1996

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Lynnetta Cookse)'IT'he Meridian Star The Collegians sing at Coca-Cola Olympic City Thursaay The stage s about half a bock from the s·te of Fridays explosion. Collegians pertorm three shows in conjunction with Olympics By Lynnetta Cooksey The Mend1an Star

Just being chosen was an honor for most members of the group. They were the only band from Mississippi to be chosen b} the committee to perform at the Olympics and one of only a few asked to give multiple per– formances. "I just thought it was a great honor for EC to be chosen to play at the Olympics," saxo– phone player Matt Eakes said. "I had a great time." The group's first perfor– mance was Thursday morning at Coca-Cola Olympic City, that sponsor's contribution to the downtown Centennial Park. The gr oup played a 30- minute performance at the World Record Amphitheater for the crowds that wandered through the park. Afterwards, the students were able to wan– der around and see some of the exhibits, including a virtual reality display and several shopping areas. Thursday's second perfor– mance was held several blocks away on a covered stage at Woodruff Park, located down– town near Atlanta Under– ground. Although it rained off and on See Perfonnances, Page 8A

Trip becomes slumber party ATwu~TA- Finding a place for 24 people to ~lcep md bathe nt the 1996 Summer Olympics is no ea~y task. But it's one East Central Community d>llegE.·Collegians dtrector Tom Carson had to face. His solution wa" a littJe unu~ual The rroup hnrl to find li place .i) slCI"P. for two 1\J bts. Sinrc- lh(\ college wanted to keep the trip low-cost, Carson sa.id they did not even consider hotel rooms. When the gt·oup was only scheduled for one perfornwnre, the plan was to drive all night, perform and tben tttm around and come home. But us the number of shows grew to two and then three, Car– son began to look in earnest for a place to stay at least one mght. That's when ECCC physiCal plant diredor "Mike Dearing stepp(·d in. His sister-in-law. Diana Forbes, hves in Fayetteville just out ide Atlanta and bad offered to let the group stay Thursday night at her home.

ATLANTA - The gold medals were not the only things shining at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games this week. The East Central Communi– ty College Col1egians, an IS– member rock/country perfor– mance group, played three shows on Thursday and Friday at parks in downtown Atlanta in conjunction...---------. with the See related Olympics. story, SA The group was invited to perform after band director Tom Carson sub– mitted an audition tape last fall. The experience was one most will never forget. "I'm proud we got to come," keyboard player Lori White said. "I can now say we per– formed at the Olympics." For vocalist Valeria Buggs, it was also exciting to be able to perform where no other ECCC group had before. "This was my last year at ECCC and it was kind of great to go out with something like this," she said. "We got to do something no other Collegians are going to get to do."

Collegian members try to catch a few Zs Friday mornmg