Dance raises money for scholarship
Reed High School football jerseys hung at the door and hip hop music shook the walls as friends and family of Derek “DJ” Jensen danced the night away at the Dance 4 DJ fundraiser Thursday.The event, held at the Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino, raised $1,242 dollars for the Derek Jensen Memorial Scholarship fund through Sierra Pacific Federal Credit Union in Jensen’s name.
“It’s a fun and safe way to celebrate DJ’s life and the impact he had on people,” event coordinator and university student Tiffany Merlino said.
When Merlino heard the news of DJ’s death, she said she felt helpless.
“I wanted to do something but I felt like I couldn’t do anything,” Merlino said. “But this was something that I could do.”
Everything at the dance was donated, including the ballroom at the Silver Legacy and all the decorations from Reed High School, Merlino said. The DJ was a friend of Jensen’s, and donated his time as well.
About 300 people came out to the event to dance and commemorate the UNR student and former Tau Kappa Epsilon president. Jensen’s friends sold tickets while mothers of Jensen’s friends checked IDs. The entrance fee was $5, but people could donate more if they wanted to.
University student and family friend Jennifer Spencer helped collect the money at the event.
“A lot of people put down more than five dollars,” she said.
Attendees said the event let them remember Jensen in a positive way.
“This lets us breathe and step away from the sadness,” family friend Sarah Diprinzio said.
Dance 4 DJ started at 8 p.m. and when it closed at midnight, the dance floor was packed.
“We’re just here to celebrate his life and what a great person he was,” Spencer said.
Jensen was shot and killed at a party Oct. 28.
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