On a field trip to Skagit Valley College Wednesday, Olympic View Elementary student Colin Engle had his moment in the spotlight.
“Acorn!” the 10-year-old shouted into a microphone offered by 2007 American Idol runner up Blake Lewis, a native of Bothel.
The exercise, part of the entertainment at the college’s annual Cardinal Day, involved incorporating audience recordings into Lewis’ unique singing and beatboxing stylings. After gathering four total audio samples from the audience, Lewis created a unique song for the Skagit Valley College Cardinals and their guests using their own voices.
When asked why he chose the word “acorn,” Engle said, “because acorns are awesome.”
The college’s biggest event of the year, Cardinal Day is a public event that aims to help students celebrate the end of the school year. They were joined by a fifth grade class from Olympic View Elementary School who came to check out college life.
One of nine events the school puts on for students and the public each quarter, Cardinal Day is just one way to “unite and take a break from study and school,” said Lynnette Parks, a student life liaison for Skagit Valley College.
In addition to Blake’s performance, the day event featured performances by Seattle singer Skye Thompson and comedian Adam Grabowski, as well as food, henna tattoos and bouncy houses.
Lynnette Parks works closely with her daughter Raynette Parks, who works as the program manager for student life.
Both mother and daughter came to the college as students and stayed on as staff because they loved the school and its students.
“We love doing events,” Lynnette Parks said. “For us, it’s all about our students.”
The 300 food tickets available for Cardinal Day sold out quickly, Lynette Parks said, but they always make a little more for the students that forget.
“I’m a mom, too, so I gotta feed everyone,” Lynnette Parks said.
The purpose of the events, Raynette Parks said, is to create a sense of community for the students and provide a periodic de-stressor for students.
“That’s what we’re here to do,” Raynette Parks said.
For information on Skagit Valley College’s student and public events in Oak Harbor, visit www.skagit.edu
