Spring Break
Sorority hosts pageant
Dominique Beck
Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE
The women of the Rho Delta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. will host its 13th annual Ebony Man Scholarship Pageant from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m today in the Lyceum.
Adrienne Edwards, a public relations junior and chairwoman for the event, said the pageant started in 1995 after the chapter was re-chartered on the NT campus.
"Every year, the pageant has a different theme, and this year's them will be 'The Year of the Black Man,'" she said. "It is centered around this year's historical presidential election, so our contestants will portray popular black men from the past and present."
Edwards said the organization is excited about the fact that America could be welcoming its first black president.
To qualify for the pageant, male students had to submit an application a month prior to the pageant, be enrolled NT students, maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA, be in good standing with the university and attend the necessary meetings orchestrated by the organization.
The men who met these requirements were interdisciplinary studies junior Montreal Williams, criminal justice sophomore Jerrod Ballard, drawing and painting junior Landon Ellison and business freshman Kirk Thomas.
Montreal Williams said his friends encouraged him to sign up for the pageant.
"This is very important to our society because we need more positive African-American men," he said. "You don't see very many, and I feel privileged to even be a part of something like this."
Montreal Williams, along with the rest of the contestants, will model casual, business and formal outfits and perform a talent. The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship, and the second- and third-place prizes are $300 and $200 scholarships, respectively.
NT alumna Misty Williams, a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority since 2002, will be one of the judges at the pageant.
She said what she is looking for in a contestant is someone who embodies what she thinks and believes an Ebony Man is to be.
"African-American men have the lowest retention rate at NT, which shouldn't be," she said. "I am looking for someone who is intelligent, informed about their history and has some talent."
Edwards said raffles and entertainment will be plentiful throughout the night.
"We want everyone to come out enjoy themselves and support these African-American men for doing something positive with their lives," she said.
Tickets are being sold in the University Union for $5 and will be $7 at the door. Donations can be made to support the contestants when tickets are purchased.
Adrienne Edwards, a public relations junior and chairwoman for the event, said the pageant started in 1995 after the chapter was re-chartered on the NT campus.
"Every year, the pageant has a different theme, and this year's them will be 'The Year of the Black Man,'" she said. "It is centered around this year's historical presidential election, so our contestants will portray popular black men from the past and present."
Edwards said the organization is excited about the fact that America could be welcoming its first black president.
To qualify for the pageant, male students had to submit an application a month prior to the pageant, be enrolled NT students, maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA, be in good standing with the university and attend the necessary meetings orchestrated by the organization.
The men who met these requirements were interdisciplinary studies junior Montreal Williams, criminal justice sophomore Jerrod Ballard, drawing and painting junior Landon Ellison and business freshman Kirk Thomas.
Montreal Williams said his friends encouraged him to sign up for the pageant.
"This is very important to our society because we need more positive African-American men," he said. "You don't see very many, and I feel privileged to even be a part of something like this."
Montreal Williams, along with the rest of the contestants, will model casual, business and formal outfits and perform a talent. The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship, and the second- and third-place prizes are $300 and $200 scholarships, respectively.
NT alumna Misty Williams, a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority since 2002, will be one of the judges at the pageant.
She said what she is looking for in a contestant is someone who embodies what she thinks and believes an Ebony Man is to be.
"African-American men have the lowest retention rate at NT, which shouldn't be," she said. "I am looking for someone who is intelligent, informed about their history and has some talent."
Edwards said raffles and entertainment will be plentiful throughout the night.
"We want everyone to come out enjoy themselves and support these African-American men for doing something positive with their lives," she said.
Tickets are being sold in the University Union for $5 and will be $7 at the door. Donations can be made to support the contestants when tickets are purchased.
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