Photo Credits: Naomi Nichols
Arkansas Tech University’s 2025 Band of Distinction made a spirited season debut on Thursday night, Sept. 11, during the first home football game of the year. Their performance through the night brought energy and excitement to the stands.
Led by drum majors Gabriel Avila of Russellville, Adalyn Barnes of Greenwood, and Lizbeth Nunez of Dardanelle, the band delivered a full slate of performances- from pregame traditions to an incredible halftime show. They also played lively pep tunes in the stands that were enjoyed by the cheerleaders and the fans.
Before kickoff, the band played a stirring rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ while the color guard presented the nation’s colors (a giant flag) alongside the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
Following the anthem, seniors Kris Campbell, Kelton McGhee, and Evelyn Leding led the band in playing the ‘Alma Mater.’ The crowd rose to their feet as the drum majors, again, took over for the ‘Fight Song,’ continuing to rally school spirit from the field to the bleachers.
Throughout the game, the band kept energy and spirits high with a mix of traditional and modern tunes, including an excerpt of ‘Iron Man’ by Black Sabbath. This kept the crowd pumped during the game’s most intense moments.
Halftime brought a wonderful collaboration between the university and the community. The Dardanelle High School Scarlet Regiment Marching Band, led by drum major Jorge Patricio, performed the opening movement of their 2025 field show Imagine. Their performance of ‘Pure Imagination’ featured a clarinet solo by Hope Baker and received enthusiastic applause from the crowd.
Following that, ATU’s Band of Distinction returned to the field to premiere the opening movement of their 2025 show, Icons. This year’s show will feature a range of music from artists such as Hans Zimmer, the Andrews Sisters, Bon Jovi, and Eric Whitacre.
Their show begins with a scatter drill– a choreographed dash as members sprinted to their spots across the field– but with a twist. Instead of a quick and rigid approach, the band members added personality and flair by exchanging high fives and complex handshakes. Some members even chose to skip to and around their spots, drawing cheers and laughter from the stands.
Halftime concluded with a moving tribute. ATU’s Band of Distinction was joined on the field by Dardanelle’s Scarlet Regiment to perform ‘America the Beautiful’ as a tribute to our nation and the sacrifices that we continue to remember today.
This memorable debut promises an entertaining and talented season for our band.
Off the field, the Band of Distinction is led by Dr. Daniel Belongia and Dr. Adam Miller, with drumline direction by Dr Cory Fica, color guard instruction by Bri Dawson, and majorette coaching by Hannah Smith. The band includes administrative assistants Belinda Hilliard and Stephanie Swatzel, and Dr. John Clements as the Voice of Arkansas’ Band of Distinction.
