Local business brings 'Rachel's Challenge' to schools

Thanks to the generosity of a local business, high school and college students in Elgin are getting the chance to learn how to prevent school violence.

After Meritus Financial Group President Lynn Schmidt saw a "Rachel's Challenge" presentation at Jacobs High School last year, she became determined to find a way to bring the program to more campuses, company spokeswoman Patricia Szpekowski said.

The Elgin-based company picked up the $20,000-plus tab to bring presentations to Elgin and Larkin high schools, and Elgin Community College this week, Szpekowski said.

On Tuesday morning Elgin High freshman, along with dozens of upperclassmen and students involved in peer mediation at the school, crowded into the auditorium to hear about Rachel Scott, the first student killed during the Columbine High School shootings in April 1999.

Presenter Derek Kilgore, 23, a close friend of Rachel's family, led the multimedia presentation that included news footage of the tragedy, family videos of Rachel, and interviews with her family members.

As Rachel focused during her young life on effecting positive change, students were presented with five challenges: eliminating prejudice, identifying goals, choosing positive influences, taking part in small acts of kindness, and starting a chain reaction.

A number of students, including senior Jenna Jaymes, of Bartlett, took part in training to help integrate the Rachel's Challenge program into the school.

"I'm always looking for service hours," Jaymes said. Though not old enough to remember Columbine well, "the whole idea of a positive chain reaction got my interest."

Two more presentations will take place for students Wednesday at Larkin High. Another presentation, open to the community, will take place at 6:30 p.m. today at Elgin Community College's Fox Valley University and Business Center Seigle Auditorium, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

"We hope this will have a larger impact," Elgin High social worker Mike Grondin said.