CU News
News from the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast announces next great band competition Get your applications in early
Apr 8th
Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast wants to give local bands a huge break at the biggest event of the summer. The annual 4th of July fireworks committee announced today that it will launch a YouTube band competition to choose this year’s opening act.
Bands can compete to entertain thousands of fans at the region’s best fireworks show. The contest is open to any band that performs an original song with a Boulder connection. The contest is open to all genres: rock, country, pop, hip-hop, rap or something new – just make sure it’s family friendly.
“Ralphie’s Independence Day is an iconic event in Boulder, and people love coming here to celebrate the 4th of July,” said Lew Kingdom of Wright Kingdom Real Estate, premier sponsor of the event. “This year we want to combine the biggest event of the summer with the ‘I Love Boulder’ campaign by inviting bands to join us in celebrating the cultural, traditional and happily unconventional characteristics of Boulder life. It’s an ideal theme for something we all love to attend.”
Boulders The Showmen 1966
The winning band, or bands, will open the fireworks celebration to an estimated crowd of up to 40,000 people when the gates open. Runners up will see their music videos displayed on the Jumbo Tron at Folsom Field.
To enter, contestants must submit a YouTube video of the band performing its song. Tribute bands playing another artist’s song will not be considered. Bands will be evaluated for musical ability and style; bonus points may be given for creativity.
Video submissions will be judged based on quality, a “Boulder connection”, and the number of YouTube views by June 6, 2011. Obviously, self promotion to generate YouTube views is allowed. Multiple music video entries by the same artist are permitted. The Ralphie’s Independence Day committee will make the final selection of band(s).
Submissions are due no later than noon on June 1, 2011. Bands must grant written permission to play the video at Folsom Field, on Boulder municipal television stations, and event/sponsor websites as a requirement for submission.
Ralphie’s Independence Day Great Band Competition guidelines:
To be considered for the YouTube music video contest and a chance to play at Folsom Field on July 4, submissions must be received by noon on June 1 and must include:
1) Band’s name, address and phone number
2) Band’s permission (copyright release) to air the music video at Folsom Field, on event/sponsor websites and City of Boulder communication platforms, including municipal channels 8 and 22
3) Songs must include the word “Boulder”.
4) YouTube tags must include: “Boulder Colorado”, “I Love Boulder”, “Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast”
5) Videos may not contain nudity, profanity, or depict illegal activity
6) Email a YouTube link for your music video along with band contact information to Cindy Schlager at Wright Kingdom Real Estate bands@wkre.com.
Finalists will be notified by June 10 and may be asked to perform a live audition.
Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast, at Folsom Field, will be held July 4. Gates open at 8 p.m.
Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast is hosted by the associates of Wright Kingdom Real Estate, the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) and the City of Boulder. Media Sponsors include the Daily Camera, and Boulder Channel 8.
For more information on this year’s event, go to www.boulder4thofjuly.com.
CU-BOULDER STUDENT NATHAN ROBERSON CHOSEN FOR PBS’S STUDENT FREEDOM RIDE
Apr 7th
University of Colorado Boulder senior Nathan Roberson has been selected from a national candidate pool to participate in the “2011 Student Freedom Ride,” organized by the Public Broadcasting Service show “American Experience.”
The ride will present an experiential learning opportunity for the participating college students in conjunction with the broadcast of “Freedom Riders” and the 50th anniversary of the original May 1961 Freedom Rides.
Roberson (pronounced RAH-ber-son) is an international affairs major with interests in ethics and voter enfranchisement.
The 40 Student Freedom Riders were chosen from nearly 1,000 applicants and represent a diverse cross-section of America. Participating students hail from 33 states and the District of Columbia, along with others who grew up in China, Tajikistan and Haiti.
Students from a broad range of schools are represented — from state universities to community and junior colleges, from religiously affiliated schools to the Ivy League. Students were selected on the basis of their essays on their reasons for wanting to participate, their thoughts on the role of social media and technology in civic engagement today, and their extracurricular activities.
Over a 10-day journey from May 6 through May 16, the ride will be a moving classroom in which the students will retrace the route of the original Freedom Rides. Accompanied by filmmaker Stanley Nelson, original Freedom Riders and others, the ride will engage students in this important era in our country’s history, as they learn about the extraordinary commitment and courage of the individuals who took part in the Freedom Rides.
Roberson will miss his May 6 commencement ceremony to participate in the PBS event.
“At ‘American Experience,’ we think history is fascinating, but more importantly, we know it informs almost every social and political decision made today,” said “American Experience’’ executive producer Mark Samels. “We saw that in Egypt, where protesters looked to the American civil rights movement for instruction and inspiration.
“Fifty years after the original Freedom Rides, young people all over the world are once again having their voices heard. They’re using new and very different tools to do that, but drawing on lessons from history to inform how they use those tools. It’s those lessons from 1961 and how they are informing civic engagement today that we look forward to exploring on this ride.”
“Freedom Riders” will be broadcast on PBS on Monday, May 16, at 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
A website, twitter stream and Facebook page will be chronicling the riders experiences, as well as cataloging in-depth information about the original Freedom Riders.
Deadline approaching for scholarships available to multicultural students
Apr 7th
Boulder County, Colo. – Scholarships ranging from $500-$1,000 each are available to low-income students through Boulder County’s Community Action Programs.
Applications are due by Friday, April 15 and are available at www.bouldercounty.org/government/pages/multiculturalawards.aspx.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Minimum one year residency in Boulder County
• Currently attending university, community college or technical school as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student
• Low to moderate income level
Scholarships are made possible through proceeds from the Community Action Programs’ annual Multicultural Awards Banquet. Preference is given to students actively involved in a student or community organization.
Prior scholarship recipients are not eligible to apply again and scholarships are not available to students graduating from high school this spring or summer.
Students of color are strongly encouraged to apply. Please contact Sheila Goetz at 303-441-3976 or sgoetz@bouldercounty.org for more information.
