For five decades, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival has provided a way for the Northwest to listen to world-class jazz artists display their skills and learn more about the music
But this year university officials plan to capitalize on the event in an entirely new way — as a recruiting tool for prospective high school students. While members of the Lionel Hampton School of Music frantically complete last-minute preparations for the festival, representatives from various departments across campus will also spend their free time setting up for the Academic Resource Fair.
The inaugural event will take place in the East Zone of the Kibbie Dome floor from Thursday to Saturday starting at 3 p.m. During a 90-minute period each afternoon, high school students from cities throughout the Northwest will have an opportunity to meet with college officials and learn more about what the institution has to offer.
While the UI campus has continually served as a scenic backdrop for the annual Jazz Festival, very little has been done to successfully advertise the university during the event. But with the Academic Resource Fair, hopeful students are provided with an avenue to learn more about how they might fit into the Vandal community.
This move is especially effective as the Jazz Festival transitions toward a campus-oriented approach. Previous workshops and festival events used to occur at various locations throughout the city of Moscow, but this year all of the festivities take place on school property.
The Jazz Festival has always attracted a diverse and prospective crowd to UI, but now the beautiful campus has a chance to capitalize on its premier event by showcasing the university and its students in action.
While the benefits for UI are readily apparent, the Academic Resource Fair also assists students who are looking to further their education. Although their initial interests may be related to music, it is very likely they would want to study different subjects at the collegiate level.
When the 2017 Jazz Festival commences Thursday afternoon, attendees will learn about the rich history, traditions and new developments surrounding jazz music. But for the hundreds of high school students on campus, the weekend also presents the possibility of discovering a new home with the Vandal family.
— JG