Ripon College Days

The students participating in the Peace Studies Blue Mountain Project Maymester, in Hagley Gap Jamaica, will be sponsoring a benefit concert Satruday, March 5 in Great Hall.

"The goal is to raise money to bring to the local people who struggle to find food, medicine and even fresh water," says student coordinator, Katie Giles. "We want to be able to bring them a bit of money, as well as our own hands."

The Blue Mountain Project is a non-profit organization that seeks volunteers to help educate and empower indigenous populations in developing countries. The project is currently working in a few different areas in Jamaica including various educational projects and the creation of a health clinic.

Sophomore Acadia Prestidge, who volunteered for the Blue Mountain Project last spring and will be participating in the Maymester, found the opportunity to be valuable.

"It will be a great opportunity for students to be immersed in a completely different culture," says Prestidge. "It will give them a more realistic view of the different problems that exist in our world, and the opportunity for students to do their best to help alleviate some of them."

With such ideals in mind, various musicians have offered their time and talents to support the project. The concert will showcase senior Aaron Park, David Simmons, well-known local musician the California Kid playing with the Dopple Gang and Professor of Psychology and Faculty Coordinator of the Maymester, Joe Hatcher.

Many of the musicians will be performing sets together, as well as solo. Other interested musicians are encouraged to perform.

Refreshments will be available, and the coordinators suggest a donation of five dollars at the door, though anyone is invited to attend.

For more information about the Blue Mountain Project visit

www.bluemountainproject.org/ or talk to Joe Hatcher or Katie Giles.

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