Courtesy of Gina AndersonIn front of a packed Friday night crowd, senior Jim Mourey was crowned Mr. Wash U 2005. The event not only gave the University a beauty king, but also raised over $14,000 for City Faces, a local community arts organization.
“I’m honored by it,” Mourey said of his title. “It’s a really great event. All the guys in it were fantastic.”
Although over 450 males were nominated, only 16 of those nominees were selected to compete on stage. They were freshmen Matt Adler, Kristopher Kelley, Logan Whalen and Chris Rhodes; sophomores George Alba, John Flessner, James Spiller and Barrington Lloyd; juniors Bobby Hoernschemeyer, Mike Duncan, J Reese and Jeff Stepp; and seniors Andy De, Earl Mah, Jim Mourey and David Hill.
The diverse group brought diverse talents to the stage, ranging from Adler’s self-choreographed cultural dance, replete with mad booty shaking skills, to Kelley’s double-dutch. Other talents included Mourey performing a “scintillating” rendition of Britney Spears’ “Toxic,” Spiller’s quick table construction, Stepp’s toe-tapping tune on the piano and the mystifying magical feats of Hill.
Eight competitors moved to a second question-and-answer round, but in the end, there could be only one Mr. Wash U. While Kelley and De were first and second runners-up, respectively, Jim Mourey was given the title. Hoisted up on the shoulders of his compatriots, Mourey, all smiles, joined in to the Mr. Wash U refrain: “… He’s the apple of our eye, he’s Mr. Wash U.”
All of the profits from the competition went to City Faces, a community arts program founded by Bob Hansman, a professor of archietecture and a Mr. Wash U judge. The program, which offers art classes to underprivileged inner-city youth, also provides help with food, rent and legal aide for youth who are forced to fend for themselves or struggling in the projects.
“Through art these kids are breaking down problems,” said Hansman. “What we have is a labor of love. It’s not just a drawing program, but a life program.”
While the Mr. Wash U committee originally started with the goal of raising $10,000 for City Faces, proceeds exceeded the target and Hansman graciously accepted a check for $14,307. All ticket sales for the competition, along with t-shirts and shot glasses sold during intermission, also went to City Faces.
“It’s because of you that City Faces has a future,” said Hansman.
Sophomore Sarah Qian, a member of the Mr. Wash U production committee, said that surpassing the original $10,000 fundraising goal was one of the show’s strongest points.
“The most important aspect of the show was surpassing our fundraising goal, but I was especially pleased that everyone enjoyed the show,” said Qian. “Everyone was congratulating the committee after the show.”
Judges for the Mr. Wash U competition included Student Union President David Ader, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Campus Life Jill Carnaghi, Assistant Dean Darla Dale and Bon App‚tit employee Avion L. Ingram. They selected a winner based on traits such as personality, character, integrity, extra-curricular involvement and contribution to the campus and community. For Mourey, the event was an unforgettale way to give back.
“It was a fun night, a lighter way to bring people together for a strong charitable cause,” said Mourey. “People get stuck in the Wash U bubble, and I think they find out that there is stuff like City Faces and Campus Y and ways to contribute to the community without leaving the campus. It’s a reminder in a fun way.”