DCHS students have it 'Made'
By Jenna Buehler Comet writer-intern

Dreaming big Delphi Community High School students from left Natalie Garrison, Micah Red Elk and Chelsea Marburger prepared for their interviews with MTV's "Made" reality series yesterday. Comet photo by Jenna Buehler

Tuesday was expected to be a big day for Delphi Community High School students as they awaited a chance to be featured on television. MTV's "Made" reality television series held interviews at the school yesterday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the gym and Little Theatre.

According to information sent via E-mail from an MTV casting associate to DCHS principal Barry Stone, "Made" is a Daytime Emmy Awardwinning self-improvement program that encourages students or groups of students to set goals they never thought were possible. MTV provides professional trainers, coaches and/or mentors to help teens attain their goal while the "Made" series documents the process. The goal of the program is to demonstrate the persistence and commitment it takes to make dreams come true as well as the process of the achievement.

According to Stone, there are three steps involved in the selection process. If a student is chosen after the interview, they will receive a follow-up session during which the student will be filmed in and out of school to ensure the goal of the individual or group is legitimate. The finalist will be surprised with a "Made Coach" to guide them toward their goal, as they are documented and broadcast throughout the fourmonth transformation period.

The series is casting for its ninth season and has filmed over 100 episodes. Since DCHS announced the opportunity to students, the school has been buzzing with the excitement and anticipation of the event.

Senior Natalie Garrison told the Comet Friday of her desire to become a ballerina/hip-hop dancer.

"When it was first announced that MTV was coming I thought it was a joke," Garrison said. "I just thought 'why would "Made" want to come to Delphi?' But I couldn't wait to see what other people were doing and I can't wait until they broadcast our school on television!"

Freshman Micah Red Elk said if chosen, he intends to gain experience he can use for a future career.

"I've always wanted to race golf-carts because I hope to race in NASCAR someday," Red Elk said. "Jeff Gordon is my favorite racer and he got started with golf-carts and worked his way up on the track. I hope to do the same thing."

"I know my chances of winning are slim to none," he added. "But if I got picked - that would just be awesome."

Chelsea Marburger, a DCHS senior and fan of the reality series, explained what the oppor- tunity would ultimately mean for a contestant.

"When I decided I wanted to try and become a BMX biker for "Made," I just tried to think of something I never thought I would be able to do," said Marburger. "I think it would be a whole lot more rewarding than just getting better at something that I'm already good at because the payoff from the show is more like a life lesson. Outside of just acquiring another skill, you'll learn about yourself through the process."

Anyone between the ages of 15 and 21 can create an online profile or diary at www.wannabemade.com and apply for a chance to be featured on "Made." However, according to Stone, having the reality series come to a location in search of an aspirant is rare.

"I have spoken to area schools and none of them have heard from anything like this," Stone said. "Anyone can send something into MTV but here students have the chance to bypass all those applicants, and have a guaranteed chance to be heard. That's better than most people get."

"I knew we had to offer this opportunity to the students," concluded Stone. "Too few times do success stories come from Indiana. We are so far removed from shows based in New York, Florida or California. But here we have open casting and it's the opportunity of a lifetime, something most people never get a chance to have."