Photojournalism

Dribble on for Thon

Students were working behind the scenes, while an enthusiastic crowd was cheering their teachers on in the dome. The Harlem Wizards played Cumberland Valley “all-star” teachers at the Cumberland Valley High School November 12, 2014. The event supported and benefitted CV-mini-Thon and the Monroe Elementary PTO.  The Harlem Wizards have been entertaining and playing for schools for 53 years and Harlem Wizard Claude (Tojo) Henderson marks his 50^th year with the Wizards. Henderson has played in over 5,000 basketball show games and the 2014-2015 season will be his last. This is the second year in a row that the Wizards have played at Cumberland Valley to help benefit CV-mini-Thon. Cumberland Valley’s mini-Thon is a twelve-hour event held at the high school to raise money for the Four Diamond’s Fund. The fund aims to conquer childhood cancer and supports the kids at Penn State Hershey’s Children’s Hospital. Cumberland Valley is currently planning their fifth mini-Thon and has been participating in fundraising events like the Thon tailgate, Movie Night, Basehore Fall Festival, the FT5K, Touch of the Valley, and the Harlem Wizard’s game  all year so far. Their goal this year is to surpass the astounding  $220,020.14 they raised in 2013. A percentage of the Harlem Wizard’s games profits contribute to that goal. To raise a greater profit, many student committee members volunteered their time at the event and helped to sell tickets, merchandise and food. While the committees were working behind the scenes, an eager crowd was cheering the Wizards and teachers on in the dome. Teachers from Green Ridge, Hampden, Middlesex, Monroe, Shaull, Silver Spring and Sporting Hill Elementary schools; Good Hope Middle School and Cumberland Valley High School took part in the game as Cumberland Valley’s “all-star” team. The packed house witnessed the two teams battling it out on the court until the end. Eventually, the Wizard’s dynamic energy, hilarious humor, and impressive tricks gave them the win.

Elementary students enthusiastically get involved with the game when some are invited down to the sideline to watch. The students cheer on their teachers who franticly try to catch up with Wizards. 

Hanging from the basket, Harlem Wizard Dexton (Air Jamaica) Williamson smiles and sings to the crowd dressed as the Frozen character “Olaf”. 

The hysterical Harlem Wizard Arthur (King Arthur) Lewis dresses up and dances around the court to entertain the audience.  

Volunteering to raise money, students from CV-mini-Thon’s communications committee sell Harlem Wizard’s merchandise to a chaotic line of fans. One if the volunteers, Bryn Hanrahan (17), says “Volunteering and working this event was really fun because we could see all of the elementary schools getting involved with Thon and it was a chance for all of the different Thon committees to interact.” Bryn is a part of CV-mini-Thon’s communications committee and says, “I really like my Thon committee this year because we get to put up decorations and can see how all of our efforts around the school get everyone excited for Thon.”

Harlem Wizard Rashaan (The Rocket) Barner makes a “slamtastic” dunk electrifying the crowd. Barner currently leads the Wizards along with David (DP) Paul; together they bring a fresh innovation and spirit to the shows.

Standing in the center of the dome, Harlem Wizard David “D.P.” Paul shows a Cumberland Valley elementary student how to spin a basketball after he wins the halftime challenge.

In a crowd of excited students, Shaull Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Matt Willey and Harlem Wizard Rashaan (The Rocket) Barner pose for pictures.

When the last buzzer sounds, the crowded dome runs down to the court to meet the players. Meredith  Tyrrell (15), and her cousin ,Colton Stamy (5), shuffle along with the crowd and stop to talk about the game. Meredith excitedly says "Colton had so much fun! He was so happy because he got to watch the game from the sidelines with some of friends." "The event seemed like a great way to raise money for Thon. There was a great turn out and everyone had a lot of fun."



Album link to Harlem Wizards Photos

Contact Sheet photojournalism

The American Teenager Project

The American Teenager Project works to show the struggles and injustice of youth, and to highlight the value of adolescents through photography and photojournalism. The photographer, Robin Bowman, has been working as a freelance photojournalist for 28 years. She is committed to capturing crises and injustices to bring a concern for the human condition to the media. One story that stood out to me was the portrait and interview of Patrick Roberts. I think he is a great example of what Bowman is trying to make her readers understand- that teenagers go through much more than many people see from the outside. By just looking at the photo, Roberts doesn't seem to look like someone with an opinion or an outlook on life. However, when you read his interview, you find that he has gone through a lot at his age and has a strong opinion on the world because of it. I like Bowman's work because I think the stories are very real and eye opening. I like that she chooses teenagers of many backgrounds and includes the details of each persons story. One thing I would have liked is if she put more than one photo of each person or took of photo of something about them that relates with each teen. This falls under the category of photojournalism because it is telling a story through the pictures and interviews of the teenagers. It is ,however, different from traditional photojournalism because its not communicating news but rather communicating their stories.