This Christmas, Music and Entertainment Learning Experience (MELE) students gave back to the community by teaming up with Toys for Tots to host a toy donation drive at Honolulu Community College on December 7. MELE’s Kalikimaka toy drive was a student produced event from planning, to promotion and live sound, the whole event was run and organized by the MELE students. Throughout the event there was live entertainment by MELE students as well as raffle prize giveaways.
“The MELE 205 Concert and Event Production class provides our students with the fundamental skills required to plan and execute a wide range of activities and events,” said Eric Lagimas, MELE music business instructor. “The timing of our MELE’s Kalikimaka event during the holiday season also showcases the importance of community service and the spirit of giving. This is our second year partnering with Toys For Tots and the value of this partnership reminds our students that through these toys, we can brighten up the spirits of less fortunate children in our communities.”
“It was amazing to give back to the community by organizing a benefit event for our class project,” said MELE student Jaslyn Loftin. “The MELE program is very hands-on and we learn to become more involved in the music industry, and this project showed me what it’s like to put on an actual concert. It is very tough, it requires a lot of follow up from sponsors and collaborators, and organizing entertainment, gaining publicity for the event and claiming the venue is also a hefty task, but it was nice seeing the students’ hard work pay off. The students all work together and work really hard to create a successful event. My favorite part was hearing that we got radio airplay on Island 98.5 and Star 101.9. It was really impressive knowing that students can do big things like that.”
Prize sponsors included the BAMP project, Dan’s Guitars, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and many more. The master of ceremonies for the evening was MELE alumnus, CW Star finalist and comedian, Rayton Lamay.
View the photos on Honolulu Community College’s Flickr album.
—By Billie Lueder
