Over the sound of New Kids on the Block’s “The Right Stuff” and Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” was the sound of many college students celebrating their efforts toward a worthy cause.
Up ’til Dawn, an appreciation party for students who raised money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., held its annual get-together Friday at the Rec Center.
Many students turned out for the 12-hour event for entertainment from local band Mixed Nuts, games of Wacky Olympics, a male beauty pageant, a workout with Steve Hood and a larger-than-life inflatable obstacle course.
Fund-raising teams sent letters to people asking for donations for the hospital, which researches and treats children’s cancers.
One group, “Still Buckwild,” raised around $1,000 by writing to their friends and family. Group members said they enjoy participating in Up ’til Dawn because it reaches out to more than just the LSU community, and they enjoy helping out.
“There’s nothing better than giving back to others, especially when it’s children,” said Tiffany Brando, a mass communication sophomore and Buckwild group member.
“Circle K — not the gas station” raised around $750, and members said they like going to the all-night event because it gets others excited about raising money and offers an incentive.
Erin Dauenhauer, a biological sciences senior, said she heard about Up ’til Dawn through a friend who participated last year and decided to get involved.
      “I had a friend who was at St. Jude’s for three years, so anything that helps St. Jude’s, I’m all for it,” Dauenhauer said.
Adam Foreman, an English senior and a group member for “Buhler Team,” said his group went beyond sending letters to friends and family and sent out to University professors, LSU coaches and local doctors and lawyers. He said he did not mind spending his Friday night at the Rec because it was for a good cause.
“It’s fun, and it’s a change of pace from the bars,” Foreman said.
Sara Landreneau, a graduate student in elementary education, helped with public relations for Up ’til Dawn. She said the appreciation party celebrates the work the teams put in to raise so much money.
“They’ve put forth all the effort, and this is our thanks to them,” Landreneau said.
She said the fundraiser has continued growing during its three years at LSU, with more teams joining every time and more money donated.
“In the past it’s been mostly Greeks who made teams, so our goal this year was to get more students involved,” Landreneau said. “We used a different way to publicize to reach a larger sector of the University through e-mail instead of flyers.”
In Up ’til Dawn’s first years, the teams collected $28,000 and then $39,000. This year’s teams collected around $92,787, a total more than doubling their initial goal of $42,000.
Halley Price, a general studies sophomore, is currently in remission from cancer and received treatment from St. Jude’s. She attended Up ’til Dawn and witnessed the enthusiasm of the teams who were there.
“I think it’s incredible that so many college students take time out of their busy schedules to raise this money,” Price said.