The students aren’t taking center stage, but they’re playing all the roles behind the scenes, and even some on stage.

Adam Calvert will perform at the school’s Tidioute Tech Tour Rockin’ on the River concert at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Students in Megan Minich’s computer science classes are ready to see the fruits of months of labor.

Through the Reach and Teach program, performers donate their time to benefit schools that put in the work to help their students be part of the program. The nine-week curriculum is provided to the schools selected for the program, Minich said.

Photo submitted to Times Observer Tidioute Community Charter School will welcome Adam Calvert for a concert at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 1. Students in Megan Minich’s Computer Science classes have handled all aspects of putting on the show.

Minich applied for the opportunity in October.

Reach and Teach notified her that TCCS had been selected. After that, “the students institute everything,” she said.

“It’s a student-run thing,” TCCS student and photographer Hailey Paden said. “We’ve been working on it for a couple months. Each student has done something to help.”

“It’s a great learning experience for us,” she said.

“Every student has selected jobs to be done,” Stage Manager and Pre-Show Host Bryce Gilson said.

“There were 18 of us selected from two different classes. We have been working since February.”

“It’s been a lot of work,” he said. “We’ve made it as fun as possible. We’ve all put a lot of work in to make this possible.”

Students have designed logos and promotional materials.

They spoke with the press and designed the door prize for the event.

“Reach and Teach is giving us this guitar,” Gilson said. Concert attendees will scan a QR code for a chance to win it.

“Codie Spittler designed our guitar,” Paden said.

It follows the Rockin’ on the River theme. In fact, everything does.

“We’ve themed everything toward the river,” Gilson said. “Our logo – there’s a guitar on it with the river flowing through.”

There are jobs that will continue to work on the day of the show and even after the final song.

Members of the load-in crew will have to be on-site by 7 a.m. Thursday, Gilson said, while the load-out crew is expected to keep working until 6 p.m.

Although the Reach and Teach artists donate their time and talents, there are still financial responsibilities for the school. The students had to raise money to cover the artist’s expenses.

“Everybody in the class sent out sponsorship letters,” Gilson said. “We’ve had stores sponsor us with money and give money toward the event.”

Whirley Drinkworks! made a donation of 250 cups for the event, Paden said.

When Calvert gets up on stage, he will have some company. The students are not strictly “behind the scenes.”

Gilson and Paden will join him for a song. “We are also student performers,” Paden said. “We are performing Wagon Wheel with Adam.”

When Minich learned that the school had been approved for the Reach and Teach program, there was one early task to put before the students – choosing which artist to invite to the school.

There were Christian Rock and Country options.

Students made the apples-to-oranges comparison among musical acts using one main determining factor. “He’s very good looking,” Paden said. “That was the big thing there.”

The students believe Calvert’s willingness to work with them through Reach and Teach shows that the award-winning performer has what it takes to become a big success.

“He’s definitely going to have a good career,” Paden said.

And those who attend Rockin’ on the River will be able to say they saw Calvert in concert early in the career.

The public is welcome to attend the show. Tickets are $5 and are available by contacting the school. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the school’s computer science department – “to bring more technology to the students so they can be more workforce ready,” Minich said.

“They should come,” Paden said. “It will be fun experience.”

“It was a lot of hard work for us,” she said. “It would be nice for people to see what we’ve done.”

“Come have a good time,” Gilson said. “We’re going to put on a show.”