By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Students alternated between loud cheering and rapt silence. At times the noise from the stage was deafening to ears not accustomed to rap.
More than three-quarters of the seats in the Niles High School auditorium were filled Wednesday evening. Students had come for the faith-based follow-up to the motivational assemblies held at three schools during the day.
Brandywine High/Middle School, Ring Lardner Middle School and Buchanan High School all took advantage of a program, which is meant to inspire youth to make good choices.
That evening, students, some with their parents, from all three schools returned, responding to an invitation to what they were told would be a faith-based presentation called the Seven Project.
Youth Alive, the organization behind the assemblies, has directed that no mention of personal faith be part of in-school assemblies during the day.
Instead, presenters Brian Pruitt and Kurt Cullison talk to the students about such life issues as anti-violence, alcohol and drugs, dreams, self-esteem, peer pressure, abstinence and teen suicide. The pair is based out of the Midland offices of the Seven Project.
"This was the finest presentation I have seen in 20 years as an educator. It was clearly delivered, a lot of fun and targeted the needs of our kids perfectly. I would highly recommended them to anyone," Doug Langmeyer, principal at Ring Lardner Middle School, said.
The 50-minute multimedia, speaker-driven school assemblies are specifically geared to this generation, according to Seven Project Michigan District Manager Cullison, who has worked with students for more than13 years.
Pruitt was a 1994 All-American running back and second leading rusher in the nation.
Throughout the presentations and rally, Cullison and Pruitt call on a group of more than a dozen young actors. This drama team acts out what Cullison calls human videos to rap music and perform a "Stomp" styled drumming on tin garbage cans and dance routine across the wooden stage floor.
"What we do at a rally such as this in the evening is not to be mistaken with the school assembly presentations. When we invite the students to come to the rally if they wish, it is always a choice and they are told up front that the rally is faith-based. We never cross that barrier between the assembly meant to motivate students and the rally created to tell them about our personal faith," Cullison said.
Doug Law said earlier in the day that he had received a call from Langmeyer about the assembly at Ring Lardner.
"He said it was the best presentation he had ever seen. He said the students were so quiet you could hear a pin drop. We had checked this group out and made sure that the assemblies were not faith-based. We were assured they were not," he said.
Pruitt received a huge applause as he took to the stage. Throughout the day, the students have grown to appreciate his infectious humor and personal trials as a teenager with no male role models.
"Define the moment or the moment will define you. I was ready to commit suicide by the time I was a senior. A 17-year-old friend told me Jesus Christ loves you and God has purpose for your life. He is still my friend today. What kind of friend would I be to you if I didn't give you the same opportunity to get to know Jesus?" Pruitt said.
The students listened. Then more than three-quarters of them responded to a call to prayer.
"It just wasn't boring. It was so unlike other motivational speakers brought in. We weren't yawning. He is so funny but still told us about making good choices," said Taylor Fuller, a 13-year-old from Ring Lardner.
"I was surprised at some of the kids who came forward. Some were so moved, they were crying," said Morgan Dloughy, 14, of Niles.
"Knowing some of the kids, I am rather amazed at those not being too shy to step forward. I had some concerns about the separation of the religious from the school assembly. I understand they did that well. I have no problem with the presentation myself but I suppose some might," said Jan Oltman, a Brandywine elementary school teacher.
Robert Babler, Niles High School math teacher, who was helping out at the auditorium Wednesday night, estimated there were close to 700 people in attendance.
One young man in the crowd drove all the way from Cheboygan to be at the rally. He had attended a similar assembly and rally at the beginning of this school year. "My life, everything, has changed. I can handle tragedy. My attitude towards life is completely different, Now I enjoy helping others and working for God," Tony Romanik, 17, said.
"They even got some teachers doing rap. The music and drama and drumming is terrific," said 12-year-old Jocelyn Dlouhy.
The Niles Area Ministerial Association paid all costs to bring the group to area. Pastors and volunteers were on hand to help with the evening festivities.
Youth Alive has invested over one million dollars to provide Seven Project assembly teams throughout the U.S. Established in 1979, the religious non-profit "builds hope on middle, junior high and high school campuses through strategic empowerment of students, youth leaders, and educators," according to the www.thesevenproject.org Web site.