The University of Louisville Alumni Magazine: for alumni, faculty, staff, students and anyone that is a UofL Cardinal fan.
Issue link: https://louisville.epubxp.com/i/705015
S U M M E R U O F L M A G A Z I N E | 4 9 A C R O S S C A M P U S Dancing for a cause It was another record-breaking year for raiseRED, UofL's largest student-run fundraiser. On Feb. 29, nearly 1,000 dancers danced for 18 hours straight at the Swain Student Activities Center. The same students also raised $322,412.85 during the last year. This is 200 more students and $100,000 more than the previous year. raiseRED specif cally benef ts the UofL Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, headed by Ken Lucas, division chief in the UofL Department of Pediatrics. "Having the honor of raising up the '3' in our total was the most gratifying moment of my entire life," said Joey Schmidt, raiseRED's operations director. "Seeing all of the students' hard work manifested in those numbers all for a common cause is life changing." In addition to donations taken by students, there has also been a higher involvement from the campus as well as the Louisville community. The dance marathon also is sponsored by Papa John's, Churchill Downs, Integral Analytics, Inc. and Noodles & Company. The goal for next year is to have more than 1,000 dancers, raise $400,000 and further involve the community in the dance marathon. To learn more about or donate to raiseRED Dance Marathon, visit raisered.org STUDENT AFFAIRS UofL's Music Therapy Program unlocks potential for both students and clients Cheryl Monroe recently watched her 12-year-old granddaughter, Mia, initiate a conversation with another girl. "Hi, I like your boots. My name is Mia," she said. For Mia, who has autism spectrum disorder and struggles with social skills, moments like that are a big accomplishment. Monroe said Mia's interactions with others have dramatically increased and improved since she began therapy at UofL's Music Therapy Clinic. The academic program, which began in 2000, is the only approved undergraduate music therapy program in Kentucky. Board- certif ed music therapists see about 150 clients per week in UofL's music therapy clinic and at various sites in the community. Clients range from newborns to seniors needing therapy for problems spanning developmental disabilities to Alzheimer's. UofL music therapy students observe and participate in these sessions to help fulf ll clinical training requirements. Michael Detmer, a music therapist who works with Mia, uses drums, piano, singing and Mia's favorite pop music to improve her conversation skills. For example, he said, they'll play and sing one of Mia's favorites, "Firework" by Katy Perry, and then break down the lyrics to work on enunciating clearly, something Mia has diff culty with. Because Mia likes music, "we can unlock and sustain her interest much longer than if we were just working at a desk," Detmer said. Monroe said at home Mia will sometimes mumble, then correct herself, pronouncing more clearly, as Detmer has encouraged her to do. "So the inf uence is still there," she said. Darcy DeLoach, director of the music therapy program, was inspired to pursue her career when, as a student, she saw a music therapist working with a client in a clinic. She wanted students at UofL to have the same type of learning experience. So, two years ago she started the Music Therapy Clinic in the School of Music building with a grant from WHAS Crusade for Children. Interest in the music therapy program has since skyrocketed. There's been a 50 percent increase in student enrollment, and the list of clients and organizations requesting services has grown as well. DeLoach is currently pursuing outside funding for the clinic, as more than 75 percent of clients are low-income and pay a reduced rate. SCHOOL OF MUSIC Music therapist Michael Detmer works with Mia, a 12-year-old client in the School of Music's Music Therapy Clinic.