Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Stony Brook Undergraduate Student Government (USG) are holding the first Seawolves Lip Sync Battle Wednesday, April 27, at 8:30 p.m. in the SAC Auditorium. A total of 11 Stony Brook teams plus the Spirit of Stony Brook Marching Band will compete against each other but with a singular goal, as all proceeds will go to Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.

The planning from the Stony Brook SAAC has been led by a pair of Seawolves student-athletes: Cross country/track & field senior Gabriel Vazquez and volleyball senior Lo Hathaway. For Hathaway, the idea originated as a student-athlete talent show, but came together in its eventual form as an opportunity to get more student-athletes involved at the event in the pair’s senior year.

“The beginning was a lot of ideas and brainstorming,” said Hathaway. “What do we want to do, how do we make this happen, who do we want involved, where will it be, what exactly does it take to plan an event. After the brainstorming, we were challenged to create a mission that outlined exactly what we wanted out of this, which we've found has been crucial.

"By working towards a common goal as great as Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, our Lip Sync Battle will bridge the gap between Stony Brook Athletics and the Stony Brook community. We want our Seawolf Nation to know that whether we are the underdog in the locker room, the classroom, or the hospital bed, we fight together. Through this event we aspire to be a part of something greater than ourselves and create a tradition that will inspire others to do the same.

“Along every step of the way we've tried to go back to our mission: Bring the campus community together. Raise money for Stony Brook Children's Hospital.”

An important part of the planning was “to have an event with a greater purpose,” said Vazquez, which is how Stony Brook Children’s Hospital became involved.

“This journey has been an amazing learning experience that will only get better come Wednesday,” said Vazquez. “From marketing plans, to budget proposals, to event coordination, the Seawolves Lip Sync Battle has thrown a lot our way, but with every challenge comes greater wisdom.

“We aspire to make the Seawolves Lip Sync Battle one of the many Stony Brook University traditions that will continue to grow throughout the years. Our hope is to have future SAAC Executive Board members step up to the challenge of coordinating the event, so that they too can learn all that Lo, myself, and all our Executive Board members have learned this year.

“Most importantly, we dream to create a synergistic relationship between Stony Brook University student-athletes and the entire Stony Brook campus where we all continuously come together to achieve common goals that will ultimately serve others.”

Tickets for Wednesday’s event are available to Stony Brook students, faculty and staff. Student tickets are $5, while faculty and staff admission is $10. Tickets can be purchased at the SAC Ticket Office, with all proceeds going towards Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. The first 300 attendees will receive a Seawolves Lip Sync Battle t-shirt.

Those who are unable to attend the event are still able to donate to Stony Brook Children's Hospital at tiny.cc/seawolveslipsyncbattle. Mark the donation as a “Tribute Gift,” “In Honor of,” "Seawolves Lip Sync Battle."