Judah and the Lion sang to “Twenty-Somethings” Saturday night in Hardeman Auditorium to benefit the Oklahoma Christian University Counseling Center.
“I think this benefit concert was a smashing success,” sophomore Parker LaMascus, member of the Presidential Leadership Class, said. “There was some great music and it was an encouragement to me personally to see so many people unite in support of those at OC who care deeply about and are affected by mental health issues. I am willing to bet I was not the only one encouraged, either.”
More than 500 people came to watch Judah and the Lion and their opener Fellow American and support the Oklahoma Christian Counseling Center.
“Everyone there seemed to be having a lot of fun,” senior Emily Dick said. “I know that the proceeds are going to be helping people through the Counseling Center, which is really what matters.”
Students surrounded the stage, dancing with the music, as Judah and the Lion performed in Hardeman Auditorium.
“The students enjoyed it and Judah and the Lion thought it was a great crowd,” Student Events Coordinator Amanda Watson said. “They mentioned to me several times that they loved being on our campus.”
Watson helped the students in the Presidential Leadership Class, a group of students chosen for their leadership and community skills, with the concert and oversaw all of the activities.
“My favorite part always ends up being able to work with the band,” Watson said. “It makes all of the hard work that you do before worth it. I also love seeing the reactions of the students who really love the band and enjoy their music. I love watching the crowd jump around and have the time of their lives on our campus.”
The President’s Leadership Class assigned various jobs to help the concert go smoothly.
“The best part was really being able to get a grip of what all we can handle as college kids,” junior Kennedy McAlister said. “Amanda Watson helped us with planning and everything, but when it came down to it, Savannah McMillion and I got to handle the ‘big kid’ jobs.”
The President’s Leadership Class began planning the benefit concert last semester and finally was able to see the fruit of their labor on Saturday night.
“When the band was doing sound check and I had an opportunity to sit down in Hardeman and reflect,” LaMascus said. “It was like standing on top of a mountain. I had already made the climb and I realized at that moment that my job was now to sit down, take deep breaths and enjoy the view.”
According to Watson, the band said Oklahoma Christian’s students, faculty, staff and guests were hospitable.
“One thing I thought was neat that the band told me that something that stands apart to them about our campus is our people,” Watson said. “They talked about how nice everyone is and how everyone makes them feel at home. It was a really great crowd who got to share the last night they will do this set of songs.”
McAlister said she wants this concert to become a new tradition through the years, bringing new bands to campus for a cause.
“I hope that it continues,” McAlister said. “I think at first we envisioned it as a recurring President’s Leadership Class fundraiser. I guess that the continuation of the concert will depend on if this freshman class keeps it up.”
Even if the concert was a one-time event, Oklahoma Christian students will continue to love their neighbor, according to Dick.
“I really cannot say if an event like this one will happen next year or not,” Dick said. “I do believe that students will continue to be passionate about serving and helping others. It is very likely that something like this event will happen again.”
The benefit concert for the Oklahoma Christian Counseling Center allowed students to come together, listen to music and know that their money was going to support the campus’s mental health.
“Oklahoma Christian is home,” LaMascus said. “This concert was just one more manifestation of the way Oklahoma Christian will rise up and care for its own with fierce love. I could not be happier to have been a part of this concert and I could not be prouder to be an Oklahoma Christian Eagle.”
0
0
Be First to Comment