By Lindsey White
Assistant Editor of Arts and Entertainment
When Danee Gorre’s grandmother passed away, she was not sure if she would be able to get back to the Philippines to see her family.
As a vocalist and an international student on one of Trevecca’s public relations teams, she had a booked summer of traveling to church camps, and flights home were expensive.
Little did she know, her PR community had got some donors together and were finding a way to send her home.
“Mysty had all three PR groups get together on Zoom and told her they were flying her home. She started crying,” said Kollin Bailey, senior music business major and Gorre’s bandmate.
Gorre, a junior commercial music major, is the first international student to be on one of Trevecca’s PR teams.
“As an international student in PR, I feel like I’m representing that international student community here, and I feel so proud I get to be their voice in that way,” said Gorre. “I’m representing more than the school; I’m representing other cultures too.”
Gorre travels to churches and camps on the southeast field to lead worship and retreats as public relations for the university.
“She’s been able to bring a new perspective for us, a new breath of fresh air. She is dynamic, she communicates well, she is passionate about what she does, and it’s been amazing to watch her grow, not just as a musician but as a leader,” said Mysty Diehl, director of admission, events and special teams.
As an international student, her job in PR has had obstacles, like the months of paperwork she has to complete, said Gorre.
“Being an international student – that’s something I always have at the back of my mind. Whenever we have to do something, I have to wonder if I need paperwork to be able to do it,” said Gorre.
The paperwork never stopped Gorre or the team around her. She has had people helping her along the way to make the process manageable.
“They’re very considerate of my visa status and what I can do and what I can’t do, and I have never once felt like I was at a disadvantage,” said Gorre.
Gorre came to the United States from the Philippines for college because she knew music was what she wanted to pursue, and there were no schools that offered it at home.
“I want to be an inspiring, big artist that gets to travel the world and share my music with people and have that be my ministry,” said Gorre.
