“Ben Dover,” better known as Kristin Gilmore, health promotions graduate student, and “Lady Hollyweird,” or Jamarious Wicker, sophomore theater major, were named the 2011 Mr. and Ms. ESU at PRIDE’s alternative beauty pageant last Thursday.

“Ben Dover,” better known as Kristin Gilmore, health promotions graduate student, and “Lady Hollyweird,” or Jamarious Wicker, sophomore theater major, were named the 2011 Mr. and Ms. ESU at PRIDE’s alternative beauty pageant last Thursday.

“Winning was great, I had so much of fun, like I said in the show I’ve come a long way – this has really boosted my confidence,” Gilmore said. “I never would’ve seen myself doing this four years ago.”

Despite some costume malfunctions throughout the show, Wicker was still very excited to win and enjoyed the fact that his dance partner, Gilmore, also won the crown. He said this was his last year for doing the show because it was so much work, but he loved the experience.

Last year’s Ms. ESU, Austin Schopper, senior secondary English education major, hosted the show under the stage name “Valerie.”

“I (was) most excited to see the new talent this year – we didn’t have anyone that competed last year compete this year,” Schopper said.

The first event was the catwalk, followed by the talent portion, then an interview with the three judges, Giovanna Follo, assistant professor of sociology, Edward Emmer, assistant professor of social sciences, and Michelle Hernandez, the adviser for PRIDE.

Schopper’s stylist for the event was Shanon Fletcher, a stylist at Salon Del5ive, who did his hair, make up and even a waxing for the show. She said she enjoyed the challenge and all the hectic activity that happened backstage.

Schopper started the event with a dance number showing off some of the skills that won him last year’s crown such as a cartwheel in high heels. Then the rest of the participants joined in the dance number.

There were poetry readings and song and dance numbers. The questions posed by the judges offered the contestants an opportunity to show how well they could stay in character.

Emmer enjoyed the whole show and the opportunity to get a new perspective since he had just been an audience member for the previous year’s show.

Richard Stephenson,  junior chemistry major, while under the stage name “Mindy the Mennonite,” sang Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.”

“I’m just strutting my stuff, showing off what I have, letting it be judged in the harshest competition Emporia has to offer,” Stephenson said.

PRIDE President Josh Smith said the group plans to continue the show next year and keep drawing in the crowd.

Charlie Heptas

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Emporia State graduate student Michelle Hernandez, Greek Life Coordinator at the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) for ESU, demonstrates her passion for student involvement as the interim coordinator for Greek Life.

“Through my involvement here, I have decided that I have a love for student affairs and that it is something that I would like to make my career in.” Hernandez said. “I love Greek life.”

Hernandez was always involved on campus as an Emporia State University undergraduate student. When Hernandez enrolled to obtain her master’s degree she also received a Graduate Assistant position for Greek Life in the CSI office.

“I have known Michelle for about three years when I was the director of the Union and she was an undergraduate student in Greek Life,” said Lynn Hobson, associate vice president of Student Life at ESU. “She is very outgoing, friendly and welcoming towards other people.”

Hobson said Hernandez cares about students and really wants them to have the best experience possible.

“Michelle is a really caring person and always willing to help out whenever,” said Hayley Finch, senior communication major.

Hernandez is originally from Kingman. She graduated from ESU in May 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Hernandez is now in a master’s program for her MBA.

“Michelle is really dependable.” Hobson said. “If she said she is going to do something, she gets it done, and she gets it done on time.”

When Hernandez acted as a graduate assistant, she just jumped in and wanted to learn everything she could about the process, Hobson said.

There are six fraternities and five sororities in the ESU Greek community. Hernandez thinks that ESU has a really great community because they are so small. Hernandez was in one of the sororities when she was an undergraduate at ESU.

“They collaborate on a lot of things, and are really unified.” Hernandez said. “Since I am disaffiliated, and we want to be impartial, I can’t tell people which chapter I was in.”

According to Hernandez, joining Greek Life can help to focus on important principles like leadership, scholarship, and stewardship.

“You will find there are a lot of people who are leaders in organizations that are also Greeks.” Hernandez said. “Greek Life opens a lot of doors for students to meet a lot of people, and they can learn how to be a leader. The Greeks also all do study hours, and they all have minimum GPA requirements.”

As Interim Greek Life Coordinator, Hernandez works on advising Panhellenic Association, Interfraternity Council, the order of Omega (which is the Honor society for Greeks), Greeks Advocating Mature Management Alcohol (GAMMA) and United Greeks Association (UGA). Hernandez works with presidents of different chapters and helps by advising them about any issue that they may be having with Greek Life as a whole, or with a certain chapter.

“She may advise them how to take the next steps to make sure things go smoothly.” Hobson said. “Michelle is doing a really good job because she is still a graduate student. She is advising, and going to school.”

Yun Lauren Liu/Staff Writer

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