Spectrum's drag show excited the crowd at the 2009 Up 'til Dawn event when it appeared on stage, singing and dancing to music from Beyonce, Britney Spears and the Pussycat Dolls.
It was one of many acts at this year's UtD, which combined music, comedy and charity to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Stand-up comedians and a rock band performed and the event concluded with the announcement $15,869 had been raised, a seven percent increase from last year.
Students raised money with letters mailed during the Fall Semester asking families to donate money, Up 'til Dawn President Megan Johnson said. During the event, students stayed up all night in honor of patients and families who fight their way through cancer.
The organization on campus has campaigned for more than 10 years, she said.
"I'm proud of everyone that participated and earned that much for the hospital," Johnson said. "It's a really great cause."
Carmen Triplett, an Indiana representative from St. Jude, said she has worked with Ball State and Franklin College for two years. Triplett said UtD started in Memphis, Tenn., in the 1990s and has grown across the country, with hundreds of universities participating every year.
"Being in college, [students] probably can't give a lot of money," she said. "But they can give their time, and that's what is making an impact."
About 100 students participated in the event, senior speech pathology major Autumn Ringeisen said, which is more than in previous years.
"It's my fourth year helping the organization," she said. "When I started with the organization we were about 50 girls, and now we probably have about 100 participants."
Ringeisen sent 50 letters this year, and was awarded an iPod during the event.
Friday night's event began with a speech by Chris and Cal Zaugg, a patient and his father, who told a story about perseverance.
"There are so many kids [in St. Jude hospital]," Chris Zaugg said. "And it breaks their heart to know that so many of them have the chance of their life, because what [college organizations] are doing is really special."
Johnson said she was happy to see students from universities helping to support the hospital.
"I've been to two national conferences just for the St. Jude Hospital," she said. "And to see [more than] 200 representatives from schools across the nation just coming together to work for one cause I think is awesome."
Johnson said she hoped more students would participate in philanthropic organizations.
"I think it is really good for college students to find it in themselves to give back," she said. "It makes you feel good about yourself and it is really exciting."
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