ARIN FROIDL | Reporter
Delta Zeta raised over $900 at its annual Big Man on Campus competition on Saturday.
For over 5 years, Delta Zeta has held Big Man on Campus with all the proceeds going to Starkey Hearing Foundation, The Painted Turtle Camp and St. Charles Crisis Nursery as well as the national Delta Zeta Foundation.
Delta Zeta’s Vice President of Philanthropy, Erika Hatfield, said they had been organizing the event for most of the spring semester. Hatfield said they benefited greatly from a lot of help from the other Greek organizations on campus who stepped up in helping the night run smoothly.
“It’s a fun opportunity,” senior Alex Burket said. “[It’s] just a bunch of fun guys coming together for a purpose to raise money for a great charity.”
The event was America’s Next Top Model themed, and the men participated in a lip-sync battle, an interview round and an onstage photo shoot.
“I didn’t really know what I signed up for until the day after and I got the email about it,” freshman Mitchell Griffin said.
Despite any initial apprehensions about the competition, Griffin entertained the crowd by mercilessly flirting with the judges any chance he could.
“I did it last year, and I had a good time with it,” Joe Rhemet said.
Rhemet said that he is “a huge fan of the event.”
“I think it’s a good way for people to just be themselves and have a good time with it,” Rhemet said.
Freshman Keaton Jones said that even during his shifts as a community adviser, he was practicing his lip-sync and his interview skills, so he would be fully prepared for anything that could happen onstage.
At the end of the night, there were three awards given out: Mr. Philanthropy, Mr. Congeniality and Big Man on Campus.
Jake Loftus won both Mr. Philanthropy and Mr. Congeniality, and Shane Henderson won Big Man on Campus.
“I’m so proud of him … I just can’t put into words how proud I am,” Henderson’s girlfriend, Posy Durr, said.
Durr, a member of Delta Zeta, helped Henderson emcee Phi Lambda Chi’s Ms. Lindenwood pageant last semester.
“Growing up I was always a shy kid who didn’t really get out much, but doing this, it shows what I can do,” Henderson said. “I’m actually proud of myself and who I am.”
