News
Sapphire Men
AMBER MILLER
Theta Phi Alpha's sec
ond Annual Sapphire Man
Pageant nearly overtook the
lower level of the Reed Build
ing in honor of Homelessness
and Hunger Week.
To kick off the pageant the
five contestants made their
debuts in casual wear as the
hostesses introduced each
individually. Contestants in
cluded Caleb Rodgers, Todd
Thorniley, Kyle Logue, Matt
Kierskowski, and Connor
Sattely.
The next portion was the
ever popular talent show,
where viewers could witness
acts including an electric gui
tar solo, a comedy skit, danc
ing, a piano performance and
select magic tricks.
Each contestant then strut
ted their best outfits in the
formal wear contest, which
was followed by a showcase
of swimwear.
The last portion of the pag
eant featured a brief question
and answer segment where
each contestant answered
one of many possible ques
tions, which inquired what
animal they wished to be,
what superpower they wished
Behrend Blood Drive sets records for participation
Behrend's fall blood drive, held on Oct. 27
and 28, has set a new record for the Communi
ty Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania and
Western New York. This year, over 250 of our
students, faculty, and staff participated in the
drive, donating an all-time high of 219 units of
to possess or their desired
job, among others.
A panel of faculty judges
evaluated each contestant's
performance based on their
showmanship, eye contact,
enthusiasm, and personality,
as well as many other factors.
While every contestant
earned a well deserved prize,
the winner of the title Sap
phire Man went to Todd
Thorniley, who after a fierce
competition, could barley
catch a breath.
However, Thorniley did
manage to relay his excite
ment in stating, "I feel so
fantastic. I'm flooded with
emotion right now. It's just
unbelievable."
Mareesa Schepis, head
coordinator for Theta Phi Al
pha events, did a stellar job
as both hostess and human
microphone stand, which
was a crowd favorite. Annie
Helbling, Chapter President,
believed the event was a suc
cess, stating that it went very
well.
This event's main goal was
to collect canned foods and
other nonperishable items for
the Second Harvest National
Food Bank, which the soror
ity did all last week in prepa
ration of the pageant.
JULIE MORRISSEY
assistant news editor
Andy lams The Behrend Beacon
Above, Right: Caleb Rodgers, Connor Sattely, and Matt Kierz-
kowski perform in the talent round of the "Sapphire Man" pageant.
The Health and Wellness center coordinat
ed the blood drive, noting that the results this
year were "phenomenal." Alpha Sigma Alpha
was a significant student-based promoter,
alerting students by painting the windows of
Reed, incorporating the drive's dates into Stall
Stories, even handing out t-shirts to students.
Carol Putman and her Project Management
students organized a table outside of Reed, en
tertaining donors in line and drawing more at
tention to the event. The speech communica
tion students were asked by Dr. Rod Troester
to spread the word through social networking
and decorative posters.
The campus' success helped to save 750
lives within the Erie community. Everyone
made a difference; one individual's donation
can save up to three lives.
The Health and Wellness Center, already
organizing the next drive, noted that Beh
rend's blood donation is a "crucial key to our
local hospital's blood supplies". The following
drive is scheduled for Jan. 20.