Residents of Heppenstall Drive in Bridgeport [CT] got a private performance from the Sacred Heart University Marching Band this summer. In August, Publishers Clearing House shot a commercial promoting their sweepstakes and featuring the company’s “Prize Patrol” and SHU's very own band marching down the street. According to Keith Johnston, director of the SHU Marching Band, the group of marching musicians is getting a little used to the ins and outs of showbiz. This is the third time in one year that the band will be featured on national television. “I can see the band is getting used to it now—they know the drill. It's great! They're real excited and they're working like pros,” he said. Last November, the band was featured in a national Verizon commercial, and this summer, they were on MTV.

Daniel Kardos '08, an athletics training major commented, “This definitely gets great publicity for the band, getting us out in the community and the nation. It shows that we're a serious university band.”

The bass drum player from Honolulu, along with other members of the band, was on campus before the start of school for band camp, and was able to participate in the commercial. “We're having a blast. Band camp has been awesome fun,” he said.

The colorguard, which leads the band in their march, also participated in the commercial. Melissa Vermilye '08, a psychology major who marches in the colorguard, also thought that the band's exposure is great for the school and the students.

“I think it's cool that we have opportunities to do things like this. It's a good opportunity for us to practice and the experience brings us all closer together,” said the Levittown, Long Island native.