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Aggie Kedzior
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For Immediate Release
UIC kicks off the new school year with annual music festival featuring Nick Jonas
Chicago, IL, September 14, 2017– The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) has continued hosting the back-to-school music festival “Spark in the Park.” Spark in the Park was initiated in the 2010-2011 school year. The festival works to unite the school community by inviting local and national artists to perform. It is usually opened with student acts who are the school’s DJ Battle and Battle of the Bands winners. This year’s headliner was former Jonas Brothers member Nick Jonas. In its first year, the school was able to have Kid Cudi entertain the students. Since then it has hosted the likes of Lupe Fiasco, Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper and Twenty-One Pilots. The university provides food and drink during the concert and conducts giveaways.
The concert was typically a free event for students, faculty and staff only, but this year, students were allowed to bring one guest for the price of $30. Another change included opening up the event to 500 students from DePaul University who were able to purchase tickets. This collaboration between the two schools permits 500 UIC students to buy tickets to DePaul’s spring concert. University alumni were able to purchase tickets for $25. This year the school also decided to change the location and day of the concert. The concert traditionally held on a Thursday was moved to Saturday while the location was moved back to Harrison Field after being held at the UIC Pavilion the past two years due to construction.
Having Nick Jonas as the headliner was a departure from the school’s rapper line-up. While the decision to feature the former Jonas Brother was met with some student opposition, it did not stop a plethora of others from attending the concert. UIC sophomore Kelley Maranan said, “Spark in the Park is always a good time, even if you don’t know all the lyrics. My 10-year-old self is satisfied after seeing Nick Jonas perform.”
Beyond feelings of nostalgia, many students were impressed by Jonas’ stand on human rights. The school boasts a very large diverse student body with many students who have been affected by the recent DACA decision. Shraddha Patel, a second-year student at the school, was among those particularly moved by Jonas’ words. “The concert was magical and Nick Jonas speaking up for black pride, Asians and Muslims was the highlight of the event. It showed that amidst the political and racial crisis, we stand together and defend each other.”
Some students attending the concert were surprised with receiving backstage passes to meet Jonas. The UIC Center for Student Involvement, the organization in charge of planning the event, surprised two lucky freshmen who were anticipating Jonas’ performance. Jackie Huizar, one of the two students, said that she and her friend had been waiting since 6 a.m. to reserve a spot in the front row. The director of the organization and her team decided to reward the girls with VIP tickets. “We met him before he went on stage and he was just so humble and beautiful,” said Huizar. “When he went on stage, all I could think was wow, I really just met the person I have been looking up to since the Jonas Brothers and now I’m seeing him perform.”
UIC’s Spark in the Park continues to be one of the prime events hosted by the university. The school’s Center for Student Involvement continues to succeed in attracting the most notorious artists. For more information regarding “Spark in the Park,” contact R. Vergara by phone at 312-413-5070 or by email at RVergara@uic.edu.
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About the University of Illinois at Chicago
UIC is Chicago’s largest university with 28,000 students, 16,000 faculty and staff, 15 colleges and the state’s major public medical center. The Graduate College is made up of faculty members from various disciplinary colleges in the University. In conjunction with their disciplinary colleges and under the guidelines of the Graduate College, these faculty members offer advanced academic and research programs for high qualified postbaccalaureate students. All students admitted to a master’s program or in a doctor of philosophy, doctor of arts, doctor of education, or doctor of occupational therapy program at UIC are enrolled in the Graduate College.
Aggie Kedzior 