Freshman Wins Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to Meet Hip-Hop Artist

Created: February 22, 2016  |  Last Updated: October 7, 2021  |  Category:   |  Tagged:

WASHINGTON, PA (Feb. 22, 2016) — With a compelling video project and a little help from Washington & Jefferson College’s (W&J) Residence Life staff, Joshua Lacks ‘19 won a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet his music idol, hip-hop artist Logic.

Lacks, a business administration major from Pittsburgh, Pa., submitted a short video to Logic and his team at Visionary Music Group about why he is Logic’s biggest fan. Lacks was one of 12 people nationwide who won the video contest.

“The reason I entered [the contest] is [because] Logic is a rapper who stands for something than other than money, girls, and cars,” said Lacks. “He stands for peace, love, and positivity, and to be a positive person every day when things get rough.”

Logic's team worked with W&J’s Residence Life staff members to organize a campus visit and surprise Lacks, who got to meet the artist and listen to Logic’s new album before it was released. Lacks never expected he’d have a chance like this, and was thrilled that the Residence Life staff took time to help make it possible.

“We were aware of how much of an impact Logic and his music had on Josh, so we wanted to make sure that he was able to have the experience,” said Director of Residence Life Tyler Kowcheck. “Josh’s RA, Evan McDonough, was instrumental in making the connection between the college and Logic’s management team. It was great to see the impact that the visit had on Josh. All the time and energy was worth it after seeing his reaction to Logic when he arrived.”

With the careful planning from both Residence Life and Logic’s team, they were able to give Lacks a day he would never forget. Lacks said he initially received an email from Logic's team saying that the artist would not be able to come to campus, so it was an incredible surprise when Lacks arrived in Residence Life for a meeting with Kowcheck and met Logic instead.

“Meeting Logic was one of the best days of my life. I still re-live that moment every day when I walk across campus,” said Lacks.