Nicholls’ annual Greek Songfest takes place tonight for the first time at Thibodaux’s civic center, and Greek Life is extending a special invitation to high school students in the area.

Songfest, a song and skit competition between sororities and fraternities, is the culmination of Greek Week at Nicholls, which includes students taking part in outdoor games, Nicholls-oriented Jeopardy, pirogue races and community service.

“It’s a high-energy week,” said Tommy Ponson, Greek Life coordinator. “We had a number of chapters who received national awards last year for community service, philanthropy and individual services, and this is how we celebrate it.”

It’s been such a success in the past, Songfest had to be moved to a bigger facility to accommodate both the audience and the participants.

Emily Schexnaydre, a junior in nursing and coordinator/participant for Phi Mu skits and dance, said that last year’s event got so crowded in the Peltier auditorium they had to turn people away.
“There wasn’t enough room for even the Greeks to sit down,” said Schexnaydre. “[Moving it to the civic center] creates an opportunity for people’s friends and families to come and for recruitment for Greek life as well.”

This year, they’re using that extra room to send out a special invitation to high school students.
“We did an open invitation to high school students to come to see what Nicholls and Greek Life is all about,” said Ponson. “We want to inspire them to come to Nicholls and take part.”

Jeanne Gianelloni, coordinator and participant for Delta Zeta, said Songfest is a great opportunity for high school students to see and learn about Greek Life.

“We talk about the events we have throughout the year and the money we raise,” said Gianelloni. “It’s a very good thing, and we want to encourage the community to come out and take part in it.”

Songfest starts tonight in the Warren J. Harang Jr. Municipal Auditorium, Thibodaux’s civic center. It costs $7 per person, and like every year, all proceeds collected are donated to philanthropy. Ponson said this year they are looking to donate to Relay for Life. At the end of the night, the top sorority and fraternity receive a Greek Cup trophy, and two $500 scholarships will be awarded to two freshmen who apply to go through recruitment.

Both Gianelloni and Schexnaydre said they were excited and ready for the night, and both refused to say what they’ve been preparing for their own chapters.

“You’ll just have to wait and see,” said Schexnaydre. “It’s a secret until the event. We like to keep it a surprise for people to come out and see what Greek Life has been working on.”