Claire Smith
Features Editor
csmith110@murraystate.edu
The Mr. MSU pageant celebrated its 39th anniversary on Friday, Sept. 20.
Ali Eader, philanthropy chair for Alpha Omicron Pi, said preparations for the pageant began in January or February when they booked Lovett Auditorium and decided on a theme.
The pageant is one of Alpha Omicron Pi’s biggest philanthropy events.
“All the proceeds go to the Arthritis Foundation which is AOPi’s international philanthropy,” Eaders said.
Alpha Omicron Pi also held a rebate night and a Venmo board challenge.
All of the proceeds raised from these three events will go toward their philanthropy.
“There are so many things that go into planning this event, such as booking the auditorium, getting nominations, designing tickets and programs, tabling to sell tickets and practicing/decorating the whole week of the show,” Eader said.
Leading up to the pageant the members of Alpha Omicron Pi and the contestants rehearse and decorate Monday through Thursday.
This year’s theme was outer space with the tagline “Murray State Men Are Out Of This World.”
“Every sorority and fraternity on Murray State’s campus are able to nominate a contestant or multiple contestants,” Eader said. “I contacted each president around May and finalized them in August.”
After contestants are finalized they almost immediately begin practicing.
“Before the show, the contestants have an interview,” Eader said. “During there is an opening number dance, formal wear and talent portion.”
There were 15 contestants and nine awards were given.
The nine awards given out include: Mr. MSU, Tyler Balk; First Runner-up, Noah Houser; Second Runner-up, Joseph Rushing; Third Runner-up, Trey Book; Fourth Runner-up, Bobby Stephens; Mr. Congeniality, Jonathan Hudgens; Best Legs, Rob Dawson; Crowd Appeal, Rob Dawson; and Most Spirit, Payton Martin.
Balk, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon from St. Louis, Missouri, was the winner of the Mr. MSU pageant.
He found out about his nomination from his girlfriend, Kendall Knox, who is a member of the Delta Zeta sorority.
“After I was nominated it was mostly just getting my talent and costume ready and showing up to rehearsals to learn the group dance and the ebb and flow of the show,” Balk said.
Balk dressed up as Elton John and performed “Your Song” for the talent portion of the competition.
Going into the show preparations Balk initially thought it was going to be stressful to learn the opening dance number.
“Every night we had practice was something I looked forward to,” Balk said. “I loved meeting all the AOPi’s and the other contestants, and dancing around the stage. It was just an overall blast”
He was shocked when he found out he won.
“I had no idea that I was going to win and whenever they called my name, my jaw just dropped to the floor,” Balk said. “There were so many contestants that deserved to win and I’m just so thankful and blessed that it was me that was chosen.”