University students and some high school students joined in the PMAC for the third annual Spring Fest Greek Show. Students watched Greek organizations perform step routines to soulful music and performances by music artists.
The Office of Multicultural Affairs, UPC Black Culture, It’s Time Productions and the African American Cultural Center sponsored the event, which was Saturday night.
Spring Fest is a combination of recruitment of high school juniors and retention of University students that focuses on minority students, said Emilia Gilbert, advisor to the Black Culture Committee.
Spring Fest exposes high school juniors who meet the ACT and GPA requirements to the unique experience of the University, Gilbert said.
Max 94.1 radio station personalities Trelli Trelle and Tony hosted the event.
The event included music performances by Reddawn, a female rapper, and Imagine, a boy band.
But the main event was the Greek show where the sororities and fraternities competed for $3,000 for the best stepping routine.
The judges were Greeks and members of the local community. Brad Golson, Student Government president, and Courtney Rawls, Miss LSU, tabulated the scores.
The LSU chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. participated in the competition.
Although Greeks from different universities, such as Southern University, attended the event Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. from Prairie View A & M University was the only non-LSU organization to participant the Greek show performance.
The Sigmas gave an energetic performance, while wearing blue tuxedo vest and black pants and tossing blue striped canes. The crowd responded with loud applause.
The first-place sorority winners, the Deltas, performed a Kill Bill parody while wearing white-face masks and Oriental-style red and black dresses.
Adrienne Smith, a Delta and ISDS senior, said it felt “great to win” because they won despite putting the entire routine together the same day of the competition.
The Omegas were the first-place fraternity winners. They were out of breath as they excitedly leaped on the stage to accept the over-sized check for $3,000.
Justin Sharper, civil engineering junior and Omega, said he was “glad the hard work and practice paid off.”
“We practiced blood, sweat and tears,” he said.
One hundred students from high schools throughout Louisiana participated in the Spring Fest activities, said Gilbert.
As a part of the Spring Fest activities there was a Late Night LSU on Friday night in the Union. There was also an official Greek Show After Party, sponsored by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., at the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse.
“Students enjoyed themselves,” said Gilbert. “High School students have a lasting and hopefully favorable impression of LSU.”
Gilbert said some high school students who participated in the first Spring Fest three years ago, who are now University students, are active in the campus community and were “actually Spring Fest planners.”
“It’s a way for them to give back,” Gilbert said.
About 1,500 people attended this year’s Spring Fest. Gilbert said the turnout was good considering the rainy weather.
It’s Time Productions presented two high school students, Darien Dabney and Danielle Taylor, with a scholarship award for academic success and community service during the program.
Lauren Lewis, ISDS freshman, said the event was entertaining and that she enjoys seeing Greeks come together and step.