Prospect High School student earns honors in, out of school
Prospect High School senior Rhegan Graham placed third last month in a national speech tournament for her performance in informative speaking, making her one of the highest individual medalists in the school's long speech history.
Rhegan's latest triumph - the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award.
Fewer than 6 percent of Girl Scouts earn the prestigious award, well known to college admissions counselors. Those who pursue the award are challenged to create change, as well as being required to spend at least 80 hours planning and implementing the project.
Rhegan used her long experience in speech in crafting her project. Last October, she hosted "A Day in the Spotlight," a one-day workshop at Prospect in which children learned about theatrical techniques from Prospect students.
Children attended five different sessions that immersed them in costume design, character development, scene study, movement and improvisation. Rhegan worked with Jeremy Morton, speech and theater director at Prospect, and Terry Ann Nissly of Lake Forest, her Girl Scout mentor, to implement the project.
"I knew right away that (her project) had the potential to be something special," Morton said. "Rhegan's leadership, organization, and follow-through is so impressive, and I cannot wait to continue with her vision for years to come."
Rhegan says she hopes the workshops did more than just teach participants about the theater.
"I hope it taught them to be confident," she says, "to use their imaginations - and their words - to make an impact."
Rhegan herself learned about the power of words long before she joined Prospect's speech team.
Since she was 3 years old, Rhegan has been performing in backyard theater performances each summer inspired by her mother, Heidi, a former theater major herself.
The Stonegate Kids - named for their Arlington Heights neighborhood - was focused on theater produced "by kids, for kids." Youngsters participated in all aspects of the productions - choosing the shows, directing the scenes, costuming the young actors and promoting the show - perhaps foreshadowing Rhegan's project some 10 years later.
They also voted each year to select a charity to receive the show's proceeds. Beneficiaries included the American Cancer Society, tsunami relief and local food pantries.
After Rhegan entered Prospect High School and joined its speech team, she helped revamp the backyard theater troupe the following summer, calling it Spotlight in the Summer.
Her vision was to expand its reach beyond the neighborhood and involve more children.
She directed its first two shows and this year turned the program over to a classmate, Alex Lasky, who held auditions for "Lion King" last week. The show will take place Friday, Aug. 19, at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights.
"I had the honor to be in charge, and now I have the honor of watching someone else keeping it alive," Rhegan says.
Her Gold Award project is meant to be sustainable as well, and go beyond the first 15 youngsters she drew to Prospect last fall.
"One thing that struck me was the makeup of the kids who participated. It was almost all girls," Rhegan says. "It is incredible to see how many powerful women are rising up, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to witness it.
"It's not just about empowering girls, though," she adds. "It's about making a mark on the world around you."