UCO Band, Orchestra and Choir Teach Cashion Students

Friday night football shines across the state but tonight in Cashion, the spotlight was on more than just the players on the field. Something special actually happened before the game even started.

Budget cuts six years ago stripped the Cashion school district of its music program.

Three hours before Cashion's game, 30 miles to the Southeast in Edmond, members of UCO's marching band loaded up their gear and headed there where they performed before tonight's game.

But this was much more than a one-time deal. A year ago, Cashion's superintendent called UCO to see if there was a single music student interested in coming to Cashion to give music lessons. Instead, UCO offered a lot more.

"You asked for a piece of baloney and they gave you a whole sandwich. That's exactly right...it's been tremendous," said Cashion principal Ryan Schenk.

UCO grad student Nicola Gjorcevski is molding seven Cashion kids into a drum line that will, for now, perform at Cashion games.

Right now there are around 50 Cashion kids who are learning music, thanks to UCO.