Section: Metro State News
Gipsy Kings concert a ‘foot-stomping success’
Jul 18, 2006

The Gipsy Kings performed July 15 to benefit scholarships for athletics, industrial design and marketing students.

Saturday night’s Gipsy Kings concert, a benefit for student scholarships in the Athletics, Industrial Design and Marketing Departments, was a huge success, according to the heads of the three departments.

“It was a hand-clapping, foot-stomping success,” said John Schmidt, industrial design chair.

Marketing Chair Clay Daughtrey agreed. “The place was packed and the crowd was up and dancing throughout the whole concert.”

While the final tally of money raised is not yet available, the concert was a near sellout and there were 17 corporate and individual sponsors at the presenting, gold, silver and bronze levels, which will add to the net profit.

Schmidt, Daughtrey and Athletics Director Joan McDermott all acknowledged the support shown for scholarships for their students.

Many in the audience danced throughout the concert.

“Scholarships for our students are a priority for the department,” said Daughtrey. “This will add a great deal of money to our scholarship program.”

In addition to the money raised, McDermott said that the exposure for Metro State within the Latino community was significant. “The Gipsy Kings have a tremendous Latino following, and with Telemundo as one of our presenting sponsors, it was a great opportunity for the college to receive so much positive visibility.”

A Telemundo-produced news piece about the college that featured President Stephen Jordan and Provost Rodolfo Rocha was shown to the audience before the concert and during the intermission, McDermott said.

(l to r) Associate VP David Conde, Athletics Director Joan McDermott, Provost Rodolfo Rocha, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, concert promoter Chuck Morris, VP Douglas Samuels and Assistant VP Carroll Christman.

To see more photos from the Gipsy Kings concert go to http://www.mscd.edu/~collcom/
@metro/tw@metro_vol4/gipsy/