Jordan Moncrief
St. Jude Up ’till Dawn executive director, 308.293.6474; Erin F. Christensen, assistant director, Greek Affairs, 308.865.5057
The University of Nebraska at Kearney St. Jude Up ‘till Dawn event recently earned national recognition at the Collegiate Leadership Seminar in Memphis.
The UNK event was named the Most Oustanding Up ‘til Dawn Event in the nation, according to Jordan Moncrief, a UNK student from Kearney and the executive director for the UNK St. Jude Up ‘til Dawn event. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a world-renowned facility that treats children from birth to age 18 who have cancer and other catastrophic diseases.
“This is a huge honor for our school and our program, and sets the bar even higher for this year,” Moncrief said.
Moncrief, along with Assistant Director Kendra Wurdeman of St. Edward and adviser Brandon Blackmer, Martin Hall director, attended the three-day Collegiate Leadership Seminar. The three toured the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, met the patients and their families, and interacted with students from other colleges and universities that sponsor Up ‘till Dawn events.
At the UNK St. Jude Up ‘til Dawn event, students signed up in teams to compete in an all-night challenge. Students brought addresses of friends and family, and addressed envelopes to send request donations for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. More than 16,000 letters were sent out, and $44,960 was raised on behalf of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
“To make the event entertaining for everyone, we provide food, live entertainment, raffle prizes and guest speakers,” Moncrief said. “We also show different St. Jude children’s stories through videos and pictures.”
“We don’t view it as a fundraiser with the connotation of just coming and donating money. We view it as a giant party where people can have fun, win prizes and save the lives of children with cancer all at the same time,” Moncrief said. Last year, the top prize for the student who sent out the most envelopes was an iPad.
This year’s event ”80’s Workout Video” will take place in the Ponderosa Room on Nov. 12, from 6-11 p.m.
