Concert Honors a Student’s ‘True Strength’

RYAN MARR

Chris Morawetz was not just known among friends for his long, inspiring battle with Chrohn’s disease—he was also a lover of music, comedy and most importantly, UMW.  And this Friday, the UMW community will have the opportunity to celebrate Chris’ life with a tribute concert entitled “True Strength,” featuring a collection of campus bands and comedians who have joined together to remember Chris and to raise money for the scholarship fund his parents established in his honor.
“Our goal was to honor Chris’s memory in a tangible way, by providing assistance to students with financial need and/or a chronic health condition,” said Ed Morawetz, Chris’ father.
The Christopher E. Morawetz Scholarship will give special consideration to applicants who have expressed an interest in religion, history, philosophy or English—Chris’ favorite subjects.
Chris’ parents have also stated they will match any donations raised at the benefit concert two-to-one.
“We are hoping that the UMW community will force us to “dig deep” and “donate lots of money,” Morawetz said.
The brainchild of Admissions Officer Jamie Abernathy and UMW junior Mike Isaacson, who both met Chris through his work with the Washington Guides, “True Strength” promises to be a real demonstration of the profound impact Chris has left on the UMW Community.
Junior Jonathan Hillyard will be performing a set of songs by Chris’ favorite musical group, Dave Matthews Band, while juniors Jen Trotter and Mary Kate Magdycz will be performing a dance they have choreographed and dedicated to Chris.
Other performances include sets from the Like Whatevers, the Vermilions, and Dirty Napkin Theory as well as comedy from Bryan Keys, Chris Velucci, and UMW’s own improv comedy troupe, The Undeniably Adjacent.
But the spotlight of the evening will certainly rest on the open mic portion of the event in which anyone who wishes to speak about Chris or his life will have the opportunity to take the stage.
There are still slots available and Isaacson is encouraging more students to sign up to speak as well as just to show up and donate to the scholarship.
“While I don’t want to put Ed Morawetz in the hole, I would like to see this scholarship offered next year,” Isaacson said.