It’s hard to describe to describe the class of celebrity guests in attendance to the MTV Woodie Awards. Here are these who are used to having their face in the limelight while others are getting their first chance at fame. The red carpet was quite a diverse group at this award show, honoring achievements in the realm of college music. There were movie stars, bands and even a humanitarian amidst the laid back atmosphere, each one there to contribute to a different kind of award show.

While being a relatively new event, the MTV Woodie Awards attract a fair share of big name bands and celebrities. Pete Wentz, the bassist from Fall Out Boy, was there presenting an award and promoting his band’s new best-of album.

“It’s weird to think we have a best of album,” Wentz told The Maroon-News. “I see all these bands like The Eagles and Led Zeppelin, then there’s us. It’s just an idiot’s guide to Fall Out Boy.” 

Performers and nominees Death Cab for Cutie made an appearance. 

“It’s really great to be out here, [performing] never gets old.”  bassist Nick Harmer said to The Maroon-News. Obviously a lesser known award show still excites those who’ve made a name for themselves.

Other groups were there to simply promote the continuation of college music and its spirit.

“We’re all college students at heart,” rap group Pac Div told The Maroon-News, adding “it’s all about keeping up that energy.”

Some were there hoping to inspire future college artists. Band Hotel of the Laughing Tree, winner of the “Best Music on Campus” award had some words of advice for any up and coming college band.

“It’s all about promotion. You just got to get your name out there anyway you can. Be original (which is easier said than done) and make friends with other bands. It helps a lot,” the band said.

One of the few non-musicians present at the event was Jamie Tworkowski, founder of the non-profit organization To Write Love on Her Arms, a group dedicated to helping those suffering from depression, addiction, self injury and suicide through selling t-shirts. Tworkowski gained notoriety when his shirts started being worn by various musicians.

“It originally started as a story of a friend who was denied treatment,” Tworkowski told The Maroon-News, when asked about the origins of his group. “Now we work in over 100 countries.”

While he was invented to a show primarily showcasing college music, his vision is much grander than that.

 “We get invitations from colleges all the time and they’re a great audience, but this is an issue that’s affects all people, not just students. It’s about treating and helping people as if they were the same.” Tworkowski said, going on to win the “Good Woodie” award that night.

Whether they were there for fame, rising fame, or simple appreciation of music, the stars of the Woodie Awards came together to create an atmosphere that was more fun loving than other award shows. They wore jeans and scarves, not taking themselves too seriously but representing themselves as artists. To them, it wasn’t about a flashy venue with money or fame in mind, but a culmination of talent that represents music for what it is: art that can come in many different packages.