By Kristen Jennings
The Student Honor Association Choir is a great way for students to volunteer and get involved at BYU.
The Student Honor Association is not a part of the Honors program or the Honors Code Office. SHA is its own department on campus with approximately 16 full-time student employees and one faculty member during the fall and winter semesters.
SHA helps promote the Honor Code on campus by conducting student surveys, giving presentations to various groups and making it easier for students to live the Honor Code.
The SHA Choir, in particular, is a great way to have fun, meet new people and share one”s talent with others.
Ezinne Ojukwu, a senior from Albany, N.Y., majoring in marriage, family and human development, is the current choir director.
“The choir is a lot of fun because we perform a variety of music,” Ojukwu said. “We do typical LDS hymns and EFY music, but we have also added some a capella and gospel pieces.”
Nathan Pickett, a junior from Los Angeles., majoring in history education, has been a member of the choir for more than a year.
“Everyone in the choir has input and can share their opinions,” Pickett said. “It”s great because you really feel a part of something.”
Candace Simmons, a SHA Choir member, said the choir is great for people who want to sing, no matter their skill level.
“The choir has a variety of singing levels,” Simmons said. “Some are really skilled and that”s wonderful, but others just have a desire to develop their talents, and this is a great way for them to start to sing.”
Jeannie Papic, the SHA program coordinator, added the choir is a fundamental part of SHA.
“Not only has the choir been a valuable tool for bringing spirituality into the presentations, it also has brought lots of fun,” Papic said.
The choir is not only fun to belong to, students can learn skills they never thought they could have.
“It has been amazing to watch students learn to read music, learn to sing on key and learn to perform in a relaxed atmosphere,” Papic said. “It has been rewarding for me to see the students grow and discover talents they didn”t even know they had.”
To join the choir, one can go to 3422 WSC where the SHA office is located. SHA accepts volunteers at any time for the choir.
The choir is currently looking for volunteers to help them for the presentation they give to new students at New Student Orientation starting Aug. 26.
