Lady Antebellum reward students' charity

By Allison Kowalski
LIFESTYLES EDITOR

Photo By Chelsea Craddock, CAMPUS TALK EDITOR Lady Antebellum posed for pictures with fans following their concert.

Everyone collectively raised the most money in the Rochester area for a radio station challenge, winning students at Brockport a free country music concert. Additionally, 2008 marked the highest amount of money ever raised for the Special Olympics New York.

The college or high school in the Rochester area that raised the most money for the Polar Plunge would automatically receive a free concert.

Lady Antebellum, an up-and-coming country trio band, performed at Brockport, Thursday, Feb. 28 in the Seymour College Union Ballroom. Flint Creek, a local Rochester band, and the 2006 Brockport Idol winner Amber Rose Regling and 2007 Brockport Idol winner Rebekah Nowak performed before Lady Antebellum. The concert was courtesy of WBEE, one of the most prominent country radio stations in Rochester.

“I think the overall event turned out great,” said junior Jeremy Becker. “The initial planning started back in November when we set up initial contact with the Special Olympics. For the next few months, we worked on getting students, faculty and staff involved with the Polar Plunge.

After the Polar Plunge, I had found out we won a free concert by Lady Antebellum and I was excited. A number of people pulled together to help make this event a terrific success.”
Becker was one of the most active students in bringing the Polar Plunge cause to Brockport this past February.

This year, WBEE has been actively involved in raising money for the Polar Plunge event. The same fundraising spirit that was at Brockport for the Polar Plunge was also alive at WBEE.

“It is a fun event, especially when you have our on-air staff trying to raise more money than the other,” said Jon Spinder, the promotions director at WBEE. “The on-air staff member who raises the least amount of money has to take the plunge.”

Brockport was a part of WBEE’s “Cool School Challenge,” and being involved in that gave it the free country concert. By having grand prizes, it encouraged more schools to fundraise for the Polar Plunge.

“The Cool School Challenge was developed by us and the Polar Plunge with the idea of getting as many schools, high schools and colleges involved for a great cause as possible and giving them an opportunity to win something ‘cool’ for their involvement,” Spinder said.

This year, Lady Antebellum was the chosen country band to perform at the high school or college that raised the most money. WBEE is entrusted to host the concert and its fundraising portions before booking an artist, Spinder said.

“We have artists come into the area on a regular basis from Nashville and most of them are willing to do special events that are charity driven,” Spinder said.

Besides a free country concert, WBEE raffled off a Toby Keith concert with Montgomery Gentry tickets at Darien Lake this summer. One lucky winner will get to see more country-music madness Aug. 23.

With Brockport raising the most money for the “Cool School Challenge” and receiving a free country concert in its first year participating, there is no telling what the college will pull off next year now that experience is safely tucked under its belt.

The WBEE had dozens of colleges and high schools participate in the “Cool School Challenge” this year. More than $15,000 was raised through the WBEE challenge, and almost half of the money came from Brockport.

“I believe the event has run smoothly and the awareness and funds raised exceeded our expectations,” Spinder said. “Now we have set the bar and in the future anticipate exceeding our goals and look forward to your school meeting the challenge that others will bring on to beat you out for the concert next year.”

Numerous clubs, organizations and students jumped into the freezing lake to help bring the concert to Brockport’s campus.