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Big Man on Campus raises nearly $6,000 to fight breast cancer

ANGOLA (02/14/2019) — The 19th annual Big Man on Campus (BMOC), sponsored by Trine University's Theta Phi Alpha sorority, raised $5,932.37 for the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.

The funds were raised through a week of activities that culminated with a pageant on Feb. 8 in the T. Furth Center for Performing Arts.

Eight male students competed in this year's BMOC event. Austin Nault, a senior from Rochester, Indiana, majoring in design engineering technology, came in first and was named Big Man on Campus. Caleb Herber, a junior from Fort Wayne, Indiana, majoring in design engineering technology, was named Mr. Pink Ribbon, which recognizes the contestant chosen by the other competitors for showing the most enthusiasm and sportsmanship.

The other contestants included: Andrew Barrett, a junior from Huntertown, Indiana, majoring in mechanical engineering; Logan Bowling, a senior from Vallonia, Indiana, majoring in computer engineering; Brody Dyer, a junior from Eaton Rapids, Michigan, majoring in design engineering technology; Zachary McKee, a senior from Syracuse, Indiana, majoring in exercise science; David Gaff, a senior from Bristol, Indiana, majoring in civil engineering; and Scott Beckmann, a senior from Auburn, Indiana, majoring in civil engineering.

The contestants' total scores were compiled from three separate categories; Penny Wars, War Night and the pageant.

Penny Wars made up 20 percent of contestants' overall scores and took place during the week leading up the pageant. For this event, each contestant decorated a jug and tried to get it filled with as much money as possible.

War Night also counted for 20 percent of the final score. This event required contestants to gather four friends and participate in a series of games and obstacles, including an obstacle course, a dizzy bat race, a three-legged race, team jump rope and tug of war.

Pageant Night made up the final 60 percent of the scores. This event included talent, What BMOC Means to Me, pick-up line, dress like your hero, and Q&A.

At the beginning of the pageant, Lynda Houk, executive director of the Vera Bradley Foundation, gave a short speech, sharing where money donated to the foundation goes. The foundation supports a current project at the Melvin and Bren IU Simon Cancer Center to create a targeted treatment using a monogram medicine that looks at the DNA of the cancer and patient.

Throughout the week, Theta Phi Alpha sold BMOC T-shirts. The sorority also received door prizes and monetary donations from Angola-area businesses.

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Austin Nault, a senior from Rochester, Indiana, was named the winner of Trine University's 19th annual Big Man on Campus.

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Lynda Houk, executive director of the Vera Bradley Foundation, speaks at the Big Man on Campus pageant.

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From left, Big Man on Campus contestants Andrew Barrett, Logan Bowling, Brody Dyer, Zachary McKee, David Gaff, Scott Beckmann, Caleb Herber and Austin Nault.

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