NEWS

Students in Louisiana Tech’s College of Engineering and Science (COES) are staying connected through song. The College will hold its second Zoom Karaoke night tonight.

Dr. Heath Tims, associate dean for undergraduate studies, came up with the idea of virtual karaoke as a way to help the students relax and maintain some togetherness while practicing social distancing.

“I am not really a karaoke type of person, but I was trying to find something that we could do that would allow some of our students to loosen up a little,” Tims said. “Our seniors were especially missing seeing everyone and they were not able to experience a lot of the things they normally would in their last term.”

The initial invitation went out to a selected group of students: members of Tims’ Freshman Enrichment Program class, College student workers and seniors, and nearly 50 students participated in the first karaoke night.

“Attending COES Karaoke was definitely a breath of fresh air,” Biomedical engineering senior McKenna Barker said of the first event. “It was so nice to see everyone’s faces again, hear their voices, and laugh like we normally would together. Karaoke was a fun way to return to normality for a few hours and share some laughs with our COES peers.”

“Trying to manage that many people online has been interesting,” Tims added. “The fun thing about Zoom karaoke is that with internet issues and delays, the quality is such that the best or the worst singers sound similar, so it is more about having fun. The students have been awesome! They are, we all are, craving social interaction. And, just for a little while we are able to relax as a bulldog family and have some fun!”

All Engineering and Science students are invited to sing along or just enjoy the show. Contact Dr. Tims for information on how to join the fun.