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FEATURES Thursday,Aprill.1999-Page9 Unsung Heroes: First in a series profiling ordinary students and employees who go the extra mile WMC student shows commitment to campus, community BY LISA DALE-VANAuKEN shops at different WMC facilities for Reddan in preparing for an opera Anyone who looks at Reddan's Assistant Commentary Edi/Qr high school students from three performance, found him to be "ex- records will see that he does seem always loved school," he said, "and counties. The workshops were tremely intelligent, helpful, and to excel in all he does, especially I've always loved learning." A blurred figure rushes by, meant to enhance the students' art decent at problem-solving." It was in elementary school that humming a fast song, and then appreciation. But perhaps most inspiring was in school. Graduating in music edu- Reddan first realized he wanted to disappears. A phantom? No. It's Reddan first was alerted to the Armstrong's account of Redden's cation with honors this May at only be a teacher. One of his greatest his senior year 19, Reddan skipped Jimmy Reddan, rushing off to his necessity of a youth outreach pro- attitude. "Jimmy strives towards inspirations came from music next engagement. gram by what he sees as a lack of excellence, and also helps others at Thoma.s Stone High School af- teacher Marion Geason, at through ter breezing elementary Quick-sightings of the West- encouragement for the arts in excel," she said. Malcolm Elementary School in ern Maryland College senior mu- schools. "The arts are continually school and middle school. "I've Waldorf, Md. "She knew what she sic education major are not ex- under-budgeted and cut, and that's wanted and she knew how to get traordinary for WMC students, sad," he said. "It takes away a it," he recalls. "As long as you gave but because of Reddan's demand- student's chance to be creative, free- it your best effort, whether you ing schedule, he is often out of thinking, and imaginative, which I failed or not, it was still worth sight. would say is as important as being something," he said. By any yardstick, Reddan's able to balance a checkbook." Another-early sign that Reddan list of accomplishments would As well as giving students a cre- was bound to be a teacher came impress anyone. He is the tree- ative outlet, the program allows par- outside of school. "I remember that surer of ASAP (Aids Support ticipants to explore their own theat- the other kids would want to play Awareness and Prevention), presi- rical tendencies. "I wanted to give house, but I would want to play dent of Kappa Delta Pi (the edu- students a place to figure things out school so I could be the teacher," cation honor society), and student and a place to share their interests," he said. director of College Choir, Show Reddan said. His obvious love of education Choir, and the musical director for As chairman of the Project for has continued well past his elemen- last fall's musical "The Roar of Youth Committee, Reddan was tary school years and into his adult the Greasepaint, the Smell of the largely responsible for the results of life. Crowd." Reddan plans to go to graduate the program. The project took nearly But despite Reddan's over- four months of letter writing, orga- school to become a teacher for stu- whelming number of activities, nizing, and planning before it could dents in high school, and the~ he the musician's full-scale devotion happen. Reddan also arranged for hopes to go on to be a college pro- to the community is ironically the program to cost only $6 to $10 fessor. "[The arts] can be very edu- "unsung." for the students, and even found a cational as a teaching tool, so t~at's Perhaps Reddan's most over- way to supply the participants with why I'm studying to be a music looked accomplishment is his complimentary 'It-shins. teacher," he said. selfless devotion 10 encouraging Despite the stressful months that But for now, Reddan will ton- art appreciation. Last spring, it took to finish the project, Reddan tinue to be a~b[ur on WMC's cf,m- Reddan's dream of bringing the- said, "I got to see kids having fun pus, at [east until his ambition ater appreciation to high school and learning new things .... It was whisks him 'away to the next step students finally began to materi- worth it." I'RIINGDIIM in his education. WMC student Redden is treasurer o/ASAP, president of Kappa Jimmy alize when the members of Alpha Perhaps it is this devotion to edu- Delta Pi. and has organized a community youth outreach program Psi Omega, the theater honor so- cation and music which caused Lori knows These