Tidelines Herren Shares Story of Drug Addiction
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Wavelengths POTTSVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT • VOLUME 20 NO. 4 MAY 2014 TideLines Junior earns Widener Herren shares story of drug addiction University High School By: Patrick Keating The MAGIC program Leadership Award PAHS Junior is funded by a grant for 21st century community PAHS junior Kira o the kids that go learning centers and Nelson won the out on Friday and after-school programs. Widener University SaturdayT nights and [do] “Chris Herren’s High School not change [themselves], [Project Purple] is why Leadership Award you are my hero,” Chris we had a ‘purple out’ that January 17. Mrs. Herren said. night. [Project Purple] Mary Beth Conville, A mix of people filled was established by Chris 11th grade guidance one side of Martz Hall [to] assist individuals counselor, and April 3 as they sat facing and families struggling Mrs. Tiffany Reedy, a screen to watch an with addiction,” Mrs. principal, nominated opening video to Chris Michelle Boran, leader Nelson for the award, Herren’s presentation at of the MAGIC program, which recognizes high 7 p.m. said. “Project Purple was school students in the Herren, a former NBA launched to break the area who encourage player who played for stigma of addiction, bring leadership and the Denver Nuggets and awareness to the dangers influence constructive Boston Celtics, battled of substance abuse and change. The award addiction throughout shed light on effective was presented by the his career. He now treatment practices.” Photo By Shea Polley president of Widener travels the country to Herren is from Fall SPEAK — Chris Herren speaks to members of the MAGIC University, James T. speak to audiences River, Massachusetts, program and people who attended his presentation at Harris III. about his message of and was a standout Martz Hall. Herren, a former NBA basketball player, was an Additionally, Nelson the importance of being basketball player in high intravenous drug addict who now tours the country creating received an invitation drug-free and of being school. He was named drug awareness. to attend an awards comfortable with oneself. a McDonald’s All- event March 20 at the “I just want to create American and received at Boston College, he he was introduced to National Constitution an awareness that a full scholarship to play failed his first drug test Oxycontin, to which he Center in Philadelphia staying true to yourself basketball at Boston by testing positive for became addicted. and a leadership is real courage and College. cocaine at the age of 18. After a one-year career experience during the accomplishment. It is During the presentation, Herren was dismissed with the Celtics, he went to fall. All of the student easy to follow and fall he spoke about his from Boston College play basketball overseas in winners will meet victim to peer pressure. life with drugs. His after four months, and Italy, did heroin for the first on the campus for Peer pressure should be experiences silenced he then transferred to time as a 24-year-old and leadership training at the exact opposite; we everyone, created looks Fresno State, where became an intravenous that time. If Nelson should be pressuring our of disbelief and brought his addiction continued. drug addict. decides to attend friends and loved ones tears to people’s eyes. Herren did not get help Herren then went Widener, she will be not to do drugs [and] not “I figured that my story until he was 21 years on to play professional granted a scholarship to get high,” Herren said. is horrific, and there is a old and was forced into basketball in five different of $20,000 over her The Multi-Activities lot of shame in it [and] treatment by Fresno countries. four years at the Generating Individual a lot of regret, but a lot State. Herren entered rehab university. Capabilities (MAGIC) of people sit with that Herren was the second and has been sober “I’m definitely excited program from the middle in their life and a lot of pick in the third round and completely off all for the award. It was an school hosted the event people think they can of the NBA draft when substances for nearly six honor to be chosen,” and the free pasta dinner never get over it, and if he was 22 years old. He years, since August 1, Nelson said. “Widener prior to the presentation. they can see someone played one year with 2008. is in the list of schools The MAGIC students who shares it and has the Denver Nuggets He has been married I might attend, so it’s got to sit in the front and found strength through and then was traded to for 15 years to the same a possibility. I’m just wore purple T-shirts in that, then maybe they his hometown team, the woman who stuck with happy that I got the support of being drug-free. will be inspired to do the Boston Celtics. him throughout all of his scholarship and the This was the first time same,” Herren said. Upon Herren’s return trouble with the law and award.” Herren spoke at Pottsville. In his freshman year to Massachusetts, drugs. PAHS Drama Club John S. Clarke First graders receive School district performs Oliver! for celebrates Read book donations from holds fundraisers 2 annual musical 4 Across America 6 UGI 7 for Mikey Allen 2 Wavelengths MAY 2014 Drama Club prepares for springtime performances By: Paige Fellows November, all members the play was, so there PAHS Sophomore of the Drama Club wasn’t any guessing on auditioned in front of the who got what [part],” liver, Oliver! Never three directors. The three sophomore Leah Guzick before has a boy then chose who they felt said. “When they said wantedO more!” was best for each part. the play was Oliver!, I The weekend of March Each student had to still wasn’t sure what role 29-31, many members sing a song from Fiddler I was going to be. I was of the community could on the Roof and then absolutely shocked when be found in the Robert recite lines from the they said I was the lead.” Wachter Auditorium musical My Fair Lady. After everyone’s roles supporting the members This process can were set in stone, it was of the PAHS Drama Club be difficult for some time to put the show as they presented their students, especially together. Oliver! was then rendition of the musical because of the nerves ready to be presented to Photo by corey SchuSter Oliver! that accompany the public March 28, 29 performing in front of and 30. PREPARE — Angelo Disabella and Hannah Hench, senior The club began members of the Drama Club, rehearse a scene during the rehearsing in December a small audience at an “[The weekend of the audition. musical] was more fun week of the musical. Disabella played the role of Mr. Bumble and devoted its time to and Hench played the role of Widow Corney when the club the production three to “I was certainly very than it was difficult,” nervous for my audition,” sophomore Cole Demcher performed Oliver! in March. “It was a very different role and four times each week and there were some complications that came with portraying even some weekends sophomore Anthony said. “After practicing Wojciechowsky said. so much, everything is Mr. Bumble,” Disabella said. “In the end, it worked really well leading up to the and I will end up really missing everyone in the Drama Club.” performance. “I’m not exactly confident second nature and we Mrs. Maria Malek and when it comes to my have fun with it. Opening at the Bucks County time prepare the club Mrs. Amy Babcock, the voice. I was jittery for the night was like a big party, Playhouse. for the competition, but directors of the Drama next few days.” or that’s how everyone The group took two it also gave audiences Club, and Mrs. Kim A few days following made me feel. Whether pieces to the competition, an idea of what the club Rismiller, music director, the auditioning process, we did the show perfectly which was held May 9. does after the musical wanted a musical that the results were posted or messed up, everyone Mrs. Babcock directed concludes. was for more of an in the hallway for had a lot of fun.” Twelve Angry Pigs and After the Drama Club ensemble rather than students to see. For The musical sold out Mrs. Malek directed attended the competition, having a few major parts. many members of the Friday night, which meant Arlecchino and the City it was done with activities “Oliver! fit that Drama Club, it was over 500 people attended of Love. for the year. For many requirement,” Mrs. exciting to find out who the show. Saturday night Sophomore, junior and members of the Drama Babcock said. would play what role in came close to selling out, senior members of the Club, it’s upsetting when The directors agreed the musical. and Sunday had a smaller club were able to audition everything comes to an that Oliver! included Before this point, the crowd, but the club still to participate in the end. music that the students club didn’t even know did well in ticket sales. competition, while newer “You get so used to would love, which what musical they were “I liked the finale of members worked on a having practices after played a large part in going to perform. the first act because performance with the school,” freshman the selection process.