By Andrew Mollenauer
Megan Piphus Peace
A puppeteer well known for her role in the childhood classic “Sesame Street,” Megan Piphus Peace was a guest at the University of Maryland on Wednesday with the school’s college of theater, dance and performance studies.
The Cincinnati native split her time at the event performing and speaking. She delved into her childhood and how she honed her craft and used it to forge her illustrious career path.
“Whenever I performed, I made sure I put some kind of message into the scripts about character values,” said Peace, the first Black woman puppeteer with “Sesame Street.”
“As the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, it gives me so much joy to see someone who really embraces all sides of the arts,” Stephanie Shonekan said of Peace.
Peace’s racial identity and experiences as a Black woman in America motivate her in her pursuit to capture audiences across all demographics.
“There are many kids who don’t get the opportunity to feel that love and embracing of a community for who they are,” Peace said. “So being a Black woman in puppetry, I’m able to use my unique experiences and identity to tell stories that speak not just to other little Black girls, but to kids of all races, to understand the perspectives of other people.”
UMD Chaplain Wins Council Seat
Ray Ranker, a chaplain at the University of Maryland, emerged victorious in the recent race for College Park City Council’s District 3 seat. He bested two challengers for the position, including UMD student and former SGA Executive Vice President Gannon Sprinkle.
According to preliminary numbers, a total of 338 out of 504 voters checked Ranker’s name on their ballots. The results were finalized last Friday.
Prince Rozario, of College Park, was among those who voted for Ranker.
“He’s a pastor for one of the churches here, and he hosts a lot of events that [he doesn’t] have to, to get the neighborhood and community together,” Rozario said. “As council member, hopefully he can do that on a greater level and do something with the rest of the city council that encourages more of a community vibe and feel to College Park.”
The civic involvement in this election cycle — as in any race — was necessary and impactful in fighting a widespread, persisting problem of lackluster turnout, Rozario said.
“Every election is important – it doesn’t matter state, local, national, federal,” Rozario said.