President Andrew K. Benton is known for opening his home to student organizations and events. The first invitation most Waves receive to Brock House is the My Tie blind-date-mixer extravaganza a New Student Orientation milestone. Memories of awkwardly asking “What’s your major?” and tentatively reaching out to new classmates against a sunset backdrop stick with most students throughout their Pepperdine careers.
Rock the Brock held Thursday Sept. 10 at Brock House was the senior year equivalent of My Tie — minus the self-conscious wringing of hands and nervousness. The bash celebrated the past three years of work by the class of 2010 both in and outside of the classroom.
Seniors were lured up Presidents Drive with the prospect of unlimited free food a jam session by President Benton’s band “Midlife Crisis” and raffle prizes. Prizes ranged from Pepperdine sports jerseys and other clothing to ticket packages for Fine Arts productions Dance in Flight and Songfest.
The prize that represented the host of the party best was a brand-new black and white Fender Stratocaster guitar. It laid on a table in the Brock House entryway and each member of the senior class was asked to sign it on their way into the back yard party. Neil Jacobson was the winner of that 2010 keepsake.
Perhaps the most attractive prizes of the evening and the ones whose announcements that had all students in attendance holding their breath were the presidential “Waves of Relief” scholarships. There was a total of $10000 raffled at random. The top prize$5 0 went to Nathan Welch.
In addition to fiscal motivations Rock the Brock appealed to seniors’ social needs. Rare is the time when members of the class of 2010 all come together without regard to major international program group or extracurricular involvement. Mingling across the social groups that have formed since My Tie freshman year will occur rarely in the coming months before graduation and events like Rock the Brock are meant to maintain the closeness of the senior class.
The next senior event at Brock House is Senior Sunday on Sunday Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m. It will be an evening of discussion and prayer with Benton.