Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol hosted its annual talent show Monday night at the Missouri Theatre.
For $7, audience members got to see a show that featured 12 acts, performed mainly by students involved with Greek Life. Missouri Students Association President Xavier Billingsley, graduate student and former GAMMA member Meg Sterchi, theatre professor Kevin Brown and Wellness Resource Center director Kim Dude judged the show.
GAMMA Jam is the main fundraiser for GAMMA, as well as the primary way the group makes money. The event benefited the McCambridge Center, a center where chemically-dependent women are treated for alcoholism while their families are provided with a safe environment, according to the McCambridge Center’s website.
GAMMA, an umbrella organization under the Wellness Resource Center, has a service committee that works with the center and organizes a Greek community-wide service day to help benefit McCambridge. The group has been collaborating with and supporting the center for years.
“Really we just hope that it keeps getting bigger so we can give more to McCambridge,” event organizer Winn Duvall said. “Obviously our ties are really close.”
Duvall said she expected the event to top last year’s.
“It’s only getting better — I think changing it to a talent show instead of a dance competition has really contributed to that,” she said.
The show started with a monologue from Ellen Sherman and a performance of “Hey Ho” by Brooke Burchill and Dave Wasserstrom.
After the introduction of the judges, several musical acts took the stage, including performances of “Over the Rainbow” and “Come On Get Higher.”
These performances were followed by “I Won’t Give Up,” performed by Kara Grass and Chris Slevin.
Dude then addressed the audience, talking about the role of the McCambridge Center. She addressed the importance of the fundraiser, saying it helped provided a generous Christmas and meals for the families at the center.
“First of all, and probably most importantly … We do not turn any client away based on their ability to pay,” Dude said.
The donations go to those who could not otherwise afford to stay at the center.
“It amazes me how much GAMMA and all of you come together every year in all that you do for the McCambridge Center,” Dude said.
The winners of the banner contest were announced, with first place going to Alpha Chi Omega. Immediately following the service, committees were introduced on stage and recognition of their work for the event.
Finally, the judges announced the winners. Third place went to Grass and Slevin. Second place went to Jordan White, Dan Philyaw and Luke Landolt for their performance of “Lights,” and first place went to Lindsay Pierce for her performance of a Beatles mash-up.
