One day shy of the two year anniversary of William King’s death, WUTT, University of Tampa’s radio station, celebrated his life with the third annual Kingfest in Vaughn Courtyard this past Friday.
Weeks before his graduation, on April 23, 2009, King passed away in a motorcycle accident.
He was an active member of WUTT, and in the year of his death, his COM250 peers decided there was no better way to honor their friend and classmate than with a spring festival in his name.
It has become WUTT’s annual spring event.
Kingfest gives local musicians the chance to feature their talent at UT, and students the chance to enjoy a free concert and food and to remember their peers.
Live music was played from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Acoustic guitarist and vocalist, Helena Adams opened the show.
Other acts included Fall on Purpose and White Noise along with rappers Hot One and Mico. WUTT advisor and COM250 adjunct professor Valerie Ingram Hinkley said, King would have been thrilled to see that “we give local musicians more exposure through this event.”
Although the event is in honor of King, WUTT decided to make this year’s festival focus on automotive awareness and safe driving.
Erik Nicoletti and Tessa Byers were remembered at the festival as well. Nicoletti died in November 2009, when he was struck by a car while crossing Kennedy Boulevard.
Byers passed away this past March in an accident on I-75.
WUTT volunteer coordinator and UT senior Arielle Hochman said “It is important to raise awareness on driving safety.
As long as we reached somebody, our efforts were worth it.”
Several on- and off-campus organizations set up tables at the event to support safe driving, including members of Watch your B.A.C, M.A.D.D. and UT nursing students. WUTT held a raffle; donations went towards driving awareness. Prizes included iPods, gift certificates and the grand prize: an iPad2.
Kingfest ended with a special performance from UT student Jonathan Mojica, who was in the car with Byers at the time of the accident.
The student turn out could have been better, but Ingram Hinkley was pleased with the student response, saying, “We raised nearly $100 in donations for the safe driver campaign.
My hope with the different tables that were out this time is that we raised awareness [about] safe driving.”
Lauren Rossi can be reached at lrossi@spartans.ut.edu.