Athletics, PR Central raise money for Haiti relief through mock rock
Pam Seufert put on her blonde wig and danced across the stage to familiar beats by Madonna at Sunday night’s Jock Rock.
The California junior participated with her teammates from the Central Michigan University field hockey team in the 16th annual community service event sponsored by CMU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and PR Central. The proceeds raised from the event went toward KIDS for Haiti — KIDS meaning Kids in Distressed Situations.
Seufert and her teammates put on a skit at Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium focused around a “diva battle,” with famous celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Beyoncé attempting to out-dance each other.
For Seufert, Jock Rock was a chance to have fun with her teammates.
“Jock Rock is just another experience for our team to bond and come together as one,” she said.
Jock Rock featured 10 separate acts from different student athletic teams. Each act was less than eight minutes long, and ranked by four different judges on a combination of creativity, lip syncing, originality, audience approval and time allotment.
For the first time ever, Jock Rock ended in a tie between CMU’s Baseball and Women’s Track-Cross Country teams.
To break the tie, each team selected a member for a final dance-off, resulting in an ultimate win for the third year in a row for the Women’s Track-Cross Country team.
‘An amazing opportunity’
Not all of the teams were set on winning.
“It’s just something fun to go to and watch,” said Allie Boyer, an account executive for PR Central who helped coordinate the event. “You don’t really get a chance to see (the athletes) this personal and having a good time.”
Boyer, a Birch Run senior, undertook coordinating the event not only to help raise money for a valuable charity, but also to boost her work experience as a public relations student and to improve her resume.
Last year, Jock Rock sold around 700 tickets and raised more than $1,500 for both the American Red Cross and the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen.
This year, Boyer said Jock Rock exceeded the amount that was raised last year. Total donations were not yet calculated Sunday night.
Bellaire Senior Melissa Lee was pleased with the organization Jock Rock chose to benefit this year.
“I think it’s an amazing opportunity for us to be able to help out with Haiti,” said the PR Central member and Jock Rock volunteer.
