![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
Every student has an impact on their school, even when others don’t see it. A passionate philanthropist, Gelila Mekonnen exemplified the act of leaving a hidden legacy before she passed in 2020; however, her legacy stretched miles beyond the school campus.
Led by club sponsor Ms. Lucia Jones, Interact club is spreading awareness about Mekonnen’s organization, Kids Can Help Too: Gelila Mekonnen’s Chapter, to aid in the provision of underprivileged kids in Ethiopia.
“As an international organization, we feel it is important we take part in supporting groups internationally,” Ms. Jones said.
Keeping Gelila’s dream alive was a way of keeping her alive.
— Mr. Mekonnen, Gelila's father
Sophomore Gelila Mekonnen was recognized for her love for choir, people, and her parents’ home country, Ethiopia. Choir director Mrs. Ashley Dame remembers Mekonnen for her spirit and loving nature.
“She constantly had a smile on her face and was very open and lovely to everyone she ever met,” Mrs. Dame said.
After a visit to Ethiopia with her family, Mekonnen witnessed Ethiopian children living in poor conditions with little access to quality education and daily essentials. When Mekonnen was 14, she was diagnosed with Clear Cell Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer; when given the opportunity through the Make a Wish Foundation, Mekonnen asked for money to start an organization to help children in Ethiopia.
“There are children who have to walk to school without shoes every day,” Mrs. Jones said. “Children should have these basic necessities.”
After she passed, Mekonnen’s father undertook her vision of creating the corporation. Today, Kids Can Help Too is raising money to provide children with school supplies and other basic needs.
“Keeping Gelila’s dream alive was a way of keeping her alive,” Mr. Mekonnen said.
The Interact club strives to bring awareness about the foundation to the school. Public Relations Officer Andrea Ensign believes in the importance of school organizations and the student body participating in the long-overdue project.
“When I first heard about Gelila’s charity, I was shocked that neither people nor organizations at our school were talking about it,” Ensign said. “She was a student at our school that left such an incredible legacy, and I find it frustrating that not many students or staff at East know about it.”
Orchestrated by President Elshadai Solomon, Interact plans to organize school assemblies, run booths, and print flyers to inform students about the foundation and the different ways to support it.
“In order to spread the message, we want to have as many people contribute to this program as possible,” Solomon said.
To learn more about Kids Can Help Too: Gelila Mekonnen’s Chapter, visit their website, www.kchtgmc.org. Students can also find Ms. Jones in room 962 for more information on ways to get involved.
“I feel pretty proud of our club members and what we’re doing because we are standing for not only Mekonnen’s dream, but for people in need,” Solomon said.
This story was originally published on Blue Print on April 5, 2022.
