Katy Perry Picks Lakewood High School's Lip-Dub 'Roar' Video as Contest Winner
Perry's special concert will be broadcast live on "GMA" on Oct. 25.
Oct. 18, 2013— -- The Colorado high school, whose spirited lip dub video to Katy Perry's hit "Roar" went viral online, was selected by the pop star as the winner of "'Good Morning America's 'Roar' With Katy Perry Contest," and will get a special concert.
The winning video, which caught Perry's eye right away for its school spirit, included more than 2,000 students and staff at Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Colo., from every stripe of high school life, outfitted in orange and black, lip-syncing to Perry's lyrics group by group.
Panning from student athletes to cheerleaders to members of the pep band, drama club and more, the high-energy video culminates in the ultimate pep rally – a sea of students in orange and black roaring on the football field. Click here to watch the full video.
Perry announced the winning school live on "Good Morning America" from London, where she is shooting the music video for her brand new song, "Unconditionally."
"This decision has been one of the hardest decisions that I've ever had to make," she said today on "GMA." "Lakewood really embodied a whole school spirit. ... It was so incredibly crafted …so interesting and well done and organized. It was thousands of kids coming together to 'Roar' and that's what this competition means to me."
Perry's special concert for the school will be broadcast live on "Good Morning America" on Oct. 25, which is also her 29th birthday.
Courtney Coddington, Lakewood High School's student body president who directed and produced the video, was speechless upon hearing her school was chosen.
"It just means so much. I am just so happy," Coddington said.
Perry lauded Coddington for "showing that school spirit still exists."
"[School spirit] hasn't died," the pop star added. "You have made it come alive with a 'Roar.'"
Coddington collaborated with fellow senior Gavin Rudy, an aspiring filmmaker who edited the video, which was shot in a single take. The duo said as soon they heard about the contest, they were eager to show off their school spirit, and the entire student body immediately jumped on board.
In September, when Perry first put out a call for high schools to submit their own rendition of her megahit "Roar," hundreds upon hundreds of high schools roared right back, igniting a viral video frenzy that made local headlines around the country.
Videos poured in from 44 states and each one shared an inspirational and spirited storyline. Perry scoured through submissions and was blown away, calling the creativity and school spirit on display "encouraging and inspiring."
The singer narrowed it down to Lakewood High School and four other finalists: Pickerington High School Central, Cooper High School, Spanish Springs High School and Verrado High School.
Ohio's Pickerington High School Central sought to give young women a sense of power in their video. Students at Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas, held up signs in their "Roar" video that displayed their fears and insecurities to bring a voice to the voiceless. Bullying, cheating and family problems -- topics teenagers face every day in the hallways at Spanish Springs High School -- were the focus of their video.
Verrado High School in Buckeye, Ariz., dedicated its video to the inspiring story of Megan Squire, a 17-year-old student with Down syndrome who fulfilled her dream to become a cheerleader.
Perry was so touched by Squire's story that she has invited the cheerleader to attend one of her upcoming concerts as a special guest.
"I want to bring Megan to a special event this fall with me as my date. … It's going to be very exciting. We are going to get dressed up," Perry said today, addressing the teen. "I just want to celebrate her and hear her roar in person. Megan, thank you so much. I love you. I love your spirit. You have really inspired me."
Each of the five schools named finalists will receive a special plaque from Perry honoring their work and creativity.
"I want to say thank you so much. I had so much fun watching those videos and they mean everything to me," she said.