From cheering to screaming your heart out, this was a place for everyone. A place for community. A place to stand out. A place to build your confidence.
While most view Rock for the Earth (R4TE) as just a cool place to perform, it’s much more. English teacher and Environmental club advisor, Jessica Hunter created a culture. It is a place where “all types of students can come together to enjoy the art of music,” said Christine Dearth, a 10 year participant of R4TE.
R4TE is a school rock concert where students and teachers can perform to raise money for the Environmental Club. R4TE not only created an environment where students could have fun, it built one.
“[R4TE] is an amalgamation of music and activism, bringing together artists and audiences for the greater good,” Hunter said.
Before Hunter took over the Environmental Club, the Senior Patio was overlooked, not taken care of and in need of renovation. Hunter knew she had to step in to help.
“There was a dilapidated gazebo with hornets,” Hunter said.
Showing her dedication to Perry and students, Hunter wrote grants for the Senior Patio project. In total, Hunter raised $30,000 dollars to renovate it. Hunter and other students came in during the summer to themselves.
As the years progressed so did the show, but not in the way it might seem. Attendance has been high since the beginning but that doesn’t stop it from rising.
“Every year gets smoother, but it’s always been pretty good. It rolled smoothly the whole time,” Death said.
This year was different. It was Hunters last year of R4TE. Students, teachers, singers and the audience wanted to send Hunter off with some of the most memorable moments.
“We all wanted to put on a show for her. We wanted to make it stand out for her and be something special,” Sebastian Roberts, a band member said.
This proved to be the case. Many audience members agreed that this was one of the most lively R4TEs. One audience member, Spencer Lazarowic, explained that “the energy was definitely higher than years in the past. The energy was solemn but exciting at the same time.”
R4TE 2025 was a one special for Hunter. It was a strong statement on her 15 year legacy with the Environmental club.
“R4TE has been a respite, a home, a chance to belong, an outlet for all of Perry. Students. Teachers. Wallflowers. Rebels. Cool kids. Misfits. Musically gifted. Even the novice. They’ve all been supported and supportive,” Hunter said.
From creating an event where everyone is welcomed to creating a place where everyone can come together, Hunter’s constant push to bettering the community around her created a home for everyone.
