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 Appalachian State University celebrated Earth Day and raised funds for a non-profit organization in a different way; students went to a concert.
“I was always disappointed by the typical Earth Day celebration,” said T. Andrew Edmonds, a junior political science major. “Many people wouldn’t come unless they were either involved with sustainable development or had an interest in environmental action.”
In November, Edmonds had the idea to draw more people in and raise awareness through a concert.
“We wanted the average student to come too,” said Elizabeth F. Lagasse, freshman geology major who was co-chair of the Earth Day committee.
In January, Lagasse and Katie P. Facciola, a senior electronic media major who was also co-chair of the Earth Day committee, decided to bring Edmonds’s brainchild to life.
“At the time, the director of environmental affairs position wasn’t filled,” Facciola said. “No one could do it because no one was in charge.”
So, Facciola and Lagasse approached Appalachian’s Student Government Association President Jonathan Meisner and formed a committee to make the concert happen.
In addition to the senators on the Earth Day committee, Facciola and Lagasse received help from Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT), Student Programs, ASU Recycles, Center for Student
Involvement and Leadership (CSIL), and the ASU Sustainable Energy Society (ASUSES).
“What’s cool about this is that it proves you don’t have to be part of a big organization to plan an event like this,” Facciola said. “We just talked to the Student Government Association and said we wanted to do this, and they let us.”
The concert was held on Duck Pond Field Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m.
It featured six local bands, including Swift Science, Hope for Gorrilla and the Appalachian a cappella group, Ear Candy.
All groups performed for free.
At the concert, Facciola and Lagasse sold cookies, drinks and T-shirts with the Earth Day concert slogan—“Rock Your World.”
The funds raised went to the Sun Catchers Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to supplying developing countries with solar ovens.
“[Developing countries] can have a renewable energy source that gives them hot, clean water and sanitary, cooked food,” Lagasse said.
The organization has two different ovens: a large metal one for an entire village’s use and a smaller personal one.
Facciola and Lagasse raised enough for a personal oven during the concert, but they are still continuing to sell “Rock Your World” T-shirts for a village oven.
Edmonds, Facciola and Lagasse believed the concert was a success and hope to hold another next year.
Story: SAMANTHA BAGOOD, Intern Lifestyles Reporter
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