Metro

REGIONAL CONVENTION/ON THE COVER

First-place boys' chapter, Evan Shapiro AZA, performs "La Vie Boheme" in the talent show competitio

B BYO

IR 0 C

Marissa Ceresnie
Teen2Teen Staff Writer

M

ore than 420 Jewish teens from
16 local Metro Detroit BBYO
chapters united at the Jewish
Community Center in West Bloomfield
over winter break to participate in
Michigan Region BBYO's annual regional
convention (RC).
The theme this year was kehilah (corn-
munity), which personifies the general
ideals held throughout the week.
"RC is the biggest event our region has
during the year and it's all about having
fun, friendly competition and sisterhood/
fraternity',' said BBG convention coordina-
tor Leah Sternberg of Dora Savage BBG.
Because RC is held during school vaca-

Annual conventions
t s teen talent
Sill showcases
an d sp i r it .

tion, many people might think teenagers
wouldn't want to spend their time doing
something for a youth organization.
Think again.
"It's so much fun, and my break would
not be nearly as exciting if there wasn't
RC:' said Rachel Leider of Koach BBG.
"I would rather attend RC than going
on vacation because there's no other time
of the year that you can spend all day
with friends for a week:' said Jade Cook of
Kulanu BBG.
Even though the five days consist of fun,
it also is filled with responsibility. With 28
competitions, both individual and team,
Jewish teens learned how to efficiently
accomplish tasks under pressure from
their peers.
"You can really see the hard work, love

Left: Shelby Lonnerstater of Emunah
BBG in the chapter's first-place perfor-

mance of "Across the Universe."

and passion these teens put into BBYO,"
said Regional BBG President Marisa Horn
of Dora Savage BBG.
Ryan Achtman of Evan Shapiro AZA,
one of the many teens who worked dili-
gently for the convention, said, "It was a
great feeling to know that all my effort,
especially in the art categories, ended in
success!'
Even if you aren't particularly athletic,
there's still a place for you at RC.
"I love cheering on my friends!" Cook
said.

BBYO Rocks on page 14

January 7 2010

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