UGA students raise more than $500K for cancer research at Jam in the Streets Festival
15,000+ attendees honor the legacy of UGA student, Cameron Fearon
On March 29, Jam for Cam, a local Athens music festival, welcomed more than 15,000 attendees to the streets of downtown Athens to celebrate the life and legacy of Cameron Fearon, a University of Georgia student who passed away at age 19 after a brave battle with metastatic melanoma.
Fearon was first diagnosed in eighth grade. As he experienced years of treatment, his strength, humility and warmth inspired those around him. Fearon had a dream of settling the debate of which band should be crowned “Athens’ best” and pitched the idea of hosting a Battle of the Bands right before his passing. In 2018, his friends created Jam for Cam to ensure that his name and spirit would never be forgotten.
Now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with its board comprised of Fearon’s six friends, Jam for Cam has grown into a large annual festival, bringing together thousands from the UGA and Athens communities. A true Fearon and Athenian legacy, the festival not only supports cancer research but also celebrates life and love of music.
Each year, current UGA students work with the board to help plan the event, handle logistics and fundraise. The funds benefit the Melanoma Research Foundation and Camp Carolina, where Cameron spent some of his favorite childhood summers. This year, the festival raised more than $520,000, a record-breaking total that will directly impact cancer research and melanoma awareness.
A Spotlight on Student Leadership
Two roommates, UGA real estate and finance majors Briggs Settlemier and Dimitri Nakis, are among the major reasons for this year’s unprecedented success. In 2024, Jam for Cam faced unexpected challenges, including the closure of the event’s long-standing venue and initial difficulty in recruiting talent. The organization found itself at a crossroads — they could either play it safe, perhaps downsize, or they could use this as a catalyst to take Jam for Cam to the next level. After volunteering for several years, Nakis and Settlemier felt that this event had the potential to be bigger with the right location and headliners.
“Everyone loves AthFest in the summer, but there’s not really any students around then,” said Nakis. “Even if they want to go, they usually can’t, so this felt like our opportunity to bring everyone together.”
Refusing to let the festival lose its momentum, Nakis and Settlemier spent six months working with the team and coordinating with the Athens-Clarke County government to secure a new downtown venue, securing the necessary permits, recruiting corporate sponsors, and overseeing all event logistics — including talent booking, stage setup, security, and more. In March, they worked more than 150 hours.
“It was overwhelming at times,” said Nakis. “’Off the clock’ didn’t exist. We’d barge into one another’s rooms at 3 a.m. and had 100-plus phone calls a day. It was worth it because we knew the purpose behind it.”
Briggs has always loved music. He grew up playing guitar, writing songs, and singing in choir.
“In those six months of planning, I realized I’ve always been an okay musician,” said Briggs. “But I think I might be better at creating something that musicians can enjoy.”
Through his own performing experience, he felt like he understood the full picture.
“I understood what’s happening on stage, what bands need backstage, what sponsors need, and what the audience wants,” said Briggs.
For both Nakis and Settlemier, they knew the most critical element of the event would be the user experience. Not only did they need to secure great talent that would attract the masses, but they also knew they needed to make it as safe and seamless as possible.
“We over-insured and overbooked security,” said Nakis. “We took every precaution we could.”
Their understanding of the user experience was spot on, as they later learned the festival attracted individuals from far outside of Athens. Travelers from the likes of Charlotte, Tampa, and Denver.
Settlemier expressed how much he enjoyed engaging with the community. They went to downtown businesses to get approval and talk with business owners, leading to further excitement and encouragement.
“We went into Wuxtry, and with their music history knowledge, they immediately lit up and started asking questions,” said Settlemier. “So many people — music professionals, business owners, friends — came out of the woodwork to say, ‘What you’re doing is incredible!’ It got pretty hard at times, and hearing those encouraging words meant a lot.”
The student team’s ability to execute such a large-scale event speaks to the power of student leadership and learning outside the classroom.
“Through this experience, Nakis and the entire team basically gave themselves a music business minor,” said Settlemier.
Their dedication not only saved the event after its unexpected hiatus but also doubled its attendance and fundraising totals. This year’s Jam in the Streets was a reminder of the possibilities when people come together for a cause greater than themselves.
To learn more visit jam4cam.com.
