Dancing, singing and a surplus of faculty embarrassment came together Tuesday night at the Fifth Annual Ava Nichols Faculty Pageant.
Hosted by OU’s Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity, the pageant featured seven OU faculty members, including Vice President for Student Affairs Ryan Lombardi, whose initial impression for the judges included taking a selfie on stage with one of the emcees.
“(The pageant) brings faculty and students together in one night,” said Valerie Hudak, a senior studying special education and a co-chair of the event. “It’s for a great cause ... no matter if it goes to St. Jude’s, Camp Quality. … As long as it’s funded around children, that’s all that matters.”
All proceeds from the event will be donated to Camp Quality Ohio, an Akron-based, non-profit organization that hosts a summer camp for children battling cancer.
The pageant was held in honor of Ava Nichols, a young girl who passed away in 2012 from a brain tumor.
A short tribute video for Ava was shown toward the end of the pageant. Her parents were also in attendance for the event.
“The first time I did this Ava Nichols was still living, and I got a chance to meet her,” Lombardi said. “(She was a) beautiful little girl.”
Local businesses such as Fluff Bakery and Larry’s Dawg House also donated to the cause by offering gift cards, which were raffling off during the event.
After a brief introduction, contestants performed in formal wear, talent, and question and answer categories in front of a crowd of more than 500.
Julia Luhr, a psychology professor, baffled the crowd with a talent she called ‘spalking,’ in which she expertly spelled out every word she spoke.
Not to be outdone, Lombardi and Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones serenaded the crowd with a duet cover of Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” with lyrics relating to OU student recruitment.
The event’s judges included Alpha Phi Omega Advisor Jacob Hagman, LGBT Director Delfin Bautista and Eric Horton, a physical therapy graduate student and former member of Alpha Phi Omega.
“They have to make me laugh,” Bautista said of the contestants. “It’s for an amazing cause and so just to have an opportunity to be a part of that in some small way (is great).”
Alpha Phi Omega has collected more than $3,300 for Camp Quality Ohio with several events so far, which includes the proceeds from the pageant.
After a powerful display of talent from all contestants, Marc Barr, an exercise physiology instructor, won the competition. Hall-Jones and Lombardi won second and third place, respectively.
“Aside from wanting to support our students … the cause in supporting young children who are sick and to give the support they need, it’s hard to say no to that,” Lombardi said.
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