Pedal to the metal! Cars, Trucks, and Bucs fundraiser launching for scholarship financial aid

ETSU professor Sarah Standridge has designed an innovative fundraising event happening on April 23 from 10-2 p.m. to further her students’ knowledge of special event management.

The first annual Cars, Trucks, and Bucs event will allow for students to host “something that hasn’t been done on campus before” for the ETSU community, said Standridge. As a result from her personal interests, a car show in the ETSU parking garage was deemed to be an exciting venture for the class to plan.

“Cars, Trucks, and Bucs” is a car show that will raise funds for the ETSU Sport and Recreation Management Seed Scholarship Fund. The Special Event Programming class, an elective through the ETSU’s Sport, Exercise, Recreation and Kinesiology Departments, will be organizing the event.

One curriculum element Standridge focuses on while teaching is the approaches that professionals take when creating events and incorporating additional components to bring complexity to their planning and concepts. Students brainstormed to accomplish this, which resulted in bonus assets to the car showing such as door prizes, food trucks, cornhole and more.

With her knowledge of car culture, Standridge said that most car affiliated clubs and organizations that participate in such events are interested in philanthropy and giving back to the community. Standridge has set a goal of 150 registered cars by the event date. With preregistration of the event active, she is hopeful this event will reach the scale the class has prepared for.

The environment of echoing sounds in the parking garage will provide a new atmosphere for the community to enjoy and share a mutual car interest. With the convenience of the parking garage being the venue, Cars, Trucks, and Bucs will happen rain or shine on April 23, with accommodations in place in case of inclement weather. Certain levels of the parking garage will be for car showing, while others will consist of additional activities.

With this event being in its first year of operation, Standridge hopes to start a new tradition for ETSU that will successfully raise money through a unique event that everyone will enjoy.