Written by Communications Department Intern Kara Lindenmuth
The Maine Township High School District 207 Board of Education honored three students in the area of Fine Arts naming them “207’s Best” at a recent meeting. Ray Copeland from Maine West was honored for her passion for storytelling, positive attitude and imaginative spirit.
The following information was written about Ray Copeland as a part of the nomination by Maine West principal Dr. Eileen McMahon.
RAY COPELAND, MAINE WEST
Though Ray Copeland’s real expertise lies in telling stories with lights, I have to point out that she has a terrific knack for telling stories with words, too. Her story of her first day at Maine West, when she walked into the brand-new C-wing visual arts suite, stands out. She stepped into a big, bright, wide-open space and contrasted it with her middle school experience in comparatively cramped quarters, and with doing art at home during the pandemic. “Oh my goodness!” she exclaimed. “This is fancy-schmancy!”
Ray describes theater as her way back to people. She talked about having become out-of-practice socially, having long stretches of isolation during middle school. Being physically around other people was a change. She dove into film and broadcasting, visual arts classes, and eventually tech theater, which she joined sophomore year. There, she found her medium and her people. She is especially proficient in lighting design, where she sees her role as silently telling the story. The lights shape what the audience sees. Ray pointed out, the actors are how the story gets told, but the lights are distinctively part of the theater experience. You don’t need to be in a theater to see people act, but once you are in the Maine West theater, you are in Ray’s world. She will make the story come to life, literally shining the light on the most important things, and leaving the audience in the dark when it is the appropriate time to wonder and reflect. Telling and sharing stories is the heart of theater, Ray told me, and that is what art is about.
She certainly has explored other areas of the art world, not only at Maine West but throughout her life. Running the cameras in the film program and producing on WMTH; drawing, painting, sketching, crocheting, writing with friends; helping her mom put on middle school performances in the drama program when she tagged along as a little kid; building gigantic sculptures out of cardboard; painting and building things with her grandparents. In her bedroom filled with hand-made display cases for her My Little Pony figurines and other pieces of furniture built by her grandfather, this future tech theater major dreamed up imaginative stories and honed her ability to create. Her creativity plus her love for hands-on work leads from these early days into her passion for storytelling with light, which will now become her future.
Ray’s teachers lauded her passion, her wit, and her storytelling ability.
Mr. Tavano raved about Ray. “I had Ray last year in ENG III, and wow what a writer! Whatever the assignment was, she excelled in content, intelligence, and sophistication. But on top of that, she would make these contributions to our in-class discussions making her an invaluable component of the class dynamic. A genuine superstar!”
Mr. Harmon highlighted Ray’s distinction by the Illinois High School Theatre Festival selection committee. “As a lighting designer, Ray has a gift for understanding how aesthetics impact the story and the overall experience for an audience. They are incredibly attentive to detail and always strive to do their very best. As evidence, Ray has been selected to work on this year’s Audio / Visual Effects Crew for the Illinois High School Theatre Festival All-State Production of “Newsies.” We are honored that Ray will be representing Maine West and are so proud of their noteworthy achievement!
Mrs. Stutheit appreciates Ray’s humor, which I also enjoyed. “Ray is a student who easily sees mathematical connections and that often helps propel our lessons forward. This helped other students look for those same connections. I also really appreciated Ray’s quick wit and sense of humor. Ray’s use of puns added laughter to many classroom discussions.”
Mr. Schneider noted that Ray just couldn’t help but write stories, even in Computer Programming. “Ray’s creative problem-solving approach to Computer Programming made our class a more enjoyable place to learn. Ray’s charismatic personality and enthusiasm were contagious, helping to energize the class. Ray didn’t just learn to code, but she also learned how to write infectious stories that complemented the Program.”
Mr. Walzer said he is honored to share his joy in teaching Ray. “When I think about Ray’s journey at West, the following words come to mind: Driven, curious, and creative. These are qualities that sustain our community, and I was already able to see them on full display in Spanish II two years ago. Since then, Ray has only continued to leave a positive, lasting impact on our school; it has been one of the greatest joys of my teaching career to watch this impact unfold. I am so proud of you, Ray!”
Mr. Strom described qualities that bode well for Ray’s future in technical theater. “Ray has been an outstanding student in Visual Effects, consistently demonstrating creativity, curiosity, and dedication. They approach every project with enthusiasm and a deep sense of pride in the final product. Ray commits fully to each phase of the creative process, from concept development to execution.
What sets Ray apart is their ability to think visually and conceptually at the same time. Their ideas are inventive and often spark broader discussions that elevate the entire class’s creative thinking. Simply being around Ray encourages others to participate in the artistic process, as their energy and open, collaborative approach naturally invite feedback and shared problem-solving.
Ray’s positivity, strong work ethic, and imaginative spirit make them not only an exceptional artist but also an inspiring presence in the classroom. Their contributions reflect both technical skill and genuine passion for visual storytelling, making them truly deserving of special recognition from the district.”
Finally, Tech Director Mr. McManus spoke to Ray’s central role in all of our productions at Maine West. “Over the past several years, I have had the pleasure to work with Rachel Copeland, an outstanding student at Maine West high school. Rachel has a passion for theater, and since joining Maine West’s theater program, they have developed into an outstanding leader and contributor.
From the beginning of her high school theater career, Rachel has continually taken on more responsibilities and avidly expanded their knowledge. Rachel has been involved in Maine West Fine Arts since their Sophomore year where they worked on technical theater crew on the Fall play, “Anne Frank,” where they began working on lights and light design. Since that time they have been incredibly active working on almost every theatrical production at Maine West.”
For all that Ray has contributed to Maine West, there is one drawback to her essential involvement in our stage program. We are going to have to keep an eye on her during Senior Week because she has already stated her intention of walking off with a very valuable piece of production equipment in our inventory. “You gave me access to a fog machine,” she told me, “and you can’t have it back!”
Ray, for all that you’ve done for us, we do have a small gift for you tonight, but it is not a fog machine. Thank you for all that you’ve given Maine West over your four years. You truly are 207’s Best.