Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Rotunda Online
The Rotunda
Saturday, July 19, 2025

HabaPalooza: Longwood Talent Benefits Community

On Wednesday, April 4, the first ever HabaPalooza graced the stage at Jarman Auditorium for an audience of about 120 members.The event featured the various talents of Longwood University and the students therein, and raised almost $400. Admission price was $3.

During the evening, prizes were raffled off to random audience members. Some of the prizes included three $5 gift certificates to Buffalo Wild Wings, a $10 gift certificate to Main Street Lanes, a $20 gift card to El Patron and more. All of the proceeds raised at the event contributed to Habitat for Humanity, a Christian nonprofit ministry motivated to provide affordable housing for those in need, and eliminate poverty housing from the world, as cited from the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity website.

The event was organized by Hyperion, a group of communications studies students, for their communications class, Applied Organizational Communications. The emcees for the evening were Hyperion members junior Shawn Gaines and senior Nicole Ward. By organizing the event, Gaines said that they were "taking the theoretical aspects of our class and putting them into practical use."

"I think that we're showcasing Longwood talent that is significant ... and it's great to just showcase that in as many forms," said Gaines, later noting the significance the event had on the community through the funds donated to Habitat for Humanity. Student performances featured at the event included the B.A.S.I.C. Gospel Choir, Devon Johnson and Sarah Burford, David Clipp, Christa Brown, Faye LeBlanc, Zach Sneed, Logan Miller, Elena Mirage and others.

The performances ranged from singing to slam poetry, from dancing to stand-up comedy and much more. Each performance kept the audience feeling exhilarated and appreciative to spend their time with friends, family and Farmville to benefit a local cause. Gaines said, "One thing that I enjoyed immensely was working with my team. We were assigned a team at the beginning of the semester, and it's just been phenomenal working together, getting to know each other and having fun.

Assistant Director for Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity Jasper Hendricks III commented on the event, saying, "It's giving back to the community, creating a sense of pride and building relationships with community members here in the Farmville area, which is very beneficial because we work with a very diverse group of individuals and businesses and organizations and everyone working together to help benefit the community that we live in."

According to the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity website, "Here at Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity we believe that all our neighbors deserve safe, comfortable homes they can afford - and there's no better way to build our communities than to all lend a hand. Because when we all donate what we can - whether it be time or talent or money - we can build more decent, affordable homes for those in need."

Hendricks spoke of how recently the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity built its t21st house in Prince Edward County as a Women Build project, a construction project overseen by female volunteers. Hendricks thanked the students of Longwood University and Farmville volunteers for their support. Hendricks noted that in earlier years, the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity built only two to three homes a year, while in a few weeks there will be two homes constructed at the same time.

"We look to expand our operations, and we look to work more closely together, not just with Longwood, but with the community here in Farmville, my hometown." said Hendricks. The possibility of HabaPalooza becoming an annual campus event is still on the table, as Gaines commented on how many of those who helped organize the event will graduate by the end of this semester. "We'll see if we continue to keep it up," said Gaines.

If any students are interested in organizing their own fundraising event, Gaines said, "All it takes is a little drive." For more information on Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity, go online to www.farmvillehabitat. org or call (434) 392-6627. Volunteer and internship opportunities are available to students over the summer. The Red Flag Campaign has been at Longwood for several years.

Longwood hosted a poster campaign in 2009, and added an awareness walk in 2010. The posters give you descriptions of a red flag situation and then there is a little talk box at the bottom that is an example of what you could say if you are in the situation. The event is typically held in October, but it was rained out last fall. The event was moved to April.

"April 5 is called the 'Day of Action,' which is why we chose this date," explained Kae Poe, assistant to the wellness coordinator. The date turned out to be another rainy day so the walk was cancelled, but several students and Madeline's House representatives spoke and Ashley "HoopGirl" Russell also performed during the event. Students are encouraged to visit the Red Flag Campaign website to get more information. "I feel like there are a lot of cases of domestic violence and relationship abuse, not just physical but emotional and mental that go unnoticed and are simply explained away without even being dealt with in the proper channels," said Poe.

