By Mallory Sherwood, Features Editor

They began as silly freshman. They competed fiercely with their clubs.

Some became hosts, and others worked behind the scenes.

Now they are saying goodbye.

Six seniors, who have been involved in Sing Song for four years, are looking back on the experiences they’ve shared along the way.

“It’s been an amazing experience,” said Ben Lazcano, senior youth and family ministry major from The Colony. “I’ve created a bond between friends and with brothers in club that you really can’t find in any other activity.”

Lazcano began participating in Sing Song as a freshman in the class act. Since then, he has played a large role in helping the members of Gamma Sigma Phi to victory as a bass leader. This year, his club is setting a new goal: winning four years straight. Although they are looking to win, Lazcano said the triumph means less to him than the fellowship.

“The actual event means nothing to me; it’s the community it requires, and what it means for the group to come together,” he said. “We are achieving something here that is greater than the win. To do this is not about merit or who is better, but to win, it really says something about the dynamics of your group.”

For Lazcano, the best memory was learning to come from behind.

“In 2003, we were the Beatles, and we had lost the first two shows. Then we came back and won the overall on Saturday,” Lazcano said. “It tested what we were made of. We realized that we were the underdog, and we found out what it takes to be the best club on campus in Sing Song that year.”

Now as a senior, he takes his role as a leader seriously.

This year the seniors in GSP are stepping up to show more leadership, Lazcano said.

“That is what it takes when you have a group with 40 sophomores,” he said. “We have such a young crowd dominating our group, so it takes a mature group of seniors to step up and be leaders to them.”

Amanda Harris, senior human development and family studies major from Cedar Hill and assistant upstage manager has seen every side of Sing Song and said she loves it.

She has worked behind the scenes and knows what it takes to perform with class and club acts.

Her favorite memory of Sing Song was when she performed with her club, Alpha Kai Omega, for the first time.

“It is different than participating with your class act because you are part of a legacy,” Harris said. “You really get to bond and just goof off. You get to look stupid, but you know that everyone else looks stupid right along with you.”

Harris said she is sad this is her last year to participate in Sing Song. Instead of focusing on it, she is excited to see how she meets the challenge of working on production staff and performing in two groups.

She said she knows Sing Song is much more than students performing just to win.

“As part of the production staff, we really get to see people using God’s gifts,” Harris said. “It is never about one person, but about using the talents we have been given to produce a show with fellow Christians.”

David Gilly, Gamma Sigma Phi Sing Song director and exercise science major from Abilene, said he also loves Sing Song. Gilly led GSP to its win the past year, and he said he participates because of his love for music and because most of his friends participate.

“It gives me something to do,” Gilly said. “If you aren’t in Sing Song, then you really don’t have a life until it is over because so many of your friends are going to be involved that there will be nothing to do.”

Gilly said last year’s win was his best memory of Sing Song, and he is hoping to experience it again.

“It was my first year to direct, and it was the third year for GSP to win in a row,” Gilly said. “We were standing up there on the stage with all of the lights on and all of the alumni who had come back for the last performance who were in GSP came up on the stage and we sang our club song.

“It was just an incredible feeling to sing with all of these people we didn’t really know but who we’re connected with.”

For Jeffrey Rasco, Sing Song co-chair, Sing Song has been one of the most enjoyable times he’s had at ACU.

“I will always look back at Sing Song as one of my fondest memories,” said Rasco, senior business management major from Abilene. “As goofy as the show concept is, it really unites each class that has passed through ACU in the 49 years it has been in production.

“It is the continuity thread that alumni can share in. Everyone associated with ACU knows of Sing Song or has participated somehow, and it really brings back a flood of memories.”

Rasco said looking back on Sing Song when he graduates will be sad, but right now he is having fun working with all of the groups involved.

Rachel Klick, upstage manager, said she feels mixed emotions when she reflects on her experiences with Sing Song.

“It is really bittersweet for me,” said Klick, senior broadcast journalism major from Fort Worth. “It is kind of weird that it is the last one and that next year I won’t be here.

Klick said one of her best memories was as a Freshman Usher.

“We were just new to the scene, and we really didn’t know what was going on. We spent so much time laughing and messing up and laughing some more.”

Senior Darren Curry is a Sing Song host this year.

Curry, senior marketing major from Sugar Land, spends more than 60 hours a week working on Sing Song as production assistant in the Sing Song Office and as host, and he said he has enjoyed working with the other hosts and the hostesses.

This year will be different for Curry, who has a more visible role than in past years. He has participated in the class and club acts and has worked behind the scenes in the office.

For his last call on stage, Curry will be supported by friends and family from home. He said 15 members of his family and more than 30 members of his church will come this weekend to watch him and the others perform.

Instead of participating in the production next year, Curry will be able to watch.

“It’ll be sad to not be involved in it next year, but I’m not emotionally attached like some people are,” he said. “I am excited for next year’s group. It will be the 50th anniversary and an incredible show.”