People flocked to the Oak House this family weekend for open mic night and to escape the torrential downpours. Headlining the night was Elon's own local celebrity, Lowell Oakley. Oakley delivered a heartwarming performance with his father at the affair, commemorating the reunion of a number of Elon families.
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Oakley competed in NBC's The Voice last year and, after the performance, sat down to talk with Elon Local News about his experience.
"The day we moved him [Lowell] in last year was the day we found out he was going to be on The Voice and from then on, it's been crazy," Lowell Oakley Sr., his father said.
Lowell discussed the difficulties of balancing schoolwork with his time spent competing in the national competition. While he mentioned enduring his fair share of struggles throughout the process, he stressed that the most important part of his experience was the support of his family.
"In the end, with all my rough times I've had in getting back to school, I've still got my family," Oakley said.
Going back to school wasn't the only option for Oakley after his time on The Voice. His father reflected on how Oakley was approached by many companies offering recording contracts, but he turned them down to head back to North Carolina.
"Elon is a very special place, and it's very special in his heart," Oakley Sr. said. "He was always drawn back here."