Una Step Sing To Benefit United Way Feb. 3-4

Jan. 05, 2011

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

FLORENCE, Ala. - In an effort to bring together nine student-formed teams for a singing and choreographed competition in which proceeds will benefit the United Way of the Shoals, the University of North Alabama University Program Council (UPC) will host its spring Step Sing competition Feb. 3-4 at 7 p.m. in Norton Auditorium. This year's theme is "Remembering the Good Times for United Way," and will feature student groups from Greek organizations Alpha Delta Pi, Phi Mu, Zeta Tau Alpha, Alpha Gamma Delta, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, Alpha Tau Omega and Delta Chi and the non-Greek independent group The Romans. "This is going to be a really good show this year, as everyone has original themes, with most that haven't ever been done before," said Lindley Bassham, UPC service chair and Step Sing organizer. "Once you come out to watch Step Sing, you'll want to come to every one in the future." The Step Sing performances are presented as a show choir, with singing and choreographed routines, in which students create their own lyrics to popular songs that are based on a preapproved theme. The total performance should last between 7-10 minutes, and students must wear appropriate costumes. A new rule has been implemented to this year's competition in which students should reference United Way in at least two songs in order to bring the focus back to the organization. Last year, the competition brought in approximately $10,000 in ticket sales, according to Bassham. The profits collected from the fall Step Show and spring Step Sing competitions raise around 2 percent of United Way's annual budget. Coordinator of programming Cheryl Mathis said the United Way depends on UNA each year to help fund their efforts to improve the Shoals. "It's very important that students make an effort to come out and support this organization," Mathis said. "It's a great way to see creativity from a lot of our students, and it's always great for students and the community to support a tradition that has been a part of the university for a long time." Student groups will be judged on stage presence and appearance for 10 points, choreography for 10 points, musical ability for 10 points, overall performance for 10 points, theme creativity for 20 points, prop creativity for 5 points and People's Choice Award participation for 5 points. There will be a first- and second-place team in the men's, women's and co-ed divisions as well as an overall winning team, which will receive a trophy and recognition. The People's Choice Award, which is chosen by the audience, will be awarded to the winning team the final night of the competition. Tickets are $7 and will be available through the Office of Student Engagement ticket Web site, www.una.edu/boxoffice, by Jan. 12. For more information, contact the Office of Student Engagement at 256-765-4248.

About The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: una.edu and una.edu/unaworks/.