It began as a class project, but it may become an annual event meant to draw attention to and raise funds for a beloved part of

the community.

A car show Saturday at Ohio University Southern raised money for the Camp Oyo Endowment Fund.

OUS students George McCalvin, Nicky Sprouse and Rod Sturgill, organized the car show as part of their course work in a Communication and Campaign class taught by OUS professor, Dr. Dave Lucas. Lucas, who is scout master of Boy Scout Troop 106

and an avid supporter of the Camp Oyo Boy Scout Camp, was touched that his students would want to raise money for a cause he holds dear. He was also pleased that his colleagues would provide the place for the fund-raiser.

"I'm elated," Lucas said of the car show. "That's probably the only way to describe it. I'm proud of them as students and I'm proud of the university, always. I'm proud to work in a place like this. I can't say enough about how powerful a message this is that they (university officials) would permit us to do this."

The endowment fund drive began a year ago in an effort to keep Camp Oyo operating. Lucas said he hopes to raise $1 million over the next five years for the endowment fund.

"It's not just a camp to us, it's a sacred place we can go and get in touch with ourselves and our community. We want Camp Oyo to be there for years to come," Lucas said. "It's a sacred vestige, a part of our history, our heritage. This is heart and soul, this is family."

By early afternoon, organizers were ready to call their first car show a success.

"We hoped to raise $2,000 but we're going to exceed that." McCalvin said. "We don't have a final total yet, but it's going to be closer to $3,000."

McCalvin said he hopes the car show can be an annual event and he would like to help organize a cruise in this fall to benefit the scout camp.