By HOLLY WEILEDER

Staff Writer

The Student Center, Main Floor, was filled with beauty and grace Nov. 3 when John Sella, a freshman journalism major and a member of the Kappa Alpha Order, was crowned in the fifth annual "Mr. Alpha Chi Pageant."

Jeff Hough, a senior architecture major, and Amy Solley, an Alpha Chi Omega alumna, were the master and mistress of ceremonies.

"Tonight, these Tech boys will be competing for the all honor that is in the Mr. Alpha Chi crown," Hough said.

There were four judges for the pageant: Brock Haggard, 2003 Mr. Alpha Chi and a sophomore developmental administration and business major; Amie Terry, Alpha Chi alumna and a senior general studies major; Stephanie Perritt, a senior merchandising and consumer affairs major; and Lindsey Bergeron, 2004 Homecoming Queen and a senior speech communication major.

"This is my first time to do something like this, and I'm excited about being a judge," Bergeron said.

The pageant started with a casual-wear competition, where the 34 contestants strutted onto a spot-light-filled room on a stage, complete with a catwalk and adorned with massive gold-glitter letters that spelled out Mr. Alpha Chi. Then, they headed to the microphone to give reasons why they should be Mr. Alpha Chi.

"I want to be Mr. Alpha Chi because I want to represent the most beautiful girls on campus," Jonathon Amico, a freshman aviation management major and a member of Delta Chi fraternity, said.

The next round was a talent competition, where the top 19 contestants' talents consisted of everything from jump-roping and hula-hooping to making balloon animals and chair dances.

The final round was the formal-wear competition. The top 11 contestants were dressed in either suits bought at Goodwill or attire suitable for a high school homecoming dance.

During this round the contestants were asked a surprise question. Questions ranged from explanations of ideal first dates to more personal questions like the always-interesting first kiss.

At the end of the night, the reigning Mr. Alpha Chi, Haggard, crowned contestant #20 as the 2004 Mr. Alpha Chi.

Sella won with his emotional rendition of the Bonnie Tyler original, "Total Eclipse of the Heart," which brought out lighters from the audience.

"I am honored to be the new Mr. Alpha Chi," Sella said. "With my new title I plan to help out the community and the nation. Most importantly, I will strive to bring us all closer to world peace."

The pageant was held for more than just a few laughs.

"The proceeds of this pageant go to the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation and to [Domestic Abuse Resistance Team], our two major philanthropies," Kira Clement, vice president of fraternity relations for Alpha Chi Omega and a junior biology major, said.

"We were pleasantly surprised at the great turnout," Clement said.

"It proved to be a very successful fund-raiser for our philanthropies."