Centralight

23 centralight fall '14 Between writing songs for his next album and performing with his Grammy Award-winning band on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon," Andrew Dost – of the band fun. – had a few minutes to double-check his calendar. The weekend of Oct. 4 was open, and the 2005 alumnus wholeheartedly accepted Central Michigan University's invitation to travel from the band's home in New York City to Mount Pleasant to serve as the 2014 homecoming grand marshal. "I was extremely fl attered and proud to be asked," Dost says. "It's not really something I ever expected, but it's really touching to be welcomed back in this way by a place that has been so important to me." The 31-year-old native of Frankfort, in northwest Michigan, is keyboardist in the popular music group fun. – whose lowercase name, indeed, ends with a period. The group's hit song "We Are Young" spent six consecutive weeks atop Billboard's "Hot 100" in early 2012 and made digital singles sales history when it became the fi rst song ever to gain more than 300,000 downloads for seven consecutive weeks. Nominated for six 2013 Grammy Awards, fun. won Best New Artist and Song of the Year for "We Are Young." Dost and his band have extensively toured to support their now-platinum album "Some Nights" featuring the hits "We Are Young," "Some Nights" and "Carry On." With the tour, the kid from Frankfort also performed on "Saturday Night Live," "The Late Show with David Letterman" and NBC's "Today" show. Oh, one more thing: He performed with fun. at President Barack Obama's inaugural gala in January 2013 as well as at the White House on July 4 that same year. "Having Andrew in Mount Pleasant for homecoming is a blast and a perfect opportunity for CMU to honor everything he's accomplished in today's highly competitive music industry," says Marcie Otteman Grawburg, executive director of alumni relations. "His work connects with our students and our alumni – we all love him and are proud that he's one of us." During his days at CMU, Dost was an Honors Program student and a recipient of CMU's top academic award, the Centralis Scholarship. He was interested in music but instead studied journalism to develop a diff erent set of skills. . Back in the day, Dost performed with student groups in Plachta Auditorium and during the Larzelere Hall Talent Show. He also played around town with various bands at Broadway Theatre and New Moon Records. Anathallo was the Mount Pleasant group Dost had some commercial success with until he left and eventually joined vocalist Nate Ruess and guitarist Jack Antonoff to form fun. Homecomin run i th famil In accepting the invitation to serve as grand marshal, Dost was quick to work out logistics with the university to ensure his parents could be on campus too. Not just because they want to see him – they also have degrees from CMU. Mark Dost and Cheryl (Kozan) Dost of Frankfort, graduated in 1979 and 1978, respectively. "My parents and I speak very fondly of our time at CMU, and it'll be great to be back there," says Dost, who hasn't been to Central in about fi ve years. "I'm really looking forward to just walking around campus. It's so beautiful in the fall." He won't be the fi rst Dost to ride in the homecoming parade: His mom was one of fi ve women on the homecoming court her senior year in 1977. She was a Cobb Hall resident assistant, and the Cobb Hall Dorm Council sponsored her candidacy. According to a story in the Oct. 28, 1977, issue of CM Life, "(Cheryl) used words such as 'hyper,' 'excited,' 'anxious' and 'thrilled' to describe her emotions as a court member." Junior Jane McDonald from West Bloomfi eld was crowned queen that year, but Cheryl says she couldn't have been happier about her experiences on the court and is looking forward to watching her son serve as grand marshal. "This is Andrew's day, and it is an honor to be able to share this experience with him," she says. "Homecoming is such a great opportunity for everyone to reconnect with the people who were such an important part of your life." CMU, and it'll be great to be back there," says Dost, CMU, and it'll be great to be back there," says Dost, who hasn't been to Central in about fi ve years. "I'm who hasn't been to Central in about fi ve years. "I'm He won't be the fi rst Dost to ride in the homecoming He won't be the fi rst Dost to ride in the homecoming He won't be the fi rst Dost to ride in the homecoming Cobb Hall Dorm Council sponsored her candidacy. Cobb Hall Dorm Council sponsored her candidacy. couldn't have been happier about her experiences – we all love him and are proud that he's one of us." During his days at CMU, Dost was an award, the Centralis Scholarship. He was interested in music but instead 23 centralight fall '14 Before the fame, new CMU student Andrew Dost gets fired up during his freshman orientation. 1977 CMU Homecoming Queen candidate Cheryl Koszan poses for a picture with her date (and future husband) Mark Dost.

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