women do the dirty work ciety which Reddan belongs to, Schenck, a sophomore theater-com- agreed to begin work on a youth- munication major who outreach program. Reddan from College Choir, to say, With the help of the Griswold- "J think he's going to make a great BY SARA GREGG Zepp Award and local grants, the music teacher." COlllriblUilillWriler ing a service that most people re- way. Also, Betty and Debbie are would not want to do, they're project had its first community Robin Armstrong, an assistant In my neck of the woods, an ally nice about it," noted Pence. always asking how the girls are and event on Feb. 6. The program, professor in the music department, . alarm clock is seldom needed. Most Something that both women seem interested in their answers. Stephanie called "A Day at the Theater," seems to be in tune with Schenck. mornings I awake to the voices of hate to do is clean up tampons and and third-floor Banach, a freshman resident of White- l'ib"'o"'m"'m"'o"'n"'o"'r"'o"'u"'nd=on=th"'e"'H"'il"'I''''S'''St'''h'''A'''n'''n'''ua"'1"'S"'p"'ri"'ng=c"'on"'c"'e"il::~~~J.:::~:E:,o~;;,~o: vomit, but they say they would ford, says, "Whenever I see them consisted of a full day of work- Betty and Debbie was coached by from just 10 feet Armstrong, who rather put up with that than clean a they in the bathroom or the hall, male dorm. r Debbie used to work in Blanche make a point to say hi and ask how I'm doing. to be They're willing Featuring for another day of work. They have Ward Hall and says, ''They (males) friendly and talk." The Sankofa Dance Theater . one of the most unheralded jobs on don't have any respect for us. They worked at a shoe factory in West- Before working at WMC, Betty make and Debbie campus. Betty they flush don't the commodes; and sure that Whiteford Hall and Smith hock in the water fountains; they minster for 29 years before the fac- The Western Maryland College Gospel House are splc-and-span. Betty and come in and use the urinals when tory closed. She lives in Westmin- Debbie are custodians. and they use a lot we're cleaning; ster with Floyd, of 35 her husband showers, "We vacuum, Choir commodes, mirrors, clean wipe garbage of derogatory language." that the -years, and said that she really en- both However, agree shoes. making If she had the joyed Eric Byrd, Director cans, empty garbage cans, wipe girls respect them. "They are very opportunity, she would like to ..do it down the elevator, clean the laun- nice and appreciate the work we do again. Friday, April 9,1999 7:30 prn. dry room, and change the shower for them," said Betty. The girls Debbie also lives in Westmin- curtains," said Betty. show their appreciation by giving ster and has been a housekeeper for Alumni Hall (Theater on the Hill) Betty and Debbie have been De'bbie and Betty thank you cards rnost of her life, so she doesn't doing this for a long time. Debbie Western Maryland College, Westminster, MD and banners. Betty and Debbie also know what else she would want to has worked at WMC since 1975, say that the girls tell them that they do. ickets: Adults $10 Teens 13-18 $2 and Betty has been here since 1990. are doing a good job. Although their boss and some RAs have told them that they do a an RA and jun- Jenny Weddle, Seniors $8 Children 12 & under - Free Neither one wanted their last names ior in Whiteford, definitely appre- good job, Betty and Debbie don't used in this article. They may not love what they do WMC Students, Faculty, & Staff - FREE! ("We don't have a favorite part of ciates what Betty seem to be con- do actually know how much their hard and Debbie every day. "They the job; we just do our best," said work and smiles mean to the girls Sponsored by Common Ground and cerned about everyone," she says. of Whiteford. that they Cultural Arts (CAPBoard) Betty.), but both agreed happy," as ''They want to do their best to make Even though they don't plan on the girls like to "keep better, even experience OUl: college Debbie puts it. retiring soon, the day that Betty and With help from: Grace Almandrez, Cross Cultural Studies, ifit is just a little part." Debbie do retire will be a sad day One girl that they are keeping Philosophy and Religious Studies, and Mulitcultural Students For example, Weddle says that in Whiteford. Not only do they keep satisfied is Susan Pence, a sopho- if something is spilled, Betty and Association everything clean, but their friendly more and first-floor resident of Debbie are quick to clean it up so ways bring a smile to each girl's Call Nicole Sinclair at x8628 with questions Whiteford. "Not only are they do- the residents aren't disrupted in any face every day.