By Staff Writer, Lillie Tretter
Jones Performing Arts Center will soon be filled with singing, dancing and a whole lot of laughter as Ouachita students prepare for the forty-seventh annual Tiger Tunes show. Tiger Tunes is the largest fundraising event hosted by OSF (Ouachita Student Foundation) each year to raise money for scholarships awarded to juniors and seniors on campus. Social Clubs work endlessly for a month, preparing and learning shows to perform for the community in order to raise scholarship money.
“Last year, we raised a total of $215,000. Our goal is $250,000 this year,” says senior Anderson Jones, OSF president. 200 upperclassmen students were awarded scholarships last year, with the money raised through Tunes, all helping them to be able to continue their education. Tunes is more than just an entertaining show. It serves a higher purpose of actively helping others in the community and fostering deep connections across campus.
Over 700 students will take part this year through social clubs, Student Life and Campus Ministries. Beginning in late October of 2024, student directors have worked diligently alongside OSF members to ensure that this year’s show will be even better than the previous years. Beginning in early September, clubs practice about 12 hours a week, totaling up to 36 hours of practice time per club. Senior Ashleigh Estes, is the OSF special events chair and Tiger Tunes director. “It brings everyone together! Everyone is in one place for one purpose; singing and dancing and putting on a show,” said Estes.
The connection made throughout the student body was on display at the very first home game of the year, when clubs revealed their Tunes theme to the rest of campus. The level of excitement and anticipation in the air was incredible as cheers and laughter roared through the Cliff Harris Stadium with each video reveal. At halftime, students and fans watched as clubs announced their themes on the big screen.
The Tiger Tunes Themes for this are as follows:
- The Men of Beta Beta: “Wild West”
- The Women of Chi Delta: “Founding Mothers”
- The Women of Chi Mu: “Exterminators”
- The Men of Rho Sigma:“Bones”
- The Women of EEE:“Golfing on the GrEEEn”
- The Men of Eta Alpha: “Butlers”
- The Women of Gamma Phi: “Game Time”
- The Men of Kappa Chi: “Blacksmiths”
- Student Life: “Arcade”
- Campus Ministry: “Dogs”
Estes remembers her experience at the Tunes reveal as being one of the most exciting parts of Tunes. “Half of the fun is the themes getting leaked and finally getting to know what the real theme is. It is the final moment clubs get to share their show with the student body before showing it on stage,” says Estes.
Each year as Ouachita grows in population, so does the level of participation in Tunes, which shows that the students truly love participating in this charitable event and building a connection with their community. This year, Tiger Tunes will take place October 1-4 at Jones Performing Arts Center, where anyone and everyone can come watch the show to help raise scholarship funds for Ouachita students.
