Two students at the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO) recently earned two top awards in the annual Jimmy LaFave Songwriting Contest.

Dallas Parker

Three of the four finalists, selected from 74 entries as finalists in the second annual Jimmy LaFave Songwriting Contest in April, were ACM students: “Breathless” by Chloe-Beth Campbell, “Angels Lullaby” by Ashliann Rivera and “Abilities” by Dallas Parker (Faux Draco). The fourth finalist was “Hollyhocks and Morning Glories” by longtime Tulsa singer-songwriter Scott Aycock.

The four performed April 30 in Stillwater. Parker won first place, which secured a lineup slot in the Bob Childers’ Gypsy Café festival on May 1, along with a $500 cash prize plus a $500 donation made in his name to the nonprofit Red Dirt Relief Fund. Campbell won the People’s Choice award, earning her a $100 prize.

Chloe-Beth Campbell

Parker, who performs under the name Faux Draco, is a freshman contemporary music production student at ACM and a rapper from Oklahoma City. Campbell is a freshman ACM contemporary music production student from Enid, and released her debut full-length album, Remnant, last year.

Rivera is freshman contemporary music performance major at ACM. The singer-songwriter was born in Brooklyn and raised in Oklahoma City. She has released three EPs in the last three years.

Buddy Broncho

Buddy Broncho made his first appearance in UCO's own newspaper The Vista. It was the October 3, 1932, issue where a Broncho appears wearing a UCO football uniform. He has appeared numerous times throughout the years from local Edmond papers in the 60's to state-wide papers in the 80's. The commissioning of the first ever live mascot appears in UCO's 1979 Bronze Book where Buddy Broncho made his first public appearance at Homecoming. Since that time, Buddy has been a fixture at UCO events and in the hearts of UCO students.