Two University students have found a way to rub elbows with popular recording artists such as T.I., NeYo and Corey Smith.

No, they don’t have well-connected families or friends. They’re student representatives for the Grammy University Network – a non-profit organization that provides connections to students interested in a career in the music industry.

University senior Summer Lutz said she joined Grammy U for just that reason. She joined after meeting indie rock band My Morning Jacket through the program last year.

“A student rep came to one of my classes and talked about Grammy U and the sound check, and it sounded really cool,” she said. “She mentioned that she was looking for someone to replace her and I applied and got it.”

Lutz, who is enrolled in the Music Business Certificate Program, hopes to make Athens a base for the program. She said she serves as the middleman between Grammy U and students interested in music.

“Not many people have heard of it because the headquarters are based in Atlanta,” she said.

As a student representative for Grammy U, Lutz spreads the word about the program, increases membership and works at some of the program’s events. She and Cartter Fontaine, a University senior and representative for Grammy U, organized “SoundCheck with Corey Smith” – a private sound check and Q&A session that will be held Sept. 25 at the Classic Center.

Fontaine, also a music business student, became a student representative of Grammy U because of the benefits – which include access to celebrity mixers and tours of studios hosted by the program.

“The main reason I joined was because of the sound check with My Morning Jacket, which I didn’t get a chance to meet,” he said. “But there are great networking opportunities that come with it.”

A typical day for the two includes meeting to discuss concerts in or near the Athens area. The list is narrowed down to concerts they feel are most important to the local fan base.

After a few deliberations, Lutz and Fontaine meet with the Recording Academy and discuss the next steps that need to be taken to make the sound check and “The Up Close and Personal” Q&A session take place.

In the case of Corey Smith, Lutz said, “we had to contact the Recording Academy to contact Corey Smith’s manager to get the approval for the SoundCheck and the ‘Up Close and Personal.’”

The process usually takes three to four weeks, but Smith responded quickly, Fontaine said.

“We met with [Corey Smith] Friday, and everything was confirmed Monday,” Lutz said.

One perk of their job is meeting celebrities – including Allan Walden, former manager of Otis Redding, and Stone Stafford, owner of Icon Studios in Atlanta.

“Last semester, we were able to attend ‘Convo with T.I.,’ which allowed a small number of members to meet and converse with T.I.,” Lutz said.

Grammy U sponsored a focus group listening session at NeYo’s studio, which included a tour of the studio, she said.

“At the event, a small number of members were invited to his studio because NeYo’s label was about to launch a new artist,” Lutz said. “[He] wanted honest, constructive feedback from a diverse group of young consumers and music enthusiasts to determine song selection for the album and which tracks to release as singles.”

Lutz and Fontaine said that though there are no events planned at the moment, they hope to plan more depending on the reception of the Corey Smith event.

“Athens is a music community, but it tends to stay in Athens,” Fontaine said. “Being able to have a benefit and to network with Grammy U will help any band get out of Athens.”