Lots of high schoolers would like to go to a concert; organizing one is a whole other story.

But that’s exactly what Lanier Career Academy junior Morgan Barron did, as part of her internship project through DECA and the Hospitality High program at the school.

Barron, a member of the student marketing group DECA, is bringing Radio Disney star Joey Page to Lake Lanier Islands for a benefit.
The concert, called the L.O.V.E. Benefit — which stands for “Learning Opens Vocational Experiences” — is part of an effort by Lanier Career Academy’s Hospitality High DECA to raise awareness and encourage high schoolers to stay in school.

Barron planned the concert with the help of other students in the DECA program. The event will be headlined by Page with local bands The Desarios and Tyna Q on Saturday at Presentation Point at Lake Lanier Islands.

“Joey is a Radio Disney artist, The Desarios are from Athens and Tyna Q is from Atlanta and is sort of Latina Pop,” said Barron, a junior at Flowery Branch High. “The target market is middle schoolers ... the idea is to hit them while they are young.”

Page, an Orlando, Fla., native, said the show will be fun and upbeat.

“The students are doing the concert to raise awareness about dropout rates ... I will talk about that in the show,” Page said. “I will definitely be singing “Girl Who Understands Me” and “Who I Am,” which are our two big Disney hits, and then I do a cover of (Soft Cell’s) “Tainted Love” to throw in some ’80s.”

Page added the music will be very upbeat.

“I’m not very fond of the slow ballads, I only have one or two, but we have to slow it down just a little bit just to touch the little ladies’ hearts.”

Tickets are $10, and combination tickets for the Lake Lanier Islands Water Park and concert are also available. Refreshments such as hot dogs and hamburgers also will be available.

Barron said the hardest part of planning the L.O.V.E Benefit was booking the venue and the easiest part was booking the music acts.

“It was hard to find a venue willing to donate the facility ... Lake Lanier Islands has been kind enough to let us use their facility,” she said.

Barron added that there will be something special after the show for all concertgoers.

“There is going to be a meet and greet afterwards,” she said.