Thanks in part to the hard work of University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point senior Jake Kujawa, the Drum and Wind Group — or DAWG, as it’s known — is growing and thriving. DAWG is basically a high-energy show band, similar to a marching band without traditional uniforms, that one day could evolve into a more typical marching band for UW-Stevens Point students.

“I’d eventually like us to have a band-off with UW-Madison at Camp Randall,” Kujawa said. “Much like the Badgers have the Badger Band for building school spirit, I want DAWG to do the same here.”

When DAWG launched as a student group at the beginning of the semester, it had four students in its first meeting. It now has more than 30 members, and Kujawa — a communication major
from the Milwaukee area — envisions it growing
one day to about 100, if not more.

“I’ve been thrilled with all the response,” said Kujawa, a Whitnall High School alumnus. “Soon we won’t have to say, ‘Drum and Wind Group.’ People will just know what DAWG is. It’s indescribable how good this feels. Almost all of our members are first-year students. That gives me assurance that this will continue.”

The band’s first shows were at homecoming events this fall, starting with a well-attended pep rally. That show included a rendition of “Sweet Caroline” Kujawa dedicated to his mom, Lisa, who had driven from the Milwaukee area just to see the performance.

“We want to help the university draw crowds,” Kujawa said. “If I can get one person to say, ‘I don’t like football, but DAWG is going, so I’ll stop by the game,’ that would be the ultimate goal.”

He added he hopes the group will perform at more UW-Stevens Point athletics events, and the group has already recorded some music to help the UW-Stevens Point Dance Team. Yet DAWG isn’t just about music. It’s about helping Pointers find their home.

“We want to help fill a music need in our lives, but we’re doing more than playing music. We want to give our members an opportunity to meet people. When we started, everyone was a complete stranger to one another. Now, we have get-togethers outside of practice as a group of friends. I want to have an organization where students feel like they belong. I want them to feel at home.”

Students and prospective students interested in joining DAWG can send an email to dawg@uwsp.edu, join its Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/drumandwindgroup, or show up at practice at 7 p.m. Tuesdays or Wednesdays in Room 201 at the Noel Fine Arts Center.

Even if you have little to no experience playing a band instrument, and regardless of whether you are a music major, Kujawa wants you for DAWG.

“We’ve taught one student how to play bass drum,” he said. “We taught one to play trombone. Maybe, if you don’t find a good place there, then you can join the color guard. Anyone who wants to learn how to play or even if you’ve played before but haven’t in a few years, we have a spot for you in our DAWG family.”