Image source: NHS

By Falak Jamal

A&E Editor

“This event would never have happened without a lot of people taking a risk, a chance on teenagers.” says National Honors Society president Sebastian Hurt after raising over six thousand dollars through Rock for a Reason that all directly benefited  the Community Action Council of Howard County. 

Rock for a Reason: Changing the Landscape of Youth Leadership is a charity event that supports the Community Action Council of Howard County. CAC runs a number of different programs across the county including the Howard County Food Bank, housing and energy assistance programs and early childhood education. The event hosted by Hammonds National Honors Society was a huge success, says President Sebastian Hurt.  They showcased a wide range of individualistically diverse music selection, genre and style. The talent consisted of six local high school bands, Copyright Infringement, Redacted, Westside, Take Two, the School of Rock House Band and the crowned winner, half past 7 (formerly known as Thunder Jam). 

Originally planned for October, the Battle of the Bands faced a series of challenges that came in the way of the event  from taking place. Insurance, financial management challenges, and the realization that the National Honors Society was a group that was not designed to hold such events forcing them to postpone their plans until spring.

Apart from such circumstances, Sebastian and his NHS board members did not allow these circumstances to take away from their goal of raising meaningful money for charity. Hurt had reached out to Howard Community College, and to his delight, the institution agreed to sponsor the event, allowing for the event to continue to take place.

But the support didn’t stop there. Downtown Columbia Partnership’s Phillip Dodge and the Columbia Association’s Howard Hughes saw the potential of this Grassroots initiative and threw help in all the ways they could, providing the much-needed assistance to make Rock for a Reason a reality.

As the spring date approached, anticipation built among the NHS board and the other community local music enthusiasts and community members alike. What began as a humble garage band wanting to share their passion turned into an event consisting of talent and charity.

“He is very passionate about helping people who he feels are less fortunate than he is, and he wants to do that in a way that inspires others to serve and includes other people in serving, instead of just doing it alone. He is a big role model for his peers.”  says sponsor Mrs.Dickie describing Hurt. 

There were multiple fundraising initiatives at Rock for a Reason. Which included the purchasing of t-shirts for a tie-dye stand, and a photo booth which had cost money to participate in. Lastly, voting for bands raised over $2,000. The event relied on many different communities’ support and grassroots effort, as people wanted to get their names attached to good causes. 

Rock for a Reason was a resounding success, raising $6,006 when their original goal was $4,000. The winners were the band Half Past Seven, formerly known as Thunder Jam. Jacob Paul, a member of the winning band, described the win as “just a thing that happened” and he continues to say that “the whole point was supposed to support charity. I’m glad that that’s what we were able to do – win votes and get people to donate.”

In reflecting on the event’s impact, Hurt added, “We can take organizations within our school, such as the National Honor Society, that can feel pointless or a little played out and we can choose what to do with them. We can leave a bigger legacy.” Rock for a Reason demonstrated how students can use their group power to make a meaningful difference in their community through creativity to implement positive change.