Marlborough girls’ accomplishments are acknowledged, their goals are supported and their hard work is rewarded. Usually, this adoration and attention comes from parents, teachers and friends. However, this year Marlborough has a new admirer: the “Young Icons” television show.
“Young Icons,” a thirty-minute weekly show produced by B & C Broadcasting (Entertainment Studios Networks), is a show that profiles accomplished American teenagers. “Young Icons” has been on the air since the fall of 2010, and this year they have profiled 60 students. Six of those 60 students have been Marlborough girls, a whopping 10%.
Gabrielle Glenn, a producer of the show, said that there is no specific reason why so many Marlborough girls have been picked as “Young Icons,” as the show simply goes where the stories are.
“The kids have to live or be willing to travel to the Los Angeles metro area, their stories must be unique, and the kids themselves have to be relate-able,” Glenn said in an email.
The School first got in touch with the “Young Icons” show through Sophia ‘13. Sophia started the Seedling Project at Marlborough and interned at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where she was introduced to “Young Icons” by Kelly Meyer, an environmental activist and co-chair at the NRDC.
After Sophia was featured on the show in early fall, Associate Director of Communications Olivia Haas continued to pitch story ideas to Leslie Gant, the “Young Icons” producer.
“I took that introduction and just ran with it,” Haas said. “They picked up all four of my ideas, and I think their interest speaks to how amazing Marlborough girls are.”
Along with Sophia, Alexa ’11 was filmed by “Young Icons” for her efforts to make a difference by improving the environment. Alexa implemented a composting system at school, personally collecting food from Café M and the bins around campus and composting them in a tumbler in her backyard.
Another Young Icon is UltraViolet Online Editor-in- Chief Ileana ’11, who interned at the Lynne Cohen Foundation and became very involved in planning the Kickin’ Cancer walk, which raised money to provide free cancer preventative care and treatment.
Ileana was primarily profiled for her community service accomplishments and her academic success. Losing her own mother to breast cancer, Ileana was very dedicated to the Lynne Cohen Foundation’s cause. Also, with an interest in broadcast journalism, Ileana was thrilled to have this opportunity.
“I was psyched for this, because I mean here I am wanting to become a broadcast journalist and I’m already on TV” Najarro said. “It was a great experience and it’s something I’ll always remember.”
“Young Icons” also profiled April Cho ’13 for her singing capabilities and dedication to community service. The show’s crew spent a long day filming Cho at school.
“They filmed me studying, hanging out with friends, singing with Mr. ’bro, and singing by myself. They wanted to film me in my normal daily activities,” Cho said.
Lauren ’12 and Colleen ’14 were profiled for their piano playing skills. The sisters have been playing piano for their whole lives and practice approximately two hours every day.
Haas said she wants to continue to uphold her relationship with the “Young Icons” program.
“I think the show is great for Marlborough, for the students and for the families. I want to ultimately show the diversity of programs at Marlborough. I plan to pitch to “Young Icons,” the ideas of an athlete, a science person, an actress, a dancer and anything else I can come up with,” Haas said.
