Men compete in pageant to raise money for Uganda

Empower OU organized a pageant Friday night "“ but there wasn't a bikini, spray tan or high heel in sight.

Instead 10 dressed-to-impress men "“ each representing a different student organization "“ took to the stage for the Mr. Empower Pageant in the Baker Theatre in Ohio University's Baker Center. But there was still plenty of strutting and sashaying to go around in this unconventional pageant.

The Running Club's Ian Klein riled up the audience with a rendition of "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off," complete with suave dance moves and a (PG) strip-down to his running uniform.

Tommy Greene of PRSSA regretfully said he didn't have a talent and would instead read "a story my mom used to tell me when I couldn't sleep." That story turned out to be a "dramatic reading" of Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA."

For the beach-attire portion, the guys bopped to "I'm on a Boat" and sported clothes of varying degrees of modesty "“ everything from a Speedo on one guy to a life jacket and shorts on another. The men also modeled Empower jewelry, which is handmade by women in Uganda and sold in the U.S., with proceeds benefiting AIDS orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda.

The interview portion of the pageant put the guys on the spot, asking each contestant a question about the Empower Campaign. All proved knowledgeable.

Jordan Youtz captured first-place in the pageant, winning $100 for the OU Advertising Association. Youtz had sung, strummed the guitar and played the harmonica for a set of song clips, including Matchbox Twenty's "3 A.M.," in which he remarked, "I betcha never heard this song with harmonica before."

All the contestants received a gift basket hand-woven by women in Uganda.

Other men showing their swagger were Benjamin Childers, Sigma Lambda Beta; DJ Hasselbusch, American Marketing Association; Dave Hendricks, The Post; Paul Hypolite, OU College Democrats; Michael Lupsa, Global Leadership Center; Austin Pounds, Belts Breaking Bondage; and Kyle Triplett, Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society.

Judges included Andria Sherrow, executive director of the Empower Campaign; Britney Gedeon, Empower OU student chapter president; Joan Kanyange, Uganda in-country consultant for The Empower Campaign; and Robert Leary, OU Student Senate president.