Alpha Phi Omega hosted the Sixth Annual Ava Nichols Faculty Pageant Wednesday night, with all the money raised going toward Camp Quality Ohio.
Ohio University was treated to a night of singing, dancing, togas and bubbles Wednesday night at the Sixth Annual Ava Nichols Faculty Pageant.
About 500 people attended the event hosted by Alpha Phi Omega, a coed national service fraternity, in Baker Ballroom.
Proceeds from the pageant go toward Camp Quality Ohio, an Akron-based, nonprofit organization that hosts a weeklong summer camp for children battling cancer.
“Kids get to do things they don’t normally get to do (at Camp Quality Ohio),” Alicia Hall, whose daughter attended Camp Quality Ohio, said during the pageant as she teared up.
Hall’s 11-year-old daughter, Avalon, a leukemia survivor, was able to attend Camp Quality due to complications she endured from chemotherapy treatments.
“It’s the best place in the world,” Avalon said of the camp.
The pageant was held in honor of Ava Nichols, a young girl who passed away in 2012 from a brain tumor. A short video composed of pictures from throughout her life was shown toward the end of the evening.
Eight OU faculty members participated in the pageant, including Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones and Vice President for Student Affairs Ryan Lombardi.
The evening included a talent, formal wear and question-and-answer portion.
Taking home the crown was Stephanie Tikkanen, an assistant professor of Communication; the runner-up was fellow assistant professor of Communication, Brittany Peterson.
Tikkanen was proud of the way her department was represented, saying Wednesday’s event was “just wonderful”.
During the talent portion, Peterson sang “Let it Go” from Frozen as her son and his friend threw pieces of paper to simulate snow — much to the delight of the audience.
With the help of some of her students, Tikkanen donned a toga and blew bubbles for her talent.
Lombardi also received help for his talent portion, as he and his daughter played the piano.
“I would like to thank everyone here tonight to benefit Camp Quality,” said Marcus Barr, last year’s winner and an exercise physiology professor.
Camp Quality has seen an increase in volunteers from OU in recent years, said Brian Krebs, PR chairperson for Camp Quality Ohio.
He said it is “overwhelming” to have the money raised at tonight’s event be donated to Camp Quality Ohio. The total amount of money raised at the event was not yet calculated by press time.
“(Camp Quality) really is a place of pure unadulterated joy,” Hall said.
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