91吃瓜网

BOLIVAR, Mo. 鈥� Sylvia Ofori-Yeboah, a social work major from Bolivar, and Dustin J. Clarno, an exercise science major from Clarkston, Mich., won the titles of Mr. and Miss Southwest at the annual pageant on Friday, March 3, at 91吃瓜网.

Eight candidates were nominated by SBU faculty and staff and voted upon by the student body for the purpose of selecting a pair of students to represent the Bearcat family for the next year.

This year鈥檚 candidates also included: Claire Van Doren of Columbia; Matt Gaskin of Lawrence, Kan.; Olivia Darst of Branson; Taylor Parrish of Blue Springs; Taylor Logue of Topeka, Kan.; and Tony Savage of Sedalia.

The pageant featured introductory videos and a talent presentation by each candidate, followed by a round of text-message voting to determine the top four candidates, who then participated in question-and-answer sessions. A final round of voting determined the winners.

During the competition, Ofori-Yeboah performed a dance routine with a group of friends titled 鈥淓volution of Christian Dancing.鈥� The first half of the routine included dance moves such as 鈥淏aptists Don鈥檛 Dance,鈥� 鈥淗illsong Worship,鈥� and 鈥淲hen You Can Tell the Pastor is Wrapping It Up,鈥� all set to Toby Mac鈥檚 鈥淢e Without You.鈥� The second half opened with 鈥淕o Buck鈥� by Flame and wrapped up with Lecrae鈥檚 鈥淚鈥檓 Turnt.鈥�

The idea was born after Ofori-Yeboah had seen an episode of 鈥淓volution of Hip-Hop Dancing鈥� on 鈥淭he Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,鈥� featuring former First Lady Michelle Obama.

鈥淚 said, 鈥榃e should do something like that,鈥欌�� Ofori-Yeboah said of the routine. 鈥淭he dances were made up kinds of things; things you might see in church (like 鈥楬aven鈥檛 Seen You Since Last Week鈥檚 Service鈥� and 鈥極h, Honey, Bless Your Heart鈥�). We were just kind of laughing at ourselves.鈥�

Ofori-Yeboah, who plans to pursue her master鈥檚 in social work with hopes of working in international social work, remembered attending the event as a prospective student, and later as a host of the event. She was especially touched by all of the support she received.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a real honor,鈥� Ofori-Yeboah said. 鈥淚t is humbling. All of the contestants were so worthy of being crowned. I鈥檓 extremely grateful to God to have these people in my life. (This year鈥檚 contestants) were saying we don鈥檛 want it to end. We鈥檝e talked about having a reunion.鈥�

Clarno sang, while he and his friends performed a routine, which emphasized exercise, to revised lyrics to the tune of 鈥淎 Whole New World,鈥� from 鈥淎laddin.鈥� It was a song he would sing to 鈥済et on people鈥檚 nerves.鈥�

鈥淚 remember my sophomore year thinking it would be so cool to be up there,鈥� Clarno said. 鈥�(The pageant) used to be a specific talent that you had, but then it changed to more of a stage performance. The humor aspect stood out the most to me.

鈥淚 really enjoy exercise and the gym, and I want other people to enjoy it and not have to dread it.鈥�

Clarno, who plans to enter physical therapy school at SBU because of its Christian focus and reputation, was honored to be part of the program.

鈥淚 was kind of overwhelmed,鈥� Clarno said. 鈥淚t was already an honor to be part of it, and it was another honor to have the students be part of it. It was a huge honor to have the faculty and staff, too. I鈥檓 grateful to be part of it.鈥�

The beginnings of the 鈥淢iss Southwest鈥� pageant date back to the 1930s, with 鈥淢r. Southwest鈥� being added in 1963. The pageant, which was organized by the students of SBU鈥檚 University Activities Council, was one of the keynote happenings of Bearcat Days, a visit event in which admitted students considering SBU attendance were hosted on campus.

For more information, contact student activities director Nathan Penland at (417) 328-1828 or npenland@SBUniv.edu.