OSU students raise $34,000 through benefit concert

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

By Abby Fox  

While most students are looking for ways to keep money in their pockets, nearly 800 of them were willing to give it away to help fellow students in need.

On Feb. 18, the OSU Student Foundation raised more than $34,000 through its annual fundraiser, Cowboy Spirit: Battle of the Bands 2011. All proceeds will go to the Cowboy Spirit Scholarship Fund, which provides need-based scholarships to OSU students. This benefit concert at the Payne County Expo Center also featured four local bands battling it out for the grand prize. Although the Chance Anderson Band walked away with the $500 prize, the real winner was the OSU student body.

"The Student Foundation did a lot of work planning this event, but if it weren't for the generous students and community members who bought tickets and made donations, we would not have been able to accomplish it," said Haylee Roy, OSU Student Foundation president. "It is amazing to see what we can do when we come together for a great cause."

As a result of the funds raised from this year's event, 10 deserving students will be awarded Cowboy Spirit scholarships during the 2011-2012 academic year. This brings the total number of scholarships awarded to 32 since the fundraiser began in 2008. Event sponsors included Allegra Print & Imaging, Community Escrow & Title Co., Daddy O's Music Co., Caroline Diedrich, Michael and Anne Greenwood, Mediations Catering & Banquet Facility, the OSU Foundation, OSU Student Affairs, Stillwater National Bank and Women for OSU.

To be eligible for the Cowboy Spirit Scholarship, students must be undergraduates enrolled at OSU full time and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The scholarship is awarded based on financial need and preference is given to students who have a history of leadership and community service. To apply, students can submit the OSU Scholarship Application for Continuing and Readmitted Undergraduates.

The OSU Student Foundation was created in 2007. Its purpose is to serve Oklahoma State University by building, cultivating and sustaining relationships within the OSU community and to educate the student body about the impact and importance of charitable giving. StuFu acts as a bridge connecting the student body, community, donors and the OSU Foundation, its parent organization.