First Night Fest is one of the first events held on campus to get students looking forward to the upcoming year at Northwestern State University. University Programming Council (UPC) and the Office of First Year Experience and Leadership Development (FYE) work to set up an environment where students can enjoy a variety of games, free food and an RSO browse. These activities are a setup for the main event of the night—a free concert for all NSU students who wish to attend.
This year, the artist of choice was country singer Kassi Ashton, who performed on the Seven Oaks Stage.
An event like First Night Fest requires all hands on deck. Planning starts months in advance, and multiple people work at each station to guarantee everything runs smoothly. Hannah Kennedy is a junior psychology major and a member of the UPC staff who worked on the event. “There’s a lot that goes into it that people don’t really get to see,” Kennedy said.
The RSO browse before the concert allows NSU’s registered student organizations the opportunity to grow their communities and show a friendly face to new students. “NSU…does a really good job of being very welcoming to everyone, especially with all the organizations that they can talk to,” Kennedy said.
The main goal of all the work and planning put into First Night Fest is to ensure that students are comfortable and can have a good time, especially the campus’s incoming freshmen. Students can play games, hang out with friends and even make some new ones along the way.
Brylie Deason, a freshman secondary education major, had the opportunity to experience First Night Fest with her sister and friends. “It’s pretty fun…I watched a good friend of mine do the bull riding,” Deason said. First Night Fest offers exposure to the life of being a Demon and how fun the experience can be.
Legend Brunson, a freshman business administration major and member of the Presidential Leadership Program, also had a fresh and fun experience at First Night Fest. “This event really just gives you the opportunity to know some people…it’s very comfortable. Everyone’s friendly,” Brunson said.
After the RSO browse concluded and the sun set, the biggest part of the night, the concert, began. Country singer Kassi Ashton performed a variety of her own songs, as well as some covers by other artists.
She also left her mark by being the first artist in several years to stay after her performance to take photos with students, sign merch and meet her audience, leaving a personal impact on NSU.
With the genre and artist of First Night Fest changing each year, students are already interested in what type of music they will hear next time. Anthony Ugokwe, a junior nursing major involved in Demon VIP, gave his thoughts on next year’s concert. “I definitely want some R&B,” Ugokwe said.
UPC and FYE work to choose an artist and genre that students will enjoy, and prioritize having something new every year to appeal to the diverse interests of the community. First Night Fest allows students to have a good time, make new friends and overall step onto campus with an enjoyable start to the beginning of the school year.
