Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Relay

By KATE PIERCE

News Editor

and

AARON KREIN

Arts Editor

In preparation for the Relay for Life event in April, the Saint Rose chapter of Colleges Against Cancer held a pageant to decide the new dynamic duo - the Mr. and Mrs. Relay for 2017.

Sonia Morreira, who was later crowned Mrs. Relay, performing “24K Magic.” Photo by Kate Pierce.

The two winners were Riain Flynn and Sonia Morreira. The duo, along with seven other contestants, wer

e challenged to a lip-sync battle, a question and answer session, and a “funny face” competition.

The event was judged by Mike Aurrichio, Area Coordinator Matt Vincent, CAC President Vicki Stubbs, and a volunteer member of the audience.

Stubbs said that the goal of the pageant was to provide a fun environment, and get students excited for the annual Saint Rose Relay this April. Relay for Life is a community based fundraising endeavor of the American Cancer Society. On our campus, volunteers and participants walk around the campus green for almost 12 hours to raise both awareness and funds.

The hearts of the judges and audience were won by Flynn with his unique sense of humor and interpretation of the theme song to Pokémon. On the same token, Morreira performed Bruno Mars’ “24K Magic” decked in a white button shirt under a blazer with a black top hat and cane as accessories.

As prizes for winning the pageant, Flynn and Morreira were each given purple crowns and a

Jenna Hopper and Jenny Metzger (left to right) hosted the event. Photo by Kate Pierce.

yard long Twix bar.

Sophomores Jenny Metzger and Jenna Hopper hosted the pageant with comedic delivery and impromptu dance moves to songs like Beyonce’s “Run The World (Girls)” and “A Whole New World” from Aladdin. Metzger and Hopper are serving as co-chairs for the Relay for Life committee in CAC.

“Jenny and I try to put our own twist on kick off events,” said Hopper. “It’s our first year being chairs of anything so it’s awesome.”

Freshmen Andres Martinez, who performed Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” said that it was his first time in the pageant. However, he has been involved with Relay for Life before coming to Saint Rose.

“I’ve done it with my friends back home,” said Martinez. Of his song choice, Martinez explained that it held special meaning for the cause.

“If cancer doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger,” Martinez said.

Other contestants included Vito VanDunk, Kayla Franzken, Matt Frisher, Paris Grant, Mackenzie Mitchell, and Liana Morales.

Each contestant was told to dress in a way that represented themselves and were required to prepare a song to perform for the lip-sync battle. Aside from the winners, other song choices included a performance of “Alexander Hamilton” by Mitchell, P!nk’s “So What” by Van Dunk, “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan by Franzken, Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” by Frisher, Bobby Shmurda’s “Hot Boy” by Grant, and The Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” by Morales.

“I’ve been on stage before, but this was a completely different dynamic,” said Morales.

For the question and answer portion, contestants were called one at a time up onto the stage to answer which famous person they would choose to be, what three words their friends would use to describe them, and what food embodies them as humans.

Morreira said that she would like to be Bill Gates, so that she could give money to young adults seeking a college education. Speaking for his friends, Flynn said that they would describe him in three words as “Meh, he’s alright,” which sent the audience and hosts into fits of laughter.

One audience member that appreciated the humor the night provided was Arianna Paul, a freshman living on the fifth floor of Lima Hall. She originally decided to come to the event to support Hopper, her resident assistant. She is looking forward to partaking in Relay on a team with her floormates.

“I’m really excited,” Paul said. “I’ve never done anything like it before.”

Throughout the pageant, both the hosts and the contestants encouraged audience members to consider taking part in Relay in the spring.

“The whole point of Relay is to walk for those who can’t,” said Metzger.

Any students, staff, or faculty who are interested in participating in Relay or any of the fundraising events leading up to it are encouraged to reach out to members of College Against Cancer with questions.