Where would younger students be without T.H.E.M.?
By Whitney Welch, coordinator of public information

During the spring semester, 12 CVC students spent long hours rehearsing theatre skits, performing for area schools and working to convey the importance of higher education.

This hardworking and dedicated group of students is T.H.E.M.-Theatre Helping Education Move. The students in T.H.E.M. write and perform drama acts that have the feel of "Saturday Night Live," "Comedy Central," "Crank Yankers" and "Dr. Phil" all rolled into one. The goal of these performances is to impress upon kindergarten-12th grade students that higher education is possible for everyone.

"T.H.E.M. was originally called Go Theatre when it first began. At the time, it had three members and grew from there," says Dan Rogers, T.H.E.M. advisor. "The main message that the group is trying to get across is that education matters."

The group performed more than 10 shows during the spring semester, including performances at Cary Middle School in North Dallas, Rosa Parks Elementary School in Lancaster and Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill. Currently, the group is booking performances for the summer.

"T.H.E.M. is more successful at encouraging students to pursue higher education than the typical...folding table and stacked brochures with a bored admissions counselor in khaki slacks and a double-breasted blue blazer," notes Rogers.

The group currently has more than 20 routines in its collection, and tailors its performances to range from five to 45 minutes. Depending on the audience, the group also adjusts its skits on an as-needed basis.

Members of T.H.E.M. have taken the message that they convey to their audiences personally, and many have found success away from CVC. Three members from last year transferred on to find success at four-year universities, and another received a literary award for script writing and went on to pursue training as a pharmacy technician.

"T.H.E.M. members are a prime example that 'you can't is not an option,'" says Rogers.

For more information about T.H.E.M. contact Dan Rogers at 972-860-8075 or danrogers@dcccd.edu.