Poe added if students are not comfortable talking face-to-face, there are many great places to turn to. "There are many different outlets you can use to make sure you feel comfortable getting more information and getting the help that you need," said Poe. For people who feel like they are trapped in an unhealthy relationship, both Poe and Student Health and Wellness Intern Alexa Oswald encourage them to seek help. "[You] are never stuck. You might feel like you are stuck, but there are so many outlets," explained Oswald.

People who feel responsible for their abuse can also turn to the Red Flag Campaign for help. "Never ever blame yourself. That's something I struggled with. I thought it was all my fault that I let him take advantage of me. It's not the case. It was not the case," said Oswald, who shared her experience at the Red Flag Campaign event. The issues tackled in the Red Flag Campaign include emotional abuse, cohesion, excessive jealousy, isolation, sexual assault, victim blaming and stalking. Although the campaign is about dating violence, these issues come up in friendships and other relationships as well.

Signs of a healthy relationship include communication trust, connection, balance, safety and boundaries. Even students who have not been individually impacted by these issues are encouraged to get involved. "Everyone has friends. You will know it when you see it. When you have a friend with a significant other who's pressuring them, that is nasty to them, who is putting their hands on them in not right ways, you know it. You should feel comfortable enough to speak out on your friend's behalf," said Oswald.

"We always want to say it with love and kindness and respect so that they understand that we are there to help," said Poe. HabaPalooza graced the stage at Jarman Auditorium for an audience of about 120 members.The event featured the various talents of Longwood University and the students therein, and raised almost $400. Admission price was $3. During the evening, prizes were raffled off to random audience members.

Some of the prizes inclided three $5 gift certificates to Buffalo Wild Wings, a $10 gift certificate to Main Street Lanes, a $20 gift card to El Patron and more. All of the proceeds raised at the event contributed to Habitat for Humanity, a Christian nonprofit ministry motivated to provide affordable housing for those in need, and eliminate poverty housing from the world, as cited from the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity website. The event was organized by Hyperion, a group of communications studies students, for their communications class, Applied Organizational Communications. The emcees for the evening were Hyperion members junior Shawn Gaines and senior Nicole Ward.

By organizing the event, Gaines said that they were "taking the theoretical aspects of our class and putting them into practical use." "I think that we're showcasing Longwood talent that is significant ... and it's great to just showcase that in as many forms," said Gaines, later noting the significance the event had on the community through the funds donated to Habitat for Humanity.

Student performances featured at the event included the B.A.S.I.C. Gospel Choir, Devon Johnson and Sarah Burford, David Clipp, Christa Brown, Faye LeBlanc, Zach Sneed, Logan Miller, Elena Mirage and others. The performances ranged from singing to slam poetry, from dancing to stand-up comedy and much more. Each performance kept the audience feeling exhilarated and appreciative to spend their time with friends, family and Farmville to benefit a local cause.

Gaines said, "One thing that I enjoyed immensely was working with my team. We were assigned a team at the beginning of the semester, and it's just been phenomenal working together, getting to know each other and having fun. Assistant Director for Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity Jasper Hendricks III commented on the event, saying, "It's giving back to the community, creating a sense of pride and building relationships with community members here in the Farmville area, which is very beneficial because we work with a very diverse group of individuals and businesses and organizations and everyone working together to help benefit the community that we live in."

According to the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity website, "Here at Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity we believe that all our neighbors deserve safe, comfortable homes they can afford - and there's no better way to build our communities than to all lend a hand. Because when we all donate what we can - whether it be time or talent or money - we can build more decent, affordable homes for those in need."

Hendricks spoke of how recently the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity built its t21st house in Prince Edward County as a Women Build project, a construction project overseen by female volunteers. Hendricks thanked the students of Longwood University and Farmville volunteers for their support. Hendricks noted that in earlier years, the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity built only two to three homes a year, while in a few weeks there will be two homes constructed at the same time.

"We look to expand our operations, and we look to work more closely together, not just with Longwood, but with the community here in Farmville, my hometown." said Hendricks. The possibility of HabaPalooza becoming an annual campus event is still on the table, as Gaines commented on how many of those who helped organize the event will graduate by the end of this semester. "We'll see if we continue to keep it up," said Gaines. If any students are interested in organizing their own fundraising event, Gaines said, "All it takes is a little drive."

For more information on Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity, go online to www.farmvillehabitat. org or call (434) 392-6627. Volunteer and internship opportunities are available to students over the summer.

Trending