Just four weeks before Penn State's Battle of the Bands, three guys got together to form the Christian alternative-rock band Kairos.

After winning first place at Battle of the Bands, the group took off -- soaring to higher expectations and a dream that goes beyond the college years.

Kairos came together a little over a year ago when the three original members met their keyboard and bass player, Dominic Misja, who completed their band.

Dominic (Doms) Misja moved to State College from Kuwait two years ago. He had never played in a band before, but had a strong musical background.

Misja is a student at State College Area High School but finds it easy to fit band practice into his schedule.

"I live across the street from the other three guys so it's easy for me to just walk over after school and jam with them," Misja said.

Jason Sturm (senior-psychology) and his brother Josh Sturm (junior-art) had played in bands together before. They found their percussionist Andrew Rodaniche (senior-elementary education) in Altoona and, within a few practices, established an unbelievable chemistry.

Josh Sturm said he foresees the band staying together for a long time.

"We're all serious about the band," he said. "I would love to see it take off and make enough money for us to pay the bills and be happy."

The band practices three days a week for a couple of hours. They've had a hard time getting exposure from bars because they refuse to play cover songs.

"We don't want to compromise our artistic integrity," Jason Sturm said.

He added that the band usually plays at churches close to the State College area or in Pittsburgh.

"We are a Christian band, but we try to avoid the stereotypes," Jason Sturm said. "The message that we send is underlying, not overt."

He described their music as alternative rock, "kind of like Tool, very heavy, but no screaming."

Rodaniche had been playing percussion on his own for seven years. He said that before he joined Kairos, he was on a musical hiatus.

"I hadn't played in a band for two years; when I met Josh and Jason I saw that they had a real musical vision," Rodaniche said.

He spoke of the welcoming crowd he feels when they play at the churches, adding that the kids are "just as punk rock as other kids."

The senior band members are counting down the days till graduation so they can do this band full time.

Jason Sturm said that he wants to be in this band for a living.

His brother agreed. "I want to take this as long and far as I can and then do some graphic design work," Josh Strum said. "Music gives more back than art."

Rodaniche also said he'd like to give Kairos a chance full time, so that "when we're older we can at least say we tried --i t's a sacrifice but it's also a lot of fun and very rewarding."

For more information on this band, go to their Web site at www.kairosband.com.