Service Corps Sends 24 Students to 67th Annual Grammy Awards
For most college students, escorting music’s biggest names down the red carpet at the Grammy Awards remains a dream. But for members of Belmont’s Service Corps, it’s reality.
This year, Belmont provided 24 students with the opportunity to work at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles through Service Corps, a student organization that provides experiential learning in the entertainment industry.
This student-led group of volunteers dedicates their time and energy to assisting with numerous high-profile entertainment industry events. Members gain excellent resume building and networking opportunities and leadership roles. Past events include the Tony Awards, Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, CMA Fest, the Academy of Country Music Awards and many more.
Behind the Scenes at Music's Biggest Night
Throughout Grammy week, students attended the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year Charity Gala — honoring iconic rock band The Grateful Dead — the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala and the Grammy Awards.
Service Corps members watched the televised portion of the Grammy Awards at the Crypto.com Arena, a rare experience for aspiring music industry professionals.
Throughout the week, students served as talent escorts on the red carpet, assisted artist publicists, checked in event attendees, and worked in the press room during various events.
Lilly Marie Smith
- President of Service Corps
- Senior media & entertainment industries major, double minoring in public relations and music business
Lilly Marie Smith, now president of the organization, applied to join Service Corps her freshman year hoping to find hands-on experience in the music industry.
“When I started as a freshman, I embraced every task — from holding doors to working red carpets and everything in between,” said Smith. “You can’t just be thrown into working the Grammys, you have to appreciate the little things that go into events and then work your way up.”
Smith’s hands-on experience at industry events has made her a valuable voice in the classroom, allowing her to share insights that go beyond textbooks.
“You just can’t learn this kind of stuff in a classroom. You can read about it in a book, but real-world experience is irreplaceable,” said Smith. “When talking about the Grammy Awards in class, I had a whole different insight to bring because I was there and witnessed firsthand behind the scenes. My professors value my input in class because of my work through Service Corps.”
Smith is exuberantly grateful for the opportunities she’s been able to have during her time at Belmont.
“Belmont is always in it for their students.” said Smith. “Belmont staff, students and faculty are always looking for ways to support and connect each other with career opportunities around Nashville.”
Ben Stafford
- Co-creative director of Service Corps
- Senior media & entertainment industries major, minoring in social media management
Through Service Corps, Ben Stafford has worked both the Grammy and Tony Awards. Stafford and Smith have attended the Grammys together three times!
This year, Stafford assisted with VIP and talent check-in for the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala and interacted with numerous Grammy nominees, publicists and entertainment industry professionals.
“Most people only know of the Sunday night of Grammys week, the televised portion. But we actually fly in on Thursday and are busy helping at events every day until then,” said Stafford. “The Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala is only for Grammy nominees, so it’s a super cool and exclusive room to be in. The experience of getting to be in the room where it happens is invaluable.”
Ben Stafford’s unique experiences through Service Corps have been instrumental in shaping his career aspirations. The hands-on opportunities and the support of the Belmont community have solidified his desire to pursue a career in the music industry after graduation.
“Everyone here is so supportive of each other's goals and aspirations. People are willing to share their knowledge, experience and network, not only here at Belmont, but reaching outside of the Belmont community,” said Stafford. “The Belmont community itself is unlike anything else. Here, I'm surrounded by a ton of other people that want to go into a similar thing to me, which is so uplifting.”
Davaja Rivers 
- Co-creative director of Service Corps
- Senior media & entertainment industries major
Growing up, Davaja Rivers pictured herself attending the Grammys as a musician.
“I always dreamed of attending the Grammy’s, not as a volunteer or guest but as an artist. However, experiencing it as a college senior felt incredibly full circle, signifying my growth and the shift in my aspirations,” said Rivers. “While my path has changed from when I was younger, being behind the scenes showed me a whole new side of the entertainment industry that I now deeply appreciate. As I have taken on various leadership roles, this experience has allowed me to put everything that I have learned into practice.”
Rivers has learned how to communicate professionally in high-stress environments through working award shows. She said it would surprise people to know how adaptable you must be in a situation like the Grammy Awards, where schedules change at the last minute and things can go wrong at any turn.
This year, Rivers served as a talent escort on the red carpet, using the opportunity to put her networking skills into practice. By connecting with professionals from significant entertainment outlets, she built valuable relationships — one of which led to a potential internship opportunity after the event.
“Belmont goes beyond the classroom to provide students with hands-on opportunities in their desired field,” said Rivers. “I have learned to expect the unexpected, make strategic decisions under pressure and guide others through chaos.”
Service Corps by the Numbers
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