October 22, 2024
NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University students combined a philanthropy initiative with Hazing Prevention Week to raise funds to purchase accordions for music students at NSU Elementary Lab School.
Members from Alpha Lambda Delta, Blue Key and Order of Omega honor societies raised enough money to purchase two beginner accordions and the NSU Foundation funded a third for elementary students learning to play the instrument, a staple of Louisiana Cajun and zydeco music.
With ALD’s national service project focusing on global leadership and cultural awareness, the groups organized a zydeco brunch with beignets, meat pies and bread pudding during Hazing Prevention Week. The tie-in was a Chunk Your Change fund raiser for the E Lab music program where students are learning to carry on Louisiana musical traditions. Lab School Music Director Katrice LaCour and two other members of the LaCour Trio performed at the outdoor brunch where students enjoyed Louisiana cuisine, danced to zydeco music and collected change from passersby.
LaCour, an award-winning musician and music educator who also directs the Middle Lab School Orchestra, said the elementary students are learning the basics of how to play the accordions, which takes strength and coordination, as well as how to take care of the instruments. By the end of the academic year about 80 elementary students will have participated in the music program. LaCour hopes in the future to add frottoir, the musical washboard, to the school ensemble.
National Hazing Prevention Week is held annually at school campuses across the U.S. to encourage discussion about hazing with a focus on education, prevention and advocacy.
