The Student Athletic Advisory Committee hosted its 2nd annual Man of Marshall Pageant Wednesday.
Participants and audience members said the pageant was a fun, lighthearted way to raise money for an important organization. Last year, SAAC raised $1,000 for the AD Lewis Community Center.
The pageant included formal wear, swimwear, talent and questioning. The men who competed were Kappa Alpha Order member Matt Jarvis, cross country runner Jordan Brown-Stobbe, cheerleader Mike Simoneau, Pi Kappa Alpha member Duane Ruggier, broadcast student Seth Payne, football player Keion Davis, Alpha Sigma Phi member Storm Edens, Mr. Marshall Nigel Wallace and basketball player and 2015 Man of Marshall winner Milan Mijovic.
SAAC President Ally Kiekover said she was excited to see the talents of the men and hopeful about raising money for the AD Lewis Community Center.
“The Center is an afterschool center where kids are able to come, get meals and do crafts,” Kiekover said, “They do all sorts of activities and it’s usually for kids who are less fortunate and don’t have enough money to do these things on their own.”
Talents this year included rapping, poem reading, singing, stunts, impressions, dancing and paper flower making.
The pageant questionnaire section really drew laughs from the audience. Participants were asked about their spirit animal, perfect date, whether inner or outer beauty was more important, to describe themselves in one sentence, their biggest fear and more.
Seth Payne and his 101 impressions talent took home the title of Man of Marshall. Payne said he entered the contest because a friend asked him.
“I figured it was for a good cause and it should be fun,” Payne said.
Payne said more people should get involve because more people means more money to help the AD Lewis Community Center provide to the kids.
Student body president elect Matt Jarvis said he also entered the contest because a friend asked him, but that wasn’t the only reason.
“I knew about the organization, I knew what they were putting the money towards and how can you say no to helping that out?” Jarvis said. “It was a great opportunity for Marshall and the athletes to give back.”
Jarvis said decided on his talent when someone suggested he should rap. Jarvis rapped “Ice Ice Baby.”
“Any little thing helps, even if it’s going up there and showing off my ‘dad bod’ I’m going to do it,” Jarvis said, “Every dollar counts, if it’s going up there and reciting Vanilla Ice, I’m going to do it. Anything we can do to give back to the community, I think its something we should all do.”
This event brought in $553 to donate to the AD Lewis Community Center.
Cheyenne DeBolt can be contacted at [email protected].