The Entertainment Industry Department will host a concert to fund a scholarship for internships April 11 at 7:30 in the Mane Room.

Senior Ashton Mabe proposed the project for her Senior Seminar class, taught by Bob Garfrerick.

“The reason I chose to throw a concert is because I know that I, personally, have no money and it would be the easiest way to raise money for interns,” Mabe said. “Money raised at the show will go into an account. The money will then be distributed as checks for students.”

The concert will not only help incoming interns but out-going as well.

“We encourage students to not be limited by the local area,” Garfrerick said. “This will help unpaid interns save money. It’s a new thing we can do annually that could do something as small as helping the students pay rent. It really makes a difference.”

Local bands SCM Electrix, The Local Saints and Floater will all perform at the benefit for free with all proceeds going to the cause.

“Mostly I found the bands through networking,” Mabe said. “I knew people had seen SCM Electrix and really like them, and Maggie (Mitchell), their manager, is a good friend of mine. I searched around for other bands through friends of friends — Jake Curtis, for example, in Floater. I listened to their website recording sessions and thought they would fit in with the crowd we’d generate from having SCM Electrix there.”

Curtis, also an Entertainment Industry major, is excited for the chance to better his department’s opportunities for incoming interns.

“I’m sure people can already imagine that interning is probably the most stressful time during a student’s time in college,” Curtis said. “Most of the time, the internships aren’t paid, and even job offers aren’t guaranteed. What I love about this show is that it is going to help relieve that stress off the students.”

Students are encouraged to attend for assured entertainment.

“It’s going to be a great show,” Garfrerick said. “We got the three best local bands playing for free. We’re providing them some catering that was donated and then we have a green room to relax in. We’ve got the audio in the Mane Room up and running so that they don’t have to deal with bringing their own PA system. It’s going to be a big, loud rock ‘n’ roll show, just the way young people want.”

Editor’s note: Executive Editor Josh Skaggs is employed by the Entertainment Industry Department.