah is a freshman at Springville High School. As an active performer and musician, she has participated in many events across Western New York. She acts as Alice Paul, a suffragette that wrote the 19th amendment that gave women the right to vote. Deborah is fighting like Paul to strengthen today’s women. “The perseverance and passion displayed by Alice Paul should be a template and a model for us to live by,” she says. She is also a student at Eastman Community School of Music at Rochester, New York.
Ashley
Ashley is a ninth grader at Springville High school. This would be her first year in the Human Rights Club. “The club has opened my eyes to all the inhumanity in the world, and has shown me that even a small group of people can make a difference. This is an astonishing experience that I would not give up” says Ashley. Ashley will be playing the role of Eleanor Roosevelt and is ready to move the audience, even while in their seats. She wants to leave the audience left thinking, “What can I do?”.
Allison
Allison is a ninth grader at Springville High School. She has participated in the Human Rights Club for two years. Allison is impersonating Sophie Scholl, a member of the White Rose movement during the Holocaust. “The determination and courage displayed by Sophie is inspirational. People should rebel against oppression in all forms, even if it’s to their own detriment,” says Allison.
Nina
Nina is a seventh grader at Springville Middle School. She has participated in the Human Rights Group for two years. She is also a member of the musical cast and volunteers at the Springville Elementary School . Nina is impersonating the Holocaust rescuer, Irena Sendler. “The courage and strength shown by Irena is remarkable,” says Nina “everyone should learn from the example she has given.”
Caitlin
Caitlin is a seventh grade student at Springville Middle School, and this is her second year being involved with the Human Rights Group. In "Ripples of Hope", she will be portraying Mukhtar Mai, a Pakistani woman who was raped and forsaken by her village, then that built schools for girls as a sign of hope. “I love her positive attitude,” says Caitlin. “Although things may be going wrong around her she seems to always find a way to look at the situation in a positive way.” Caitlin is also involved in the middle school musical, and is a member of numerous sport activities.
Jessica
Jessica is a recent SGI graduate, and was one of the founders of the Students for Human Rights group. In "Ripples of Hope", she performs a powerful poem that she wrote, titled "I Am She", which is about empowering women. (And the cast members all agree that it's the awesomest poem ever.) “We all have the strength to stand up for ourselves”, says Jessica. She is currently working on a degree in Massage Therapy at the New York Institute in Amherst.
Caroline
Caroline is a freshman at Springville GI High School. She's thrilled to share the role of the Voice of Doubt, exploring and portraying the obstacles each defender faced. “If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another,” says the Dalai Lama. She believes that we can reach peace by empowering, educating, and learning from the people around us. She hopes to encourage others to defy indifference, and work towards a goal of harmony.
Maggie
Margaret is a fourth grade student in Hamburg, and has been going to human rights events for a while. In "Ripples of Hope", she totally rocks the light booth, as well as a special appearance about the 1-800-GENOCIDE number. In 2008, Maggie had the good fortune of meeting Holocaust rescuer Irena Sendler in Poland, and was the last child to shake her hand a week before she died. “It gave me the tingles to be near her,” said Maggie. “It felt exciting to be in the same room.”
Mitch
Mitchell is a seventh grade student at Hamburg Middle School. In "Ripples of Hope" he will be playing the part of the Voice of Doubt, or the presence that tries to convince the defenders not to go on. He also met Irena Sendler in 2008 with his sister Margaret, and is a member of the Hamburg Middle School Jazz Band, playing the baritone saxophone. “Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world,” says Mitchell, quoting Nelson Mandela.
These biographies were written February, 2011 when "Ripples of Hope" first opened in Springville, NY.