Speech/Drama
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Brighton High School
Parents: Philip Pepe and Sue Skudlarczyk
Sandy
"I find joy in living through performing. It is not because of talent or entertainment value that I find this joy, it is through the thought of what phenomenal accomplishments human beings can achieve when they work together as one. We are all diverse and all have immense differences that make us unique. Yet when we work together as one soul, there is no telling what magic and wonders we can create. I know it may seem like a stretch to compare performing on a stage to drastically important events such as the civil rights movement or American's struggle for independence, but in reality they are the same. People overcoming their differences and banding together for a common cause is phenomenally important within this world and my contribution to this wonderful aspect of life is by performing. Whether it is for theater or not, I know that I can make a difference. Together, upon a stage, we as actors are an unstoppable force that can speak the thoughts that sometimes no one would dare say and could kindle a fire within the beholders that would change their lives, and mine, forever.
"Last year, while polishing our competition piece for the regional competition, 'Bang Bang You're Dead,' there was a tragic incident in one of our downtown malls. One of the individuals who lost her life happened to be a good friend within the entire theater program who loved to perform and always had a smile on her face. She was one of those people who made everyone around her happy. We were all devastated. Her untimely death made us work even harder to get our message across within our play, which was ironically about violence and school shootings. I have never felt a group of people pull together and unify so emphatically. Our performances were spectacular. Over and over again we left that stage knowing we had moved our audience; we had changed them. I knew, then and there, that performing is not merely a hobby, but a way of life."
SCHOLARSHIP: Ranks first out of 620; overall GPA is 4.0; 31 composite ACT.
AWARDS AND PROJECTS: Drama Club president; Great Barrier Reef volunteer head; first place in the Shakespeare Competition: AP Scholar with Honors: Academic Letter Award; International Thespian Society; co-host/co-master of ceremonies Brighton Idol Talent Show; peer tutor; Best Male Vocalist in a Musical; Best Sophomore Performer at BHS; first place in region and state competition for the role of George in 'Of Mice and Men'; regional and state competition for one-act, 'Bang Bang You're Dead'; regional and state competition for the one-act, 'Godspell